2013 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
PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATOR TURNS ON, RANDOMLY ? EVEN WHEN PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED. IT MEANS PASSENGER AIR BAG IS OFF - IT WILL NOT INFLATE IN A CRASH. I'M VERY SCARY DRIVE THIS CAR WITH SOMEONE WHO SITS THE PASSENGER SEAT. NISSAN ALREADY RECALLS 2013 ALTIMA WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I REPORTED IT AT NISSAN DEALER, THEY DO NOTHING AND SAY MY CAR'S VIN# NOT INCLUDE THE RECALLS SO THEY DON'T FIX OR REPLACE ANYTHING. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DOES NOT ENGAGE WHEN INDIVIDUALS SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE AIRBAG SENSOR SHOWS THE AIRBAG NON-OPERATIONAL EVEN WHEN INDIVIDUALS OF APPROPRIATE SIZE AND WEIGHT ARE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. NISSAN HAS NO KNOWN FIXES FOR THE SITUATION AND STATE THAT ITS A "BREAK IN" PERIOD. THIS IS A BRAND NEW CAR PURCHASED ONE WEEK AGO. SERIOUS INJURY COULD RESULT FROM AN NON-OPERATIONAL AIRBAG AND I AM NOT WILLING TO WAIT FOR THE BREAK IN PERIOD.
2013 NISSAN ALTIMA THAT AT TIMES PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT IS ON EVEN THOUGH A 130LB PERSON IS SITTING IN SEAT. AFTER 4 OCCURRENCES AND SEEING A RECALL FOR SENSOR ISSUES I TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY CAR NOT PART OF RECALL AND THEY DID NOT FIND ANY COMPUTER CODES TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO ACTIONS TAKEN. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT IS THE AIR BAG WORKING IF WE HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *TR
FRONT SEAT PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT OPERATES INTERMITTENTLY WHEN MY WIFE (98 POUNDS) IS THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER. NISSAN ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON OUR ALTIMA WAS "OPERATING AS IT HAD BEEN DESIGNED TO OPERATE". THIS IS AFTER REPLACING THE COMPUTER AND FRONT SEAT SENSORS WHICH WERE DETERMINED TO BE DEFECTIVE. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT MY WIFE WAS MOVING AROUND AND THAT TRIGGERED THE LIGHT TO INTERMITTENTLY COME ON OR OFF. THIS IS NOT THE CASE, THE WARNING LIGHT CAN COME ON OR GO OFF WHILE MY WIFE IS SITTING PERFECTLY STILL IN THE SEAT. FRONT SEAT PASSENGER SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT, THAT IS WHY AIRBAGS ARE REQUIRED ON NEW VEHICLES. BECAUSE MY WIFE ONLY WEIGHTS 98 POUNDS SHE SHOULD BE PROTECTED WHEN IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT MY WIFE WOULD BE SAFER WITH NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. WITH THE LIGHT ON SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES NOT, WHERE IS THE FRONT SEAT PROTECTION THAT THE ENGINEERS DESIGNED? *TR
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER AND HAVE OBSERVED THAT WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND MAY OR MAY NOT GO OFF AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD OF TIME. I HAVE REPORTED IT TO THE DEALER WHEN I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN FOR THE SCHEDULED TUNE-UP AND OIL CHANGES BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT WEIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO TELL ME WHAT IS THE MINIMUM WEIGHT REQUIREMENT. I FIND THAT HAVING THE WARNING LIGHT ON IS VERY DISCONCERTING SINCE IT MAY BE INDICATING A SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR
MY "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY AS MANY OTHER USERS HAVE REPORTED. THIS HAPPENS WITH ADULTS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT BETWEEN 115-130LBS. I'VE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME THEY DID A FACTORY RESET. THE PROBLEM DIDN'T GO AWAY. THE SECOND TIME, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS WORKING FINE EVEN THOUGH THE TECHNICIAN AGREED THE PROBLEM WOULD CONCERN HER TOO IF IT WAS HER CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL, THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE FRONT SEAT. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES SINCE BUYING THE CAR ON 3/202013. THE CAR HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES AND I'M TOLD EVERYTHING IS WORKING CORRECTLY. NISSAN NEEDS O CORRECT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
SO I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TURNS ON WHILE AN ADULT IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. I HAVE BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS 4 SEPARATE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY PERFORMED A "ZERO POINT" RESET. A FEW DAYS WENT BY AND IT DID IT AGAIN. I TOOK IT BACK 2 TIMES AFTER THAT AND THEY KEPT SAYING THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I HAVE VIDEO OF IT ON MY PHONE. SO I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD SAY ABOUT IT AND THE MANY OTHER PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 10 DAYS. I PERSONALLY SPOKE AND TEST DROVE WITH THE TECHNICIAN AND HE TOLD ME HE PERFORMED THE ZERO POINT RESET AGAIN. BUT WHEN I PICKED IT UP THE PAPERWORK ONLY STATES THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM AND NO WORK WAS PERFORMED. BUT LAST NIGHT THE SAME NIGHT I PICKED IT UP IT DID IT AGAIN AND AGAIN I HAVE VIDEO EVIDENCE OF IT SWITCHING OFF WHILE SITTING IN IT AND DRIVING. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKES NISSAN FIX IT. OH AND THE LOANER CAR WHICH WAS A 2013 NISSAN ROGUE DID THE SAME EXACT THING AND I HAVE 2 VIDEOS OF IT. *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED (ABOVE RADIO CONSOLE) , INDICATING PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF, AT 10:36PM WITH A FULL SIZE ADULT FEMALE PASSENGER SITTING AND BUCKLED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. PRIOR TO THAT INCIDENT, EARLIER IN THE EVENING, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING THE AIRBAG WAS ACTIVE, AT 9:14PM WITH THE PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY AND NO OTHER LOAD PLACED IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT. TWO MINUTES LATER AT 9:16PM THE PASSENGER AIRBAG STATUS INDICATOR CHANGED STATE AND ILLUMINATED AFTER TURNING LEFT ONTO ANOTHER STREET. *TR
PASSENGER PRESENCE DETECTION SYSTEM FAILED TO RECOGNIZE A PASSENGER AND ENABLE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG APPROXIMATELY 30% OF THE TIME. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROLLER. SAME ERROR OCCURRED 2 MONTHS LATER. DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE CONTROLLER AND ADVISED AGAINST PLACING ANYTHING OVER ABOUT 10 LBS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AS THIS WOULD CORRUPT THE PRESENCE DETECTION ALGORITHM. BUT THE DEALER COULDN'T OFFER ANY ASSURANCE THAT THE SYSTEM WOULDN'T FAIL AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED THAT THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE SENSOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,464. .... UPDATED 10-17-13 *BF UPDATED 10/23/2013 *JS
PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED WHILE ADULT PASSENGER IS SEATED DURING REGULAR DRIVING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SOMETIMES IT IS ILLUMINATED WHILE AN ADULT PASSENGER IS RIDING AND SOMETIMES NOT. MY CAR DOES NOT FALL IN THE RECENT RECALL BATCH FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
PASSENGER AIR BAG INDICATES OFF WITH OCCUPANT IN SEAT.- RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR ON JAN,21, APR 4, MAY 14 AND JUNE 4. DEALER REPLACED OCCUPANT SENSORS ON APRIL 4,2013. PROBLEM WAS NOT RECTIFIED, THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO DEFECT. FILED COMPLAINT WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, THEY CLAIM THEY COULD ONLY GO BY WHAT DEALER STATES. THEREFORE THEY ARE USELESS TO CONSUMER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WARNING MESSAGE WAS ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OPERABLE AND WITHOUT FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE HIS WIFE, SAT IN THE SEAT. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS THE AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. IN ALL OF THESE CASES AN ADULT HAS OCCUPIED THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS ISSUE IS NOT CONSISTENT. IN ONE CASE WHEN IT DID NOT DEPLOY I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND IT APPEARS TO WORK CORRECTLY. AT THIS TIME I DO NOT KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS ENGAGED OR NOT. I CONSIDER THIS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT OFF IS COMING ON WITH AN ADULT SITTING IN THE SEAT. TOOK CAR IN TO DEALERSHIP. THEY RAN COMPUTER TEST AND NOTHING CAME UP. TEST DROVE WITH ME SITTING IN PASSENGER SEAT AND PROBLEM STILL HAPPENED. TECH PERFORMED MULTIPOINT VEHICLE INSPECTION AND NOTHING CAME UP. EVEN THOU PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, NISSAN STATES ALL SYSTEMS OPERATING TO SPECIFICATION. IN MY OPINION, NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I'M HOPING NISSAN DOES NOT WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED TO ISSUE A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG OFF INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY EVEN THOUGH A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WAS PRESENT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANT WEIGHTED LESS THAN 130 POUNDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THE SIMILAR DEFECT. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FUNCTIONED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000...UPDATED 06/17/13 *BF
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN PERFORMED REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V069000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SIX TIMES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE CENTER CONSOLE AND IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER EVERY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 380. *TR
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. 35 MILES. I HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY RESET THE SENSOR AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING MORE THAT COULD BE DONE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES AND THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH ANYONE SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. I'M NOT HAVING MUCH LUCK WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THEY SAY THEY WILL CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND WILL FILE MY CASE AND CONTACT ME IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. HELP! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER DID NOT WEIGH ENOUGH FOR THE AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT THEN RODE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED FOR A OCCUPANT WITH MORE BODY MASS. A SECOND APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED WITH THE DEALER FIR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300.
I PURCHASED A NEW 2013 ALTIMA SEDAN 2.5SL MID OF MARCH. 1. PASSENFER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ON. PASSENGER AIRBAG SEEMS TO DISABLE ITSELF RANDOMLY. 2. WHINING OR WHISTLING NOISE FROM ENGINE BAY. 3. WHEN I MAKE A TURN(LETF, RIGHT BOTH) I CAN HEAR DRUMING SOUND FROM BACK. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOR 30 MILES. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND ON THE THIRD VISIT, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,200. UPDATED 9/24/13*CN THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/25/13
PASSENGER AIR BAG PERIODICALLY TURNS ITSELF OFF DURING A TRIP AND WILL NOT RESET UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED PERIODICALLY, APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES. I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT CHANGE THE DEFECTIVE SENSOR UNTIL NISSAN OFFICIALLY RECALLED THE PART. THEY SIMPLY LOOSENED AND THEN RETORQUES THE SENSOR. *TR
WE HAD ANEW 2013 ALTIMA WITH 2000MILES ON IT WAS TRAVELING 25 OR SO MPH GOT HOT IN REAR END BY A F 350 GOING 60 OR70MPH HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BOTH SIDES DAMAGED ME AND THE WIFE HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE CAR NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF N HAS A PROBLEM. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Nissan Altima has 371 Air Bags complaints on file. 17 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.