Passenger airbag notifi action blinks and will not show it is activated to function in a crash. Airbag has never worked. Also driver seat belt keeps releasing without being pushed to open. Seat belt issue just began Dec 2023
2012 Nissan Maxima airbags problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
5crashes
1fire
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 25 airbags complaints filed for the 2012 Nissan Maxima, 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
Owners have filed 25 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.
Among the 12 model years of Nissan Maxima in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Vehicle has 50,300 miles when the airbag light went on. Nissan says that the interanal failure to air bag control unit.part number 98820-9n092 was replaced for part price of $463.15. Labor to install was also $463.15.
2012 maxima's passenger airbag off light comes on with adult passengers every 3rd or 4th trip. Went to Nissan dealership, maxima under warranty, they said no codes were tripped and that they can't fix the problem but are aware of it. They also gave me a handout describing the difference between airbag off light and airbag malfunction light. The service manager told me he would call me if there…
Lost control of vehicle and spun around and hit the freeway center divider directly head on at 60mph without any airbags deploying. *tr
The airbags failed to open in a car accident. The front bumper was smashed and my daughter could have prevented injuries if the airbags had open. I have lost trust in Nissan and this crushed my faith in their products! !!!
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 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 20 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 15,000 and 56,564 miles, with the median around 31,301. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,000; a quarter make it past 56,564. 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/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.