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 ↗2006 Nissan 350Z airbags problems
critical 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
4crashes
3injuries
1fatality
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
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.
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 ↗SERVICE INFORMATION Information necessary to service the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) safely is included in the "RESTRAINTS" section of the Electronic Service Manual (ESM) for each vehicle. IMPORTANT: Turn the ignition switch OFF, disconnect both battery terminals, and wait at least 3 minutes before performing any service on the SRS. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two distinct categories of 2006 Nissan 350Z airbag failure: warning lights and deployment failures.
Warning lights: The airbag indicator stays illuminated or flashes continuously, sometimes starting at low mileage (100 miles reported). Nissan dealers have replaced airbag modules on repeat, with one owner citing replacements twice yearly over seven years. Parts became unavailable at dealerships in some cases. Recall 15V-287 was issued; at least one owner filed for recall service but dealer customer service failed to follow up. One complaint cites Takata inflator involvement.
Deployment failures: Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy in crashes. One owner experienced a head-on collision with heavy driver-side damage; the driver-side airbag did not deploy while the passenger-side did. Another owner's wife was hit in a T-bone collision at 35 mph with no airbag deployment. A fatal single-vehicle collision with a tree resulted in complete airbag failure; the 20-year-old driver was killed. These owners contrast their experience with expected airbag behavior from minor impacts in similar model years. One complaint suggests warning-light issues may mask underlying sensor or deployment problems.
Same Nissan 350Z airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light illumination (persistent/intermittent)
Dashboard airbag warning indicator stays on or flashes continuously while engine runs. Owners report the light remains lit even after dealer visits. One owner notes failure started at 100 miles; another at 45,532 miles. One complaint attributes issue to Takata inflator failure.
When: At 100 miles; 45,532 miles; 3 years into ownership (narrative #8)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light constantly illuminates; Airbag indicator light flashes continuously; Light stays on whenever engine is running; Light on passenger side indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced airbag modules twice yearly for seven years (narrative #4); parts were unavailable at other dealerships (narrative #3). One owner was charged for replacement at own expense (narrative #8).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but did not assist (narrative #4). Recall 15V-287 issued; dealer customer service failed to follow up on recall appointment (narrative #6).
Driver-side airbag non-deployment in collision
In a head-on collision with significant damage to driver side and front end, driver-side airbag failed to deploy while passenger-side airbag did deploy. Owner was wearing seatbelt. Owner had previous 2004 Nissan 350Z where side airbag deployed from minor curb strike, making non-deployment in major accident unexpected.
When: During head-on collision; moderate-speed impact
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag did not deploy; Passenger-side airbag deployed normally; Significant frontal damage present; Driver-side door damage, headlight damaged, bumper gone, windshield cracked
Complete airbag non-deployment in T-bone collision
Vehicle struck at approximately 35 mph in T-bone impact (driver made illegal turn in front of owner's wife). Airbags in the vehicle did not deploy at all.
When: During 35 mph T-bone collision
Symptoms owners cite: No airbags deployed; Vehicle struck at ~35 mph impact speed
Complete airbag failure during tree collision (fatal accident)
Vehicle struck a tree. Airbags did not open. Driver, age 20, was killed in the accident. Owner alleges occupant might have survived had airbags deployed.
When: Single-vehicle tree collision
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not open/deploy; Vehicle struck tree
Airbag sensor failure
Airbag sensor failed, triggering warning light. Occurs alongside tire pressure sensor failure in at least one vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag sensor failed; Warning light flashing
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The airbag sensor failed and the light is flashing. The tire pressure sensor failed and the light is on.
I recently bought a used vehicle at norfolk motorsports in norfolk va. They had bought the vehicle thru inspection and it did not pass it, according to the manager, it was missing the air bag on the passenger and they was going to buy the whole component for it instead. I had a meeting with the owner of the company along with the manager, salesperson; the owner had stated to me and my fianc at…
Had airbags trouble with your 2006 Nissan 350Z?
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 2006 Nissan 350Z?
It's a serious issue. 12 complaints have been filed, including 4 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 33,055 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2006/Nissan/350Z.
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.