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 ↗2007 Nissan Maxima airbags problems
severe 17 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 17 airbags complaints filed for the 2007 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 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 ↗NISSAN: CONSUMER ALERT ISSUED, REGARDING COUNTERFEIT AIR BAGS AND DANGER OF USING, INSTALLING OR REPLACING, IN VEHICLES AND AIR BAGS FAILS TO MEET STANDARDS OF RELIABILITY, QUALITY, AND DURABILITY OF GENUINE PARTS. NO MODELS OR YEARS LISTED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2007 Nissan Maxima airbag system shows a pattern of electrical and mechanical failures. Most common is the airbag warning light illuminating at random or staying on continuously, often with no diagnostic code present. Dealers struggle to find the root cause—one owner had a dealer touch wires under the seat to clear the light temporarily, and another was quoted $1,000 for a module replacement despite no code. One owner's driver side airbag module and spiral cable were replaced under dealer service, but the warning light came back. The light can persist for years without resolution.
More concerning are deployment failures: two owners report airbags deploying while the vehicle sat parked, triggered only by closing the driver door—one incident burned an owner's arm. A separate complaint documents airbags that failed to deploy during a head-on collision at 25 mph, leaving the driver with a fractured sternum. Another owner reports both driver and passenger airbags failed simultaneously. Nissan has issued airbag recalls for other 2007-2008 models but did not include the Maxima, despite owners reporting identical issues online. Multiple dealers admitted they didn't know how to fix the problem without a code.
Same Nissan Maxima airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light malfunction
Airbag warning light illuminates at random, continues to come on intermittently, or stays on constantly. Light sometimes goes off temporarily then returns. Dealers often cannot diagnose the cause and cannot provide repairs without a diagnostic code, leaving the vehicle unrepaired for extended periods.
When: Occurs during vehicle operation, often at 61,375 to 123,500 miles; some occurrences early in ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates randomly or continuously; Light intermittently goes off then returns; Light flashing on dashboard; No diagnostic codes present despite light activation
Codes mentioned: B1049 (Driver airbag module open)
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer quoted $1,000 for airbag replacement when no code was present; another repair replaced driver side airbag module and spiral cable but failure recurred; some owners never repaired due to dealer inability to diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan initially stated no campaign was open; one report mentions Takata recall airbag light issue; other Nissan models had airbag sensor/harness recalls that may have excluded the 2007 Maxima
Airbag deployment when door closes
Driver or front passenger side airbags deploy while the vehicle is parked and stationary, triggered only by closing the driver side door. No collision or impact involved.
When: Occurs while vehicle is parked in driveway; timing relative to purchase unclear in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deploy without accident or collision; Triggered by closing driver side door while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports arm burn from airbag deployment; airbags missing on one vehicle that had been repossessed and resold
Airbag failure to deploy in collision
Airbags failed to deploy during a head-on crash after the vehicle's passenger door was struck at approximately 25 mph. Vehicle was destroyed and driver sustained a fractured sternum.
When: At 90,000 miles; collision occurred while driving approximately 25 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy during frontal collision; Driver sustained fractured sternum
Both driver and passenger airbags failed simultaneously
Both driver side and front passenger side airbags failed at the same time. Owner notes that other 2007-2008 Nissan models had airbag recalls for similar issues but the Maxima was not included.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Driver and passenger airbags both failed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Airbag recalls issued for other 2007-2008 Nissan models but Maxima was not included in recall campaign
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Crashed into guard rail and air bag did not deploy. *tr
I started my car up on 12/11/2019 and my airbag light came on and has been flashing since with no accident. I'm afraid my airbag will deploy while driving down the road.
2007 Nissan maxima. Consumer wanted to know if his vehicle has faulty air bags. *ta
Airbag warning light won't turn off. I'm worried it will spontaneously deploy at anytime. It is the opinion of various car wash establishments that roof and hood paint is a common defect on Nissan vehicles, including Mini-vans. My car's hood and roof look like I've lived by the sea for years. Truth is that I've always lived inland. There's no reason why my car should look 20 years old! *tr
Had airbags trouble with your 2007 Nissan Maxima?
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 2007 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 17 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 85,001 and 101,498 miles, with the median around 98,240. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,001; a quarter make it past 101,498. 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/2007/Nissan/Maxima.
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.