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severe Owners of the 2013 Nissan Altima have filed 433 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Altima | 83 |
| 2010 Altima | 50 |
| 2011 Altima | 20 |
| 2012 Altima | 48 |
| 2013 Altima (this page) | 433 |
| 2014 Altima | 188 |
| 2015 Altima | 157 |
| 2016 Altima | 62 |
| 2017 Altima | 69 |
Of the 17 model years of Nissan Altima we track for airbags problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 433.
All 4 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
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.
DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed (continued on the next page) And The following screen displays: ACTION 1. Check the Occupant Classification System (OCS) control unit using the ODS Analysis tool software. ï· Refer to SERVICE PROCEDURE on page 5. HINT: âOCSâ may also be referred to as âODSâ. 2. Perform â75-zero RESETâ.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners describe a pervasive occupant classification system (OCS) failure on the 2013 Nissan Altima that leaves passengers unprotected. The core issue: the passenger-seat airbag warning light turns on randomly or stays continuously lit even with adults present, signaling the airbag is disabled when it should be active. Some report the light never extinguishes after startup; others see it flicker on and off during drives at any speed.
The occupancy sensor misidentifies passenger weight. Adults weighing 110–220 pounds trigger the "airbag off" indicator unpredictably. Temperature, humidity, seat position, and seatbelt timing appear to influence the malfunction. One owner installed seat spacers hoping to fool the faulty sensor.
Nissan issued multiple recalls (13V-069, 15V-681, 16V-244, NTB16-052) involving software reprogramming and sensor replacement, yet failures persist after repairs. Dealers report no error codes and cannot replicate the problem during inspection, frustrating owners who submit video evidence. Some buyers faced out-of-warranty repair costs of $700–$1,500 for replacement modules, sensors, or seat assemblies. One crash occurred with the airbag disabled and did not deploy. Owners report Nissan corporate refusing further remedies and suggesting the system design cannot be fixed. The repeated ineffective recalls have compounded customer distrust.
Same Nissan Altima airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
The occupancy sensor erroneously detects no passenger or classifies adults as below the deployment threshold, illuminating the passenger airbag 'OFF' warning light and deactivating protection even with a properly seated adult present. The malfunction is intermittent and unpredictable, occurring at rest, during startup, or while driving at any speed.
When: Intermittent throughout vehicle ownership; some owners report issues beginning weeks after purchase, others after thousands of miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning light (amber/orange) illuminates with adult in seat; Red supplemental restraint system (SRS) warning light comes on; Airbag light stays on for 15+ minutes or entire trip; Light turns on/off randomly during a single drive, sometimes at highway speeds; Light persists even when passenger is seated, buckled, and sitting upright; Light may clear after car is shut off and restarted; Behavior worsens in hot weather or after long drives; Light behavior inconsistent regardless of passenger weight (110–220 lbs triggering identical issues)
Codes mentioned: B00AQ00 (OCS control unit and sensors requiring replacement)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have performed: sensor replacement ($189–$700 labor/parts), OCS control unit replacement ($539–$1,500), software reprogramming (TSB repairs), 'zero-point' recalibration resets. Multiple visits (up to 11 documented) show recurring failure. One owner installed custom seat spacers. Some repairs temporarily resolved the issue (4 weeks reported). Sensor replacement parts often unavailable or on backorder.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls 13V-069 (sensor reprogramming, Feb 2013), 15V-681 (OCS control unit, 2015), 16V-244 (OCS retrofit, 2016), NTB16-052 (passenger airbag recall). Software updates and reprogramming TSBs issued and applied multiple times, yet failures have recurred post-repair. Nissan corporate stated no further fixes available. One owner reported Nissan offered 15-year warranty on the OCS system but declined to honor it when same issue recurred post-recall. Some customers told the system is a 'design problem' unfixable by mechanics.
After a passenger-side airbag recall procedure, some owners report the driver-side airbag warning light unexpectedly illuminates, indicating driver protection is also disabled. One owner's driver airbag worked prior to the recall service.
When: Immediately following recall service procedure (NTB16-052)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag warning light (red SRS light) comes on after recall service; Light persists; previously functioning driver airbag now shows disabled status
Repairs/costs cited: One owner was charged $149.49 for a 'zero-point reset' after the dealership claimed low battery voltage (below 12V) triggered the light. The dealer then replaced the battery without authorization. When the owner reinstalled the original battery (which measured 12 volts and started the car normally), the dealer called it 'marginal' but the car continued operating normally for weeks.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer informed owner that any battery voltage drop below 12V will disable the airbag system and require a reset service charge. Nissan corporate did not provide a remedy; owner requested they acknowledge this as a design flaw unique to Nissan among major manufacturers.
After the 2016 recall (16V-244), some owners report the passenger airbag 'OFF' warning light remains permanently illuminated when the seat is unoccupied—a reversal of normal operation. This continuous warning trains drivers to ignore the indicator, defeating its safety purpose when it should alert them to a genuine fault with a real passenger present.
When: Post-2016 recall (16V-244)
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'OFF' light always on when seat is empty; Light stays illuminated even during startup (should only light 7 seconds as boot-up test); Creates 'alarm fatigue'—driver habituates to the constant warning and may miss genuine alerts
Repairs/costs cited: No documented owner-reported repairs; complaint frames this as a faulty recall design rather than a fixable defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V-244 applied; owners state this altered the light behavior incorrectly.
The seat pressure/weight sensor either fails to detect a passenger is seated or incorrectly categorizes them, triggering airbag suppression for adults who clearly meet minimum weight thresholds. A 22-lb object can falsely trigger seat-belt warnings and disable the airbag; simultaneously, normal-weight adults trigger the 'off' light unpredictably.
When: Ongoing throughout ownership; intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag disables for passengers weighing 110–220 lbs (well above minimum threshold of 108 lbs per spec); Light comes on when heavy objects (22 lbs) placed in seat; Sensor detects inanimate objects as passengers, triggering seatbelt warning; Inconsistent behavior: same passenger weight sometimes triggers light, sometimes does not; Light behavior may correlate with temperature, humidity, or seat position
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor reset/recalibration attempted repeatedly (up to 6 times per owner). Owners report no error codes found during diagnostic scans, preventing warranty repair. Custom measures attempted: one owner raised the seat 1 inch with spacers (dealership then claimed this voided the sensor warranty).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan claimed proprietary threshold weight data is not available to customers. TSB NTB19-071 references the sensor issue but dealers often claim it is not covered by warranty if vehicle is out of the initial warranty period. Multiple recalls attempted to address this via software, without lasting success.
At least one owner reported a crash in which the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle had exhibited the passenger airbag warning light on prior to the collision, and the dealership had been shown video evidence but took no corrective action. The crash resulted in serious injuries.
When: Crash occurred after months of reported airbag light issues and at least one prior dealership visit showing the problem
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light was on before crash (signaling airbag disabled); Passenger airbag did not deploy during front-end collision at 25–30 mph; Driver airbag also did not deploy; Dealer stated upon post-crash inspection: 'They believed that they should have deployed'
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle total loss. Injuries sustained included damaged fender, interior bumper pushed back 10 inches into radiator. No airbag deployment prevented restraint of occupant.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer acknowledged the defect existed but had taken no action prior to the crash despite video evidence being provided. Post-crash, dealership expressed shock that airbags did not deploy.
Even after the OCS recall, owners report the control unit itself fails, requiring full replacement rather than software updates. Dealerships charge owners out of warranty because they claim the failure is separate from the original recall.
When: Recurring months or years after initial OCS recall (e.g., 2013 recall; failures reported through 2019–2023)
Symptoms owners cite: Driver-side airbag light remains on; Passenger airbag light on despite adult present; Multiple OCS sensors show abnormal on diagnostic scan
Codes mentioned: B00AQ00 (OCS ECU and sensor fault)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of OCS control unit and two OCS sensors quoted at $539.88–$700 plus labor. Owners report Nissan's own warranty letter promised one-time retrofit free of charge within 15 years if 'OCS does not perform as described,' but dealerships deny coverage, claiming the failure is 'a separate issue' from the recall.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Original recall warranty letter stated OCS retrofit would be free within 15 years if system malfunctions. Dealerships claim subsequent failures are not covered under the original recall, requiring out-of-pocket customer payment. Nissan corporate has not honored the 15-year warranty promise.
Synthesized from 433 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
This car seems to have the same software issue as other altimas but the VIN does not record a recall. When someone is in the passenger seat, there is no dashboard confirmation and we are worried that the airbag might not deploy.
Seatbealt light is on when no one is one is seated there. Had to take the car to dealership and after charging me $154.99 they recalibrated light and performed zero point calibration. I have the invoice if needed. Why do we have to pay for safety issue?
It's a meaningful issue. 433 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
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.
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.
Yes — 4 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.