The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti G37. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated, and the message "Seat Belt Off" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC code: B1018 was retrieved. The dealer determined that the passenger's side seat occupant classification system sensor and module diagnostic unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…
2012 INFINITI G37 airbags problems
moderate 26 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
26
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 26 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 INFINITI G37, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Airbags accounts for 41% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2012 G37 has a widespread occupant sensor failure affecting the passenger airbag system, typically costing $6,000–$9,000 to repair via full seat replacement and often occurring between 35,000 and 180,000 miles. Infiniti will not warranty the repair once the manufacturer's period expires, and owners report the issue is common enough that dealers acknowledge seeing it regularly on cars 3–4 years old.
The most common complaint involves the passenger-side occupant classification sensor failing, causing the airbag-off light to stay illuminated even when an adult occupies the seat. Owners cite diagnostic code B1018 and report Infiniti dealers quote $6,000 to $9,000 to fix it—because the sensor is built into the seat base, the entire seat must be replaced, not just the sensor. Multiple owners state dealers have acknowledged seeing this problem frequently on cars around 3–4 years old.
Failures occur anywhere from 16,000 to nearly 179,000 miles. Once the vehicle is past the manufacturer's warranty period (usually 3 years), Infiniti declines any assistance or recall despite owners noting this is a documented safety issue affecting "hundreds" of G37 and other Nissan/Infiniti models. One owner reported airbags failing to deploy in two separate low-speed crashes at 83,000 miles.
A separate failure mode involves the airbag diagnostic control unit failing after battery depletion or improper jump-starting, disabling the airbag system entirely until replaced ($1,500 cost cited). One owner also discovered a vehicle had a bypassed airbag system flagged by diagnostics at sale, with no accident disclosure to the prior owner.
Owners express frustration that repair cost often approaches or exceeds 25–75% of the vehicle's current market value, forcing a choice between an unsafe condition or crushing financial burden.
Same INFINITI G37 airbags reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor Failure
The passenger-side occupant detection sensor fails to recognize occupants or malfunctions, triggering the airbag-off indicator light even when adults are seated. The sensor is integrated into the seat base, requiring full seat replacement rather than sensor-only replacement.
When: Typically 35,000–178,789 miles; some failures reported as early as 16,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag off light illuminates continuously; Supplemental airbag warning light flashing; Passenger airbag disabled despite occupied seat; Light remains on regardless of passenger weight (generally above 110 lbs); No warning prior to failure
Codes mentioned: B1018
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of entire front passenger seat required; quoted costs range from $6,000 to $9,000 including labor. Dealers note sensor cannot be replaced independently.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti declines warranty assistance once vehicle is beyond warranty period (typically 3 years or 60,000 miles). Owners report dealers acknowledge seeing this issue increasingly on 3–4 year old vehicles. NHTSA hotline referral documented in at least one complaint. Infiniti USA confirms passenger airbag will not deploy if sensor fails.
Airbag Diagnostic Unit Failure After Battery Depletion
The airbag diagnostic control module fails after the vehicle battery is deeply discharged or incorrectly jumped, leaving airbags non-functional until the module is replaced.
When: Occurs following battery drain or improper jump-start procedure
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light remains illuminated after battery recharge; No airbag deployment capability until repair; Failure triggered by low-power state or jump-start event
Codes mentioned: Airbag system failure
Repairs/costs cited: Repair quoted at $1,500 for diagnostic unit replacement.
Airbag Failure to Deploy in Collision
In at least one documented incident, airbags did not deploy during two separate low-speed crashes (5 mph and 10 mph impact speeds). Vehicle struck cement barrier and building structures in both instances without airbag deployment.
When: At 83,000 miles; two crashes occurred May 23 and July 3, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in low-speed barrier and building impacts; Vehicle deemed totaled by insurance after second impact
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed after totaling; no repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner advised to bring vehicle to dealer for inspection; no documented manufacturer investigation.
Bypassed Airbag System (Undisclosed Repair History)
At least one vehicle had airbag system diagnostically flagged as bypassed, suggesting prior accident repair or sensor disabling without proper re-enablement. Discovered during pre-purchase inspection.
When: Condition present at time of used-car sale transaction
Symptoms owners cite: Diagnostic scan reveals airbag system bypass; No prior disclosure of accident or prior repair to owner; Discovered by third-party diagnostics during sale
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The air bag sensor on the passenger seat has failed and the passenger seat does not recognize even an adult person sitting on it. As a result the airbag-off light for the passenger is always on and I am afraid if the rest of the airbags are working properly due to this faulty sensor. I looked up online after my sensor failed and it seems like this is a common issue for G37 vehicles. The only…
G37 2012' Infiniti journey coupe. VIN. # [xxx] my air bag light on my dash board, indicated that my passenger side air bag has been disabled. Check if there's a fix! ,,,,it was suggested that it must be brought back to the dealer to check out! Service chg. $150. If it must be repaired the cost to repair the issue...a chg. To repair & replace the controller & front passenger seat would be in…
My car has a light on which refers to the passenger airbag.
Bought this vehicle from crest Infiniti with remainder of warranty which just ran out but as I went to sell the car privately the buyer was a car dealer in norman, ok who came down to plano, tx with trailer and cashier's check. After hooking up to diagnostic machine he refused to purchase due to an issue with the air bags and something about bypassed (report attached to complaint) air bags issue.…
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 INFINITI G37?
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 2012 INFINITI G37?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 26 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 15 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 32,000 and 76,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 32,000; a quarter make it past 76,000. 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/2012/INFINITI/G37.
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.