The passenger side airbag will not activate when I sit in the passenger seat. I am a 5'4" woman that weighs 125lbs. Our 2015 Nissan altima was recalled for the same issue, only I did not experience the problem in that vehicle or in any other vehicle I ride in as a passenger. Even if my purse, which weighs at least 10lbs, or my dog that weighs 25 lbs sits in my lap, the sensor does not register…
2014 Nissan Maxima airbags problems
severe 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 21 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Maxima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 22% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 8 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
Passenger airbag light comes showing that nobody is sitting in the passenger seat when in fact there is somebody sitting there. To me this means that if a crash occurred with someone in the passenger seat and the indicator shows nobody there, the airbag may not deploy. *tr
At random times when I am driving the car and my wife is sitting in the front passenger seat the 'passenger air bag is off' light located in the dash illuminates indicating the system thinks the seat is empty. This is random and always after a period of driving the car. My wife weighs approximately 160#, and is sitting flat bottomed on the seat with both feet on the floor. We have begun taking…
Passenger side air bag stays lit indicating that air bag is off and will not deploy in the event of a crash. This occurs when there is an adult passenger in the seat. Because the light is intermittent when taking it to the dealer if the light is off I am told there is no problem. This is a safety issues that needs to be addressed. I do not feel safe driving with a passenger. *tr
The contact owns a 2014 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The air bag located in the seat failed to activate as designed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger’s side seat sensor was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 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 2014 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 21 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 16 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 30,000 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 36,756. A quarter of owners report trouble before 30,000; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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/2014/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.