2012 Nissan Altima Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the seat sensor unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V408000 (Air Bags) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was 28,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Altima. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the OCS control unit was malfunctioning. The dealer determined that the front passenger’s side seat needed to be replaced. The dealer charged a fee to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
The airbag warning light started flashing in late November or early December 2022. I took the car to my mechanic on Dec. 5, 2022 who ran a diagnostic which identified the need to replace the sensor in the front passenger seat. The sensor is so integrated into the seat that the entire seat (not the back) must be replaced. I was then told that Nissan has stopped making the seat because the car is over 10 years old and a replacement is unavailable nationwide and will not become available. I called a Nissan dealer to confirm that the part is unavailable and they confirmed it. As a result, it is unsafe for a person to sit in the passenger seat. It seems wrong that Nissan can stop making such an essential part and devalue someone's life or the vehicle itself in this way. It also seems to me that I cannot sell the car in this condition and it only has about 76,000 miles on it. The vehicle is available for inspection should someone wish to do so.
Car had a hard impact, not on the front end but flipped multiple times, air bags and side air bags did not deploy
Pressure sensor in passenger seat connected to passenger side air bag became defective, affecting (shutting off) the entire air bag system. Started off with 'passenger air bag off' sign being illuminated at all times, even when an adult was sitting in the passenger seat. Then airbag warning light on the dashboard started flashing the entire time car was running. Because the passenger seat airbag is off. The safety of passenger put at risk. Talked to Nissan dealers at Hayward CA today (08-10-2021). They said that the has no recall and warranty is expired. That means I have to pay for the airbag repairs which I don't think is fair for consumers. Air bags is a safety issue, they should take care of it right away with no cost before something happens. I did reset the airbag warning on the dashboard twice, but it came back on day after.
PRESSURE SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT CONNECTED TO PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG BECAME DEFECTIVE, AFFECTING (SHUTTING OFF) THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM. STARTED OFF WITH 'PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF' SIGN BEING ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN AN ADULT WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD STARTED FLASHING THE ENTIRE TIME CAR WAS RUNNING.
SRS SUPPLEMENTAL AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING WHEN STARTING THE CAR UP. FOR WHILE I PUT UP WITH THIS, BUT I WAS CONCERNED. I LOOKED ONLINE AND FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE REPORTING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I EVENTUALLY FOUND A PROCEDURE TO RESET THE WARNING AND FOR A TIME THIS WORKED. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL NIISSAN DEALER WAS TOLD THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND THAT TO FIX IT, THE ENTIRE LOWER SEAT CUSHION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $2000 WHICH I THOUGHT WAS OUTRAGEOUS. THEY ALSO TOLD ME MY ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM WOULD BE INOPERATIVE UNTIL THIS SENSOR WAS FIXED, WHICH DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO ME. WHY WOULD FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR DISABLE ALL AIRBAGS. I THINK NISSAN SHOULD RECALL CARS WITH THESE KINDS PROBLEMS AND NOT STICK CUSTOMERS WITH REPLACING $2000 SEAT CUSHIONS.
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STARTED GOING OFF ANY TIME THE CAR IS ON - INDICATING THERE IS NO AIRBAG FUNCTIONING EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. TOOK THE CAR TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, AND THEY SAY THE WHOLE SEAT CUSHION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. COST ABOUT $1000. *TR
THE AIR BAG SWITCH UNDER THE SEAT IS DEFECTIVE.
AFTER 43K MILES AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHEN MY WIFE IS SEATED AND CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. DEALER SAYS WEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR PASSENGER IS 120 LBS. WHAT IS FEDERAL REQUIREMENT?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NISSAN OF TAMPA (813-933-6641, LOCATED AT 11001 N FLORIDA AVE, TAMPA, FL 33612) WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS RECOMMENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 103,000.
AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE INDICATES THAT IT IS OFF AND WARNING LIGHT FLASHES ON DASHBOARD. HAVE RESET IT SEVERAL TIMES BUT RESET ONLY LASTS ABOUT 30 MINS. 31200 MILES ON VEHICLE. WAS TOLD IT MAY BE SEAT SENSOR AND NEARLY $850 TO REPLACE.
FLASHING SEAT BELT SIGN RELATING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG KEEPS BLINKING AND NO ONE SITS IN THE SEAT. WILL THE AIRBAG ACTUALLY WORK IF IN A ACCIDENT? WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THIS AIR BAG SENSOR?
MY AIR BAG LIGHT ISFLASHING, WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID NISSAN SHOULD HAVE PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT GIVE ANY PROBLEM UNLESS THE CAR INVOLVE IN AN ACCIDENT. I DECIDE TO FILE A COMPLAINT, MAYBE THERE'S OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA
TAKATA RECALL - THE LIGHT ON MY AIR BAGS POPS UP RANDOMLY WHEN I DRIVE IT. THERE COULD BE NOTHING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND IT WILL STILL LIGHT UP. I HAVE ASKED THE SERVICE MEN AT THE NISSAN SERVICE IN WOODBRIDGE, VA TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM WHEN I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR SERVICING BUT THEY SAID IT WAS NOTHING. THEY WILL NOT FIX IT. I AM A WOMAN AND I DON'T KNOW THESE THINGS UNTIL A "RECALL" IS SENT OUT. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED THROUGH TWO IRON GATES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (KOEPPEL NISSAN, 74-15 NORTHERN BLVD, JACKSON HEIGHTS, NY, 877-505-6334) AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 51,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE TASTA NISSAN WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BASE OF THE SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 27162570 AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT AT THE TIME THE MANUFACTURER USED A DIFFERENT AIR BAG THAN THE AIR BAGS ON RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN MY VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE ON SPEED APPROXIMATELY 45MPH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT CUSHION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOESN'T GO ON OR OFF REGARDLESS OF IF SOMEONE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IN JUNE 2016, THE DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED THE SYSTEM AND THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. THREE MONTHS LATER, THE LIGHT IS BACK ON AND THE DEALER SAID THE CODE SAYS ITS A PASSENGER SEAR SENSOR ISSUE THAT REQUIRES THE SEAT TO BE REPLACED FOR $850. NISSAN REFUSED TO COVER THIS ISSUE.
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED ON FREEWAY OR CITY STREET THE LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG GOES OFF AND ON WHETHER SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT OR NOT.
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG CENSOR BLINKS ON MY DASH ON/OFF FOR PASSENGER WHETHER OR NOT SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT OR NOT. LAST TIME MY HUSBAND SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE CENSOR SHOWED PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF. NOT AT ALL SAFE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE DIES FROM THIS!!
THE RECALL WHICH RECENTLY CAME OUT FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO INCLUDE 2012 ALTIMAS (NOT JUST 2013-2016). I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE I AM IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIRBAG SENSOR SAYS THE AIRBAG IS OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHETHER THE CAR IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.
DURING START UP, AND WHILE DRIVING, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ON THE DASH HAS BEEN BLINKING NON STOP AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SIGNAL SHOWS THAT IT IS NOT WORKING WIT HA PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN 11V408000 CLEARLY DESCRIBES THESE EXACT SYMPTOMS FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL CAR. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF AMERICA, THEY SAID THAT THIS CAR DOES NOT FALL UNDER THIS RECALL, EVEN THOUGH ALL OF THE FACTORS ARE THE SAME, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A "COINCIDENCE" THAT I JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE ALL THE SAME SYMPTOMS. I ABSOLUTELY WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT.
I NOTICED MY PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND MY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WAS BLINKING. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND AN ERROR CODE B1018 OCS. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND TESTED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I CONTACTED NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE AND RECEIVED A CASE NUMBER. THE AGENT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO GET ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ERROR. THE DEALERSHIP FELT THAT NISSAN MAY COVER THE COSTS OF THE DEFECT. THE CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALIST SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WAS NOT PART OF A RECALL.
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Quick Summary
The 2012 Nissan Altima has 37 Air Bags complaints on file. 5 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.