Fractured sternum as air bag failed to protect occupant in a crash. Vehicle was moving and hit a vehicle that failed to stop at stop sign
2014 Nissan Murano airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Nissan Murano, 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
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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2014 Murano owners report passenger-side airbag warning lights tied to occupant sensor failures, with dealers demanding $3,700–$5,900 seat replacements for a $39 sensor; some owners also report complete airbag non-deployment during crashes.
The 2014 Murano has a pattern of occupant classification sensor failures in the passenger seat, consistently triggering airbag warning lights. Owners describe the light coming on steady or flashing continuously, often at relatively low mileage—one at 22,500 miles, another at 30,000 miles. Nissan dealers diagnose a faulty OCS sensor mat and refuse to replace just the sensor; they insist on replacing the entire passenger seat bottom at costs ranging from $3,700 to $5,900. The actual sensor part costs $39.02 according to one owner's research, raising questions about why full-seat replacement is mandatory.
Several owners cite their vehicles' exposure to purses or objects in the seat, which dealers blame for sensor failure—a design flaw if normal use breaks the system. One owner noted that 2015–2020 Murano models have recalls for this exact issue but the 2014 was excluded. A technical service bulletin (TSB16-052) was referenced. Insurance will not cover the repair.
Separately, two owners report airbag non-deployment during crashes. One describes steering seize-up at 55 mph into trees with airbags staying off and resulting back injury; another reports a fractured sternum when the airbag failed to deploy during a stop-sign collision. No deployment failures have been associated with the warning-light sensor issue in these narratives.
Same Nissan Murano airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) Failure - Passenger Seat
The occupant classification sensor mat in the passenger seat bottom fails, triggering the airbag warning light. Nissan dealers diagnose this as a fault in the OCS sensor requiring replacement of the entire passenger seat assembly rather than the sensor alone.
When: Mileage varies: 22,500 to 70,000 miles; some failures occur years after purchase (e.g., 6 months after low-battery reset)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates and stays on steady; Airbag warning light flashes continuously; Passenger airbag indicator shows 'off' even with occupant present; Diagnostic scan reveals code B00A0 (occupant detection system error)
Codes mentioned: B00A0, B00A0-00
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $3,700 to $5,900 to replace entire passenger seat bottom. OCS sensor itself costs $39.02 (part 98853-3JA0A) but dealers will not replace sensor in isolation. One dealer charged $185 for diagnostics alone.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan referred one contact to NHTSA Hotline. One owner reported a recall exists for 2015–20?? models but not for 2014 Murano. One dealer mentioned a recall had expired. Technical Service Bulletin TSB16-052 referenced by one owner.
Airbag Non-Deployment in Crash
Airbags failed to deploy during collision. One narrative reports a fractured sternum when airbag did not protect occupant during crash. Another narrative describes a crash at approximately 55 mph into trees with total vehicle destruction where airbags did not deploy.
When: During crash events; mileage not specified for deployment failures
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during collision impact; Occupant injury from lack of airbag protection
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle was destroyed and towed to body shop; no repair attempted. One occupant suffered fractured sternum requiring medical attention.
Airbag Control Module Communication Fault
Airbag control module fails to communicate properly with occupant classification sensor, creating a system-wide malfunction affecting both warning indication and sensor function.
When: Timing not specified in narratives
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light blinking continuously; Passenger airbag indicator always displays 'off' regardless of seat occupancy
Repairs/costs cited: Repair costs estimated over $2,000 per online forums and dealer quotes
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Nissan Murano?
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 Murano?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 53,359 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/Murano.
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.