AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHING INDICATING SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC MODE IF YOU CONFIRM The air bag warning light is flashing slowly (repeating 2 seconds ON, 2 seconds OFF). NOTE: If this should occur, the Air Bag Diagnosis Sensor Unit is in Diagnostic Mode and needs to be returned to User Mode. ACTION 1. Use CONSULT-III plus to check for Air Bag DTCs and perform repairs as needed. 2. Return the Air Bag Diagnosis Sensor Unit to User Mode.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 Nissan Frontier airbags problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Frontier, 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
Airbags accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
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.
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.
Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign UPDATE January 5, 2018 The announcement from October 6, 2017 has been revised: - Dealers may now use revised TSB NTB17-070 to resume repair of 2004-2006 model year vehicles. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign Temporary suspension of this campaign on all affected 2004-2006 model year vehicles. Nissan is aware of reprogramming concerns on 2004-2006 models subject to P7318 Air Bag Control Unit Reprogramming and is working diligently with the supplier to provide a solution. In the interim, Nissan recommends dealers suspend reprogramming activity on all 2004-2006 models until a software remedy is available. These models will continue to be identified in Service Comm and DBS National Service History with an open P7318 campaign. Nissan will provide an update as soon as revised software is available. Please discard previous versions of this bullet
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Air Bag Control Unit Reprogram Voluntary Service Campaign ***** Campaign Summary***** Nissan is committed to customer satisfaction. Nissan is conducting a Voluntary Service Campaign to reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) in 2004-2014 Titan, 2005-2014 Frontier, and 2005-2014 Xterra vehicles. The current ACU rollover-sensing calibration logic could allow for unintended curtain air bag deployment in rare instances occurring under certain unique driving scenarios, usually involving unpaved roads or off-road where one side of the vehicle is higher than the other. The ACU reprogramming will improve rollover-sensing calibration to address certain unique driving scenarios, and help prevent unin
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2012-2014 TITAN, FRONTIER, AND XTERRA; AIR BAG DIAGNOSIS SENSOR UNIT INTRODUCTION Nissan is conducting a voluntary service campaign on certain specific model year 2012- 2014 Titan, Frontier, and Xterra vehicles to reprogram the air bag diagnosis sensor unit. This repair will be performed at no charge to the customer for parts or labor. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER Nissan has assigned identification number P7318 to this campaign. This number must appear on all communications and documentation of any nature dealing with this campaign. DEALER RESPONSIBILITY Dealers are to repair vehicles falling within range of this campaign that enter the service department. This includes v
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe two opposite failure modes in 2014 Frontier airbag systems: spontaneous deployment and complete failure. Some report airbags deploying at highway speeds with no collision and no warning light, creating a safety hazard as they obstruct vision and can cause secondary accidents. Others experience airbag warning lights that stay on constantly or flash whenever the ignition is turned on, with diagnosis revealing non-functional sensors or failed clock springs. One owner crashed the truck into a tree at 55 mph and the airbags never deployed at all.
The clock spring component appears to be a chronic weak point. One owner replaced it at a dealership for $852.72 and said the service technician acknowledged this happens frequently on these trucks. Nissan's own literature states clock springs are "designed to last the lifetime of the vehicle," yet Nissan consumer affairs denied warranty coverage for a 66,000-mile failure, citing a 5-year/60,000-mile limit.
Dealers have declined repairs in several cases because Nissan has not issued a recall for these issues. One owner's truck sat unrepaired at 150,000 miles with a constant airbag light. The failures begin showing up in the 7,000- to 66,000-mile range and continue past 150,000 miles.
Same Nissan Frontier airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous airbag deployment
Driver and/or side airbags deploy without any impact or collision. Owners report deploying at low speeds (25 mph) with no warning light beforehand, causing vision obstruction and risk of secondary crash.
When: 7,000 miles; 139,900 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deploy during normal driving; No impact or collision precedes deployment; No warning light illuminates before deployment; Vision obstructed after deployment
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers reported need to replace airbag system and seat belt system components; one owner declined repair due to cost
Airbag clock spring failure
Clock spring spiral cable fails, rendering airbag system non-functional and triggering warning light. Designed to last lifetime of vehicle but fails well before vehicle end-of-life.
When: 66,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Airbags will not deploy
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement cost $852.72; one owner reported service technician stated this failure happens frequently on these trucks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan denied coverage under 5-year/60,000-mile warranty despite owner having 66,000 miles; Nissan consumer affairs case number 46685014
Airbag warning light on, system non-responsive
Airbag warning light illuminates and remains constantly lit or flashing at key-on. Indicates system malfunction but vehicle not repaired due to lack of recall coverage.
When: 150,000 miles; timing varies
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light constant or blinking at ignition on; Light remains on while driving at any speed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers declined repair without recall; one diagnosis indicated airbag sensor not working
Non-functional passenger airbag
Passenger side airbag fails to function properly, requiring replacement of passenger side seat and airbag assembly.
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag does not function
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger side seat and airbag replacement required; diagnosed at authorized Nissan dealer in Eugene, Oregon
Airbag non-deployment in crash
Airbags fail to deploy during a legitimate tree collision at 55 mph. No warning light illuminated before crash.
When: 66,120 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during impact; No warning light before crash
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle totaled; not diagnosed or repaired
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Airbag light comes on when ignition turned on and remains blinking/flashing until ignition turned off. Remains on whether standing still or in motion at any speed
Side Air bags deployed while crossing a railroad crossing.
Horn did not work and Airbag light keeps flashing
The Air Bag Clock Spring Spiral Cable failed on 6-29-2022. Nissan replaced the component 6-30-2022 at a cost to me of 852.72. I spoke with several service technicians at this dealership and I quote... yep, this happens all the time with these clock springs. I called Nissan consumer affairs. My case number was 46685014. They said since this is covered under the 5 year 60 K miles that they would…
Tl* the contact owned a 2014 Nissan frontier. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into a tree. None of the air bags deployed. There was no warning indicator illuminated. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer was not called. The manufacturer was not made aware of the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Nissan Frontier?
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 2014 Nissan Frontier?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 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 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 87,132 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/2014/Nissan/Frontier.
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.