SERVICE INFORMATION Changes or modifications to the front seat assembly trim materials may affect the proper operation of the Front Seat-Mounted Side-Impact Supplemental Air Bags and Passenger Occupant Classification Sensor and could result in serious personal injury or death. Nissan STRONGLY RECOMMENDS AGAINST making any change to seat trim materials from the factory equipped condition. This specifically applies to replacing the seat trim with non-factory materials; adding leather/cloth seat covers, seat pads, or seat storage pouches, etc. around or over the seat back and the passenger seat cushion. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Nissan Maxima airbags problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 16 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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 26% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 8 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
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.
SERVICE INFORMATION Information necessary to service the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) safely is included in the "RESTRAINTS" section of the Electronic Service Manual (ESM) for each vehicle. IMPORTANT: Turn the ignition switch OFF, disconnect both battery terminals, and wait at least 3 minutes before performing any service on the SRS. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION If you confirm there is a need to replace the steering wheel switches on an Applied Vehicle for any reason: - Do not replace the driver air bag module. The steering wheel switches are now available as a separate service part. - Refer to the Service Procedure in this bulletin for steering wheel switch removal and installation instructions. See this bulletin for more detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗IF YOU CONFIRM: The front passenger seatback has a greater than normal vibration at highway speeds AND There are no other shake or vibrations with the vehicle. ACTION: Use the REPAIR FLOW CHART on page 3 to determine the repair(s) to be performed. NOTES: - The description under IF YOU CONFIRM must exist for this bulletin to apply. - If determined the passenger seatback frame will be replaced: - The headrest, seatback pad, seatback frame bolts, and side airbag nuts must also be replaced. - The seatback trim and seatback board will be reused. - Do not replace the seat cushion and frame assembly or complete seat assembly. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report the passenger side airbag warning light illuminating when adult passengers (typically 110–200+ lbs) sit in the front seat, indicating the airbag is disabled. The light behavior varies: some owners see it turn on and off repeatedly during a trip; others report it stays on the entire drive. A few describe temporary fixes when restarting the engine or having the passenger get up and reseat, but the problem returns. One owner states the light is on roughly 90 percent of the time with an adult passenger present.
Nissan service departments have been unable to replicate the issue, with multiple dealers returning vehicles without repairs. One dealer stated Nissan North America is aware of the problem but has no determined fix. Another owner was told not to place passengers in the seat until resolved. One owner's attempted seat replacement did not correct the condition. A single narrative reports an airbag that failed to deploy during an actual collision, resulting in chest injury. Owners express alarm that the warning light suggests their airbags will not function in a crash despite passenger weights far exceeding the occupant-detection threshold.
Same Nissan Maxima airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Airbag Off Light Illuminates Intermittently During Operation
Passenger side airbag warning lamp illuminates while vehicle is in motion with adult passengers (typically 110–200+ lbs) seated in the front passenger seat. The light may come on and off unpredictably during a single trip or remain on continuously throughout the drive. Some owners report the light turns off when the passenger unbuckles, exits, or the engine is restarted; others report it stays on regardless. The seat occupant is well above the 80-pound threshold, yet the system signals the airbag is disabled.
When: Occurs during vehicle operation with adult-weight passengers. One owner reported failure starting at 1,000 miles; issue often persists since purchase (new 2013 vehicles).
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'OFF' warning light illuminates while adult passenger seated; Light behavior unpredictable—may turn on and off multiple times during drive; Light turns off after restarting engine or requesting passenger to reseat; Light may remain on continuously throughout trip regardless of passenger actions; Occurs with passengers weighing 90–200+ lbs, well above occupant-detection threshold
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports seat was replaced without correcting the problem. Nissan service departments state no fix is available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan North America aware of the problem; no resolution determined. Dealers unable to replicate issue in service. Dealer advised owner not to place passengers in seat until fixed. One owner submitted defect notification to Nissan Corporate USA; service requested further corporate authorization before attempting repair.
Passenger Airbag Non-Deployment During Collision
One owner claims the airbag failed to deploy during a chest-impact crash event, resulting in injury. This allegation suggests the warning-light condition may correlate with actual airbag disability in a real-world collision.
When: During crash event; no mileage or date provided.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag failed to deploy in front-end collision; Owner sustained chest injury
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes this is not a Takata recall situation.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
When an adult sits in the passenger seat (some over 200lbs) the "airbag off" light remains on. This is from starting the car, driving, until the end of the trip.
When transporting some adult passengers in the front passenger seat, the "passenger airbag off" light remains on throughout the trip. This would seem to me to indicate that in the event of a front-end collision, the airbag would fail to deploy because it is off. I brought my car in to the dealer, who was unable to replicate the situation. No problem could be found. I remain concerned because the…
When transporting some adult passengers in the front passenger seat, the "passenger airbag off" light remains on throughout the trip. This would seem to me to indicate that in the event of a front-end collision, the airbag would fail to deploy because it is off. I brought my car in to the dealer, who was unable to replicate the situation (perhaps because the mechanics weigh more than my wife);…
The passenger side air bag does not activate with my wife in the seat. She is well over the 80 pound limit for activation. Seat was changed but did not change. Dealer service department says there is no fix. This is not acceptable. *tr
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 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 2013 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 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 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 1,500 and 34,634 miles, with the median around 6,033. A quarter of owners report trouble before 1,500; a quarter make it past 34,634. 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/2013/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.