VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 2005-2013 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER, AND XTERRA; DRIVER AIR BAG COVER CAMPAIGN ID #: PC945 and PC948 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2005-2013 Frontier (D40) 2005-2012 Pathfinder (R51) 2005-2013 Xterra (N50) 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 2005-2012 Pathfinder, and 2005-2013 Frontier and Xterra 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 identification
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Nissan Xterra airbags problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 21 airbags complaints filed for the 2008 Nissan Xterra, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Among the 8 model years of Nissan Xterra in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 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.
Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign UPDATE January 5, 2018 The announcement from October 6, 2017 has been revised: - Dealers may now use revised TSB NTB17-070 to resume repair of 2004-2006 model year vehicles. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2004-2011 TITAN, AND 2005-2011 FRONTIER AND XTERRA; AIR BAG DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT This bulletin has been amended. The reprogramming procedure has been revised. No other changes have been made. Discard all previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign Temporary suspension of this campaign on all affected 2004-2006 model year vehicles. Nissan is aware of reprogramming concerns on 2004-2006 models subject to P7318 Air Bag Control Unit Reprogramming and is working diligently with the supplier to provide a solution. In the interim, Nissan recommends dealers suspend reprogramming activity on all 2004-2006 models until a software remedy is available. These models will continue to be identified in Service Comm and DBS National Service History with an open P7318 campaign. Nissan will provide an update as soon as revised software is available. Please discard previous versions of this bullet
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Campaign Summary***** Nissan is committed to customer satisfaction. Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) in 2004-2014 Titan, 2005-2014 Frontier, and 2005-2014 Xterra vehicles. The current ACU rollover-sensing calibration logic could allow for unintended curtain air bag deployment in rare instances occurring under certain unique driving scenarios, usually involving unpaved roads or off-road where one side of the vehicle is higher than the other. The ACU reprogramming will improve rollover-sensing calibration to address certain unique driving scenarios, and help prevent unin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Nissan Xterra has a pattern of airbag system failures across multiple failure modes. Owners report driver-side airbags failing to deploy during head-on and side-impact crashes at speeds of 20–45 mph, with occupants sustaining serious injuries including broken ribs, thumb fractures, and nerve damage. Meanwhile, some passenger-side bags deployed normally in the same crashes, or the airbag light incorrectly indicated deployment when the bag did not actually fire.
A separate and widespread complaint involves the airbag warning light flashing or staying illuminated continuously after startup or battery service. Owners report this light cannot be reset despite multiple attempts, and Nissan dealerships attribute the fault to the steering angle sensor requiring a recalibration costing $100+ each time. The light persists even though it bears no relation to actual airbag function.
Passenger-side occupant detection sensors fail intermittently, disabling the passenger airbag on long trips. One owner reported the sensor dropped out on roughly 30% of highway drives. Owners also describe unintended deployments at low speeds and a Takata sensor failure that disabled the passenger airbag within the first year of ownership. Nissan issued recalls 08V690000 and 23V067000, but owners faced 6-week repair delays and unavailable parts.
Same Nissan Xterra airbags reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Driver-side airbag non-deployment in frontal collision
Driver-side airbag failed to deploy during head-on crash or side-impact collision while passenger-side bag did deploy, or deployed incorrectly. Occupants sustained serious injuries including broken bones and nerve damage.
When: 160,000 miles; 60,000 miles; 100,000 miles (rollover)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag did not deploy during impact; Asymmetric deployment (one side deploys, other does not); Airbag light showed deployment when bag did not actually deploy
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 08V690000 (Air Bags: Frontal) issued; some owners reported 6-week delays or unavailable parts for recall repairs
Airbag warning light constant flashing or illumination
Airbag warning light flashes or stays illuminated continuously after vehicle start or after battery disconnect/battery death. Light persists despite reset attempts. Appears unrelated to actual airbag deployment readiness and may indicate faulty sensor circuit.
When: No specific mileage; occurs across multiple mileages (163,000 reported); after battery disconnect events
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light constantly flashing after startup; Airbag light illuminated and will not extinguish; Light returns after reset attempt within minutes of driving; Triggered by battery disconnect, battery death, or alternator replacement
Codes mentioned: Steering angle sensor fault (per Nissan dealer diagnosis)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealers attribute to steering angle sensor requiring reset; reset cost $100+ each occurrence; dealer service unable to duplicate in some cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No factory fix or recall for warning light fault; owners report vague owner's manual guidance on reset procedure
Passenger-side airbag occupant sensor malfunction
Front passenger airbag occupant detection light signals off intermittently when passenger is seated, disabling passenger-side airbag protection. Failure occurs repeatedly on long trips (reported on ~30% of trips by one owner) and has also occurred in Nissan rental vehicles.
When: Usually during restart on long-distance trips; recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag activation light signals off when passenger seated; Airbag disabled intermittently; Occurs repeatedly during long drives
Codes mentioned: Passenger occupant sensor fault (implied)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan repair unable to duplicate fault; dealership suggested customer seating position changes
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V067000 (Air Bags) issued but recall parts unavailable at time of complaint; no alternate remedy provided
Unintended airbag deployment
Airbag deployed on its own without collision or impact, striking occupant in face and causing loss of consciousness and subsequent accident. Occurred on low-speed gravel road travel without heavy loading.
When: Low-speed (5 mph) gravel road driving; also reported during normal operation at 45 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deploys without impact; Vehicle traveling at low speed on unpaved surface when deployment occurred; Occupant struck and incapacitated
Takata passenger seat sensor failure
Passenger front seat occupant sensor failed, disabling passenger-side airbag protection. Sensor failure flashes airbag dash light continuously. Vehicle was one year old at failure.
When: One year old (manufacturer warranty period)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag disabled; Airbag dash light flashing at all times
Codes mentioned: Takata passenger occupant sensor failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall related to Takata sensor (implied by owner statement); no specific repair or timeline details provided
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan xterra. The contact stated that the air bag warning light flashed and remained illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was to be inspected and diagnosed. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 08v690000 (air bags). The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate…
The vdc and slip light are constantly on when the battery has either died, or has been disconnected. Once the battery is disconnected the vdc is off and the slip system is off as well. After the battery was disconnected once again the vdc, slip system, and now my air bag light is now constantly flashing and illuminated. I've researched this problem and there are hundreds or thousands that have…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan xterra. The contact stated that a vehicle failed to yield at the red light and proceeded to crash into the contacts drivers door. The driver frontal air bag failed to deployed; however, the drivers frontal air bag light indicated that the air bag deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained injuries to the left should, elbow, back and hip. The…
Had airbags trouble with your 2008 Nissan Xterra?
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 2008 Nissan Xterra?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 27,000 and 107,000 miles, with the median around 58,250. A quarter of owners report trouble before 27,000; a quarter make it past 107,000. 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/2008/Nissan/Xterra.
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.