2012 nissan Altima airbags problems

severe 47 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100

Complaints

Recalls

Crashes

Avg fix

$1,100

Related recalls

severe NHTSA 11V408000 09/08/2011

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 21, 2011 AND MODEL YEAR 2012 NISSAN NV VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 28, 2011 BECAUSE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) WAS ASSEMBLED INCORRECTLY

THE AFFECTED ACU WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED AND THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE THE AIR BAGS NOT TO INFLATE IN A CRASH WHEN THEY ARE DESIGNED TO INFLATE. THIS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY.

Fix: NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

What owners are reporting 3 most recent

airbags · filed 12/29/2020

MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD AND RECENTLY THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH ON THE DASHBOARD , WHICH IS THE SIGN OF A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP (ELK GROVE NISSAN, CALIFORNIA) AND PAID TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. AFTER PERFORMING THE DIAGNOSTICS, I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1500 TO REPAIR. MY QUESTION TO THEM WAS: " W…

airbags · filed 12/18/2014

THE 'AIRBAG OFF' LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SEAT TURNS ON RANDOMLY, REGARDLESS OF WHO IS IN THE SEAT (140+ POUNDS). THE CAR WAS PURCHASED OFF LEASE LAST YEAR FROM EAST COAST AUTO MALL, 340 SYLVAN AVE, ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, NJ 07632. WE CALLED THEM AND ASKED ABOUT IF THE AIRBAG WOULD DEPLOY IF THE LIGHT WAS ON, EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT, THIS WAS THEIR RESPONSE: "WELL NO.. BUT YOU'R…

airbags · filed 12/15/2015

I NOTICED MY PASSENGER AIRBAG "OFF" INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND MY DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT WAS BLINKING. NO ONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AT THE TIME. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY FOUND AN ERROR CODE B1018 OCS. THIS PROBLEM DID NOT HAVE AN ACTIVE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND TESTED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I CONTACTED NISS…

Common questions

How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 nissan Altima?

It's a meaningful issue. 47 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?

Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.

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?

Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.