Passenger air bag is intermittently disabled with passenger in passenger seat. Problem has reocured intermittently numerous times since we purchased vehicle (dec 2014) however dealer says cannot fix until it fail so they can see it. Code no fault found is all they will tell us. Dealer has made no attempt to fix problem other than read codes. No parts replaced, no adjustments made no…
2015 Nissan Murano airbags problems
severe 32 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
32
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
4crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 32 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 Nissan Murano, 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
Owners have filed 32 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Nissan Murano in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 Murano has a widespread occupant classification system defect that leaves passengers without airbag protection roughly 40-50% of the time, even after the recall repair. In actual crashes, the passenger airbag has failed to deploy or inflate, and dealers have been unable or unwilling to fully diagnose or fix the problem.
The 2015 Murano's occupant classification system is faulty. The passenger airbag off indicator light comes on intermittently even with adults in the seat—roughly 40-50% of the time for the same passenger—at idle, during city driving, or on the highway. The light may turn off and back on during the same trip or after an engine restart. Passengers weighing 90 to 270 pounds trigger it, making it clear the problem isn't the occupant's posture or weight, despite dealer claims that sensors are just "sensitive" and owners need to "move around" in the seat.
Nissan issued recall 16V244000 (OCS reprogramming) in 2016. Owners report the recall did not fix the issue; the problem recurs within months or persists outright. In some cases, dealers replaced the entire airbag module with no success. One owner noted the fix is a firmware issue requiring a TSB patch Nissan hasn't released.
More concerning: two crash narratives document passenger airbags that failed to deploy or inflated improperly at highway speeds, leaving occupants without protection. Nissan has acknowledged to one owner that there is no definite weight threshold to activate the airbag—meaning the company admits the system doesn't work as designed. Dealers repeatedly refuse to address the problem, telling owners nothing is wrong and handing them printed guides on "proper seating."
Same Nissan Murano airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Light with Occupant Present
Occupant Classification System (OCS) fails to consistently detect adult passengers in the front passenger seat, causing the 'passenger airbag off' warning light to illuminate intermittently even when an adult is seated. The light may turn on and off randomly during the same drive, at idle, or during motion. Owners report the problem occurs roughly 40-50% of the time with the same passenger. Dealers often misattribute the issue to poor seating posture or claim the sensors are 'very sensitive,' requesting occupants to 'move around' in the seat or restart the engine to reset the system.
When: Intermittent; reported at idle, during city and highway driving, sometimes immediately after engine start, sometimes 1-30 minutes into drive. Occurs from 3,232 miles through 39,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag off indicator light illuminates with adult passenger in seat; Light may extinguish and reilluminate randomly during same drive; Problem occurs roughly 40-50% of the time with same passenger; Occurs with passengers weighing 90-270 lbs; Dealer cannot reproduce issue when testing vehicle; Issue recurs after engine restart and resets after vehicle is turned off and restarted
Codes mentioned: No fault found codes, NHTSA Campaign 16V244000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall 16V244000 (OCS reprogramming/firmware update) performed at dealer; issue persisted after recall in multiple cases. Some dealers replaced entire airbag modules without resolving the problem. Dealers typically provide printed information on proper seating and tell owners nothing is wrong. One owner noted it is a firmware issue requiring TSB patch from Nissan.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V244000 issued (OCS reprogramming). Nissan has acknowledged to at least one owner that there is 'no definite weight that will activate the airbag' and weights in the 110-120 lb range are 'indeterminate.' Nissan corporate has denied the problem exists in some cases; dealer hands are reported tied by corporate approval requirements.
Passenger Airbag Fails to Deploy in Crash
In actual crash scenarios, the passenger-side airbag either failed to deploy or deployed but did not inflate. One narrative reports airbag deployment without inflation and smoke with odor. Another reports complete failure to deploy when vehicle was hit from behind. These failures occurred when occupants were present and the vehicle was in motion.
When: Occurred during active crashes at highway speeds (50-60 mph). Mileages approximately 20,000-22,300.
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag did not deploy during front-impact collision; Passenger airbag deployed but failed to inflate during impact, with smoke and odor; Complete absence of deployment when rear-impact caused secondary front-end collision
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed in crash (one case); cause of failure not determined by collision center. No repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; technical response awaited in one case. Recall 16V244000 was issued but does not appear to have addressed actual deployment failures.
Occupant Classification System Continues to Misclassify After Recall
After recall service (firmware reprogramming), the OCS continues to incorrectly classify adult passengers as children or empty seats, disabling the passenger airbag. Owners describe the system switching between correct and incorrect determination, even with the same occupant seated.
When: Occurs at any time—stationary, city driving, highway driving. Reported post-recall; issue persists as of 2017.
Symptoms owners cite: OCS incorrectly classifies adult passenger (150-160 lbs) as child or empty seat; Passenger airbag turns off while adult is seated; Misclassification lasts 12 seconds to 8 minutes at a time; Occurs while stationary, in motion on city streets, and on highways; Issue recurs after initial recall service
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000
Repairs/costs cited: OCS reprogramming (recall 16V244000) performed; problem persists. No alternative repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V244000 issued for OCS firmware update; does not resolve the issue. Nissan customer service reportedly provides 'run around' responses directing owners back to dealer.
Airbag System Warning Light Remains Illuminated
General airbag warning light remains continuously illuminated on the dash, indicating a system fault. This differs from the intermittent passenger-off indicator and suggests a broader airbag system electrical or control issue. Owners report the light stays on persistently even after dealer repair attempts.
When: Reported at approximately 39,000 miles. Persists across multiple service attempts.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated continuously; Light remains on despite dealer repair and multiple service visits; Owner concerned airbags may fail to deploy in crash
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer multiple times; light remains illuminated despite repair attempts. Unknown parts replaced by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer provided case number; issue not resolved.
Synthesized from 32 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact leased a 2015 Nissan murano. While driving approximately 55 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver's side of the contact's vehicle. All of the air bags deployed except the front passenger side dashboard air bag. A police report was filed. The driver sustained extensive bruising to the left shoulder, bruising from the seat belt restraint, bruises to the right knee, and…
2015 Nissan murano customer writes in regards to recall r1609 safety issue with the occupant classification system - ocs. After r1609 field service action performed on 10/30/15 ocs intermittiently incorrectly classifies an adult passenger weighing 150 lbs. As a child for periods of 12 seconds up to 8 minutes as indicated by the center console indicator. Issue occurs while stationary, in motion…
Cpsc: 2015 Nissan murano consumer stated the passenger airbag deactivated. *ss the consumer noticed when his 90 pound wife sat in the seat, the passenger air bag deactivation light illuminated and stayed on. The consumer stated it also stayed on when he say in the passenger seat, but not all the time. The dealer stated the sensors were sensitive to seating location of the passenger. *jb
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Nissan Murano?
It's a meaningful issue. 32 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 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 8,600 and 16,000 miles, with the median around 15,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,600; a quarter make it past 16,000. 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/2015/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.