Nissan Altima airbag problems, 2016–2026
195 of the 1,737 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Nissan Altima 2016–2026 name the airbags (NHTSA’s “Air Bags” heading — airbags, their sensors and warning lights). The loudest years: 2017 (73), 2016 (70), 2018 (37). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 manufacturer bulletin, 2 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Nissan Altima airbag problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the airbags | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 1 | 14% | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 3 | 10% | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 11 | 5% | — | — | the year → |
| 2018 | 37 | 16% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 73 | 19% | 65k | 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 70 | 13% | 54k | 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the airbags. Nothing here is a rate.
When the airbag complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 3 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 17 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 22 · 2022: 22 · 2023: 38 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 23 · 2026: 15
Across the model years, half of the 63 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the airbag problem between 29,000 and 74,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the airbags, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My airbag light came on 2 weeks ago. I took it to Nissan and was told I had no error codes, but if the airbag light came back on to bring it back. The light came on again yesterday. I returned to Nissan to be informed that the airbag has to be replaced.
At certain times the front impact radar will say it is blocked or not functioning. Twice it has actually applied the brakes with nothing in front of it. Now the air bag light is on and will not go off
Husband was in an accident in june. Stopped at a redlight on the city street going north, when he was hit from behind. The rear end ended up in the middle of the car. I do not know if airbags are suppose to deploy when he was stopped at the red light. His did not. He sustained minor injuries brusing to his neck shoulders and hands
A deer was struck by my 2016 Nissan Altima at a relatively high rate of speed (45 MPH) on a city street straightaway with front end impact that resulted in approximately $11,000 worth of damage. The driver sustained brusing of the chest and shoulder from the pressure of the seatbelt restraint.
OCS system is faulty causing the airbags for the passenger to disengage. I am out of warranty for mileage at the time of the problem by 6,000. The car was 3 years old and it is an on going problem again.
What is on file about the airbags, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 26V526000 HighAug 12, 2026 · 149 vehicles
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2025 Altima vehicles. The front passenger air bag and front passenger knee air bag may have been installed with incorrect mounting fasteners, which can cause the air bags not to deploy as intended.
- 16V244000 HighApr 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
NHTSA investigation
- EA21002 Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Ruptureopened Sep 17, 2021 · open
- From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupt…
1 manufacturer bulletin filed under this heading, any model year
- Sep 19, 2024
- DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
Every one filed under the heading is listed. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the Nissan Altima
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Nissan Altima problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Nissan Altima years have the most airbag complaints?
2017, 73; 2016, 70; 2018, 37. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (19%).
Is there a recall for the airbags on the Nissan Altima?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V526000 (2025), 16V244000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do airbag problems show up on the Nissan Altima?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 54,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 29,000 and 74,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Air Bags" heading cover?
Airbags, their sensors and warning lights. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.