In 2017 I brought in my Nissan leaf to be serviced for a recall notice for the ocs sensor. Before then, the ocs sensor seemed to be working fine but I figured I should perform the service for safety. This last year the ocs sensor has stopped working completely. Now I have a red blinking light that warns that the passenger air bag is not working. I took it to a Nissan service center, they want to…
2013 Nissan Leaf airbags problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Among the 6 model years of Nissan Leaf 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 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving, the right front airbag light activated, indicating that the airbag was off. This occurred and continues to occur, regardless of the passenger's weight, or the absence of a passenger. Nissan serviced the vehicle once before with a "software update" that did nothing to correct this very serious defect. How many victims need to die or become crippled before this is corrected? *js
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Nissan Leaf?
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 2013 Nissan Leaf?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 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?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 37,434 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2013/Nissan/Leaf.
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.