VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2004-2012 ARMADA, TITAN, AND 2004-2009 QUEST; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN ID #: PC944, PC946, PC947, PC949 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2004-2012 Armada (TA60) 2004-2009 Quest (V42) 2004-2012 Titan (A60) Check Service COMM or Dealer Business Systems (DBS) National Service History to confirm campaign eligibility. INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting this voluntary safety recall campaign on certain specific model year 2004-2012 Armada, 2004-2012 Titan, and 2004-2009 Quest vehicles, to inspect and if necessary, replace the driver Air Bag Cover. This service will be performed at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Nissan has assigned identific
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Nissan Armada airbags problems
severe 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
1injury
What stands out
Of the 9 model years of Nissan Armada we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 26.
Owners have filed 26 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Diagnosis Sensor Unit Voluntary Service Campaign ? Expiration Notice ***** Campaign Summary***** In 2007, Nissan launched a Voluntary Service Campaign on certain MY2004-05 Quest and Armada vehicles equipped with optional seat-mounted side air bags to inspect and, if necessary, replace the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) Diagnosis Sensor Unit. In a small number of these vehicles, an incorrect SRS Diagnosis Sensor Unit may have been installed after an accident repair or part failure. If an incorrect part installation occurred, the optional seat-mounted side air bags may not deploy during a crash. This service campaign is expiring because the required par
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2004 - 2005 QUEST AND 2004 - 2005 ARMADA SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT Voluntary Service Campaign ID # P7245 is No Longer Active. - Repair orders opened after March 19, 2019 are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # P7245. - Please discard previous versions of NTB07-075.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION Changes or modifications to the front seat assembly trim materials may affect the proper operation of the Front Seat-Mounted Side-Impact Supplemental Air Bags and Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor and could result in serious personal injury or death. Nissan STRONGLY RECOMMENDS AGAINST making any change to seat trim materials from the factory equipped condition. This specifically applies to replacing the seat trim with non-factory materials; adding leather/cloth seat covers, seat pads, or seat storage pouches, etc. around or over the seat back and the passenger seat cushion. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗NISSAN: SRS PRECAUTIONS DURING SERVICE;IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING INCORRECT REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE SRS, CAN LEAD TO A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAUSED BY UNINTENTIONAL ACTIVATION OF THE SRS ON ALL NISSAN MODELS WITH THE SRS SYSTEMS. UPDATED 2/21/14.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2005 Armada airbag system generates two distinct safety problems: warning lights that keep coming back and airbags that don't work when they're supposed to.
Most complaints center on the airbag warning light and harness connector fault. Owners describe the light illuminating, dealerships running diagnostics that confirm the airbags won't deploy, and dealers quoting $385–$650 to replace the faulty harness. Many owners report this exact failure happening two, three, or more times over a few years even after paid repairs—the warning light returns within months or a couple years. Nissan's response has been inconsistent: a service bulletin (NTB06-001) existed for the problem, and some dealerships repaired vehicles for free at their discretion; a recall (P7245) was issued for 2007–2008 models, but 2005 Armadas were often told they don't qualify. Nissan also cited the electrical-component warranty exclusion to deny coverage.
The second and more serious issue is actual deployment failure. Two owners reported head-on collisions where their airbags never deployed despite major impact. One owner struck his head hard enough to bend the steering wheel and suffered head and facial injuries; another experienced a severe frontal crash at 45 mph with no airbag protection. A dealership checked one post-accident vehicle and declared it "functioning OK"—no repair was made.
One report described spontaneous deployment of multiple airbags during routine 40-mph driving with no collision. Another owner noted the passenger-side occupant sensor failure: the light stays on with passengers aboard, indicating the airbag won't deploy if needed.
Same Nissan Armada airbags reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light—harness connector fault
Airbag warning light illuminates on dashboard, often blinking or staying on continuously. Diagnostic testing shows airbags will not deploy in accident. Root cause identified as faulty harness connector linking airbag system, seat weight sensor, and control module. Problem recurs repeatedly even after repair.
When: Reported from low mileage (under 30k) through 160k+ miles; many complaints within first few years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on dashboard (solid or blinking); Computer diagnostic confirms airbags will not deploy; Passenger seat sensor fails to recognize occupant; Seat belt pretensioner not recognized; Multiple warning lights illuminate together (brake, VDC, slip, tire pressure)
Codes mentioned: P72450 (airbag sensor control unit inspection)
Repairs/costs cited: Harness replacement $385–$650 depending on dealer and which harness affected. Left-side harness, right-side harness, full harness system replacements cited. Multiple repairs often required on same vehicle within 1–3 years.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service Bulletin NTB06-001; NTB07 noted. Some dealerships repaired free of charge at their discretion under voluntary service bulletin; recall P7245 issued for some model years (2007–2008) but 2005 Armada coverage unclear and inconsistent. Nissan often denies coverage citing electrical component exclusion from warranty or claims VIN does not match recall eligibility.
Airbag non-deployment in collision
During actual accidents, airbags fail to deploy despite impact forces sufficient to trigger deployment. Occurs in head-on collisions and high-impact accidents. Owners suffer injury from steering wheel and windshield contact due to airbag failure.
When: Documented at 18k miles and during active driving
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during head-on collision at 45 mph; No airbag deployment during accident with steering wheel strike; Owner struck head on steering wheel without airbag cushion; Owner suffered head and facial injuries, neck pain, forehead contusion
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership checked vehicle post-accident and claimed airbag system was functioning; no repair performed despite obvious failure-to-deploy event
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall P7245 cited in correspondence but dealer states VIN not covered. No remedial action provided to owners after collision failures.
Spontaneous airbag deployment
Airbags deploy without collision or impact. Left-side and multiple side airbags deploy simultaneously during normal driving at low speed with no accident.
When: At approximately 40 mph during normal road driving
Symptoms owners cite: Left side airbag deployed without cause; Followed by 4 additional side airbags deploying; No collision or impact preceding deployment
Passenger seat occupant detection failure
Airbag system fails to recognize when a passenger is seated in front passenger position. System displays 'no passenger' warning even when seat is occupied, preventing passenger-side airbag deployment.
When: Ongoing over multiple years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag light remains on constantly with passenger present; System fails to detect occupancy in passenger seat; Airbag warning light stays on for 5+ years continuously
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Nissan Armada?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Nissan Armada?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 57,000 and 112,869 miles, with the median around 73,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 57,000; a quarter make it past 112,869. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Nissan/Armada.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.