DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2016 Nissan Altima airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Nissan Altima have filed 61 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 64,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
61
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Altima | 47 |
| 2013 Altima | 433 |
| 2014 Altima | 188 |
| 2015 Altima | 154 |
| 2016 Altima (this page) | 61 |
| 2017 Altima | 69 |
| 2018 Altima | 30 |
| 2019 Altima | 9 |
| 2020 Altima | 7 |
12crashes
1fire
15injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 61 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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 61 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.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 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.
DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored And OCS zero point reset cannot be performed (continued on the next page) And The following screen displays: ACTION 1. Check the Occupant Classification System (OCS) control unit using the ODS Analysis tool software. ï· Refer to SERVICE PROCEDURE on page 5. HINT: âOCSâ may also be referred to as âODSâ. 2. Perform â75-zero RESETâ.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a persistent occupant classification sensor (OCS) problem where the passenger airbag light stays on continuously or cycles on and off without any accident or impact. Diagnostic code B0020-13 appears repeatedly. Dealers quote $1,500 to $3,500 to replace the seat-back or sensor module; multiple owners report the light returns days or months after repair.
The weight threshold issue is consistent across complaints: Nissan dealers confirm the passenger airbag will not deploy for occupants under roughly 110–140 pounds, and owners receiving this explanation view it as a safety gap that leaves lighter adults unprotected. Nissan's position is that this is by design.
Separately, several owners report airbags that failed to deploy during accidents ranging from 30 mph to 70 mph impacts—frontal collisions, side impacts, and debris strikes—leaving occupants with injuries from seatbelts or impact alone. One owner describes unexpected airbag deployment at low speed in a residential neighborhood with no impact. A brake system failure is mentioned in one accident narrative alongside the airbag non-deployment.
Owners consistently reference NHTSA recall 16V244000 (issued April 2016) for front passenger OCS defects, yet Nissan dealerships and customer service repeatedly tell owners no recall applies to their vehicle or that the recall does not exist. One owner successfully had the recall repair performed in 2018, only to have the replacement sensor fail within a year; the dealer then imposed a diagnostic fee for the same part going bad again.
Same Nissan Altima airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Occupant Classification System (OCS) Sensor Malfunction — Intermittent On/Off or Failure to Deploy
The front passenger OCS sensor fails to correctly detect seat occupancy, causing the passenger airbag to disable (show 'airbag off' light) when an adult is seated, or fail to deploy in a crash. The sensor can illuminate intermittently or stay lit without accident or impact.
When: Reported from 34,900 miles to 102,464 miles; some complaints reported at 60,000–75,000 miles; one at 81,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'off' indicator light illuminates intermittently or stays continuously lit; Airbag light flashing or cycling on and off without occupant-related reason; Airbag disabled when an adult passenger is seated, particularly passengers under 120–140 lbs; Light comes back on after dealer reset or repair
Codes mentioned: B0020-13
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealers quote $1,500–$3,500 for sensor module or entire seat-back replacement (part #87650-phs7a cited at $2,128 plus labor; one case $310 for occupancy sensor, driver side). Multiple owners report the light recurs days to months after repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall 16V244000 (issued 2016-04-25) addresses Front Passenger OCS Air Bag Sensor defects. Dealers and Nissan customer service often deny the recall applies to individual vehicles or claim no recall exists despite the narrative evidence. One owner reports Nissan offered partial cost coverage but owner declined. Another notes Nissan will not honor the recall on their vehicle.
Non-Deployment in Low-Speed to Moderate-Speed Crashes
Airbags failed to deploy in multiple accident scenarios ranging from approximately 30 mph to 70 mph impacts, including frontal collisions and side impacts. In several crashes, occupants sustained injuries (neck, shoulder, back bruising, chest trauma from seatbelt alone) that might have been mitigated by airbag deployment.
When: Reported in crashes occurring at 30 mph, 35 mph, 40–44 mph, 45 mph, 55 mph, and 70 mph; one at undisclosed speed
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment in frontal collision at ~30 mph after brake failure; No airbag deployment in side-impact at ~35 mph (truck hit passenger side, destroyed headlight/bumper/grill); No airbag deployment striking deer at 45 mph with ~$11,000 damage; No airbag deployment striking deer at 55 mph; No airbag deployment in high-speed incident (plywood debris hit vehicle at 70 mph on interstate)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports plywood struck grill area but airbags did not deploy; another reports tow truck driver found brake system issues (rock-hard foot brake, no skid marks on road) in same accident. No repairs documented for the non-deployment itself.
Unexpected Airbag Deployment at Low Speed or Stationary
Airbags deployed unexpectedly without prior warning while vehicle was at low speed or stationary, absent any impact or occupant action. One case involved both driver and passenger airbags deploying in residential neighborhood at low speed with clear, dry conditions.
When: One case in August 2024 at ~76,000 miles; timing unclear for other instances
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags deployed without external impact while driving at low speed through residential neighborhood; No prior warning lights or messages; Both driver and passenger airbags deployed simultaneously; Vehicle door locks malfunctioned after deployment, trapping passenger
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle undergoing insurance company inspection; no repair details provided.
Driver-Side Airbag Non-Deployment
Driver-side (steering wheel) airbags failed to deploy in crash scenarios, leaving drivers unprotected and sustaining injury from seatbelt restraint alone or impact with steering wheel.
When: Reported in crashes at 40–44 mph and at undisclosed speed; one instance at ~41,357 miles (struck deer)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel airbag did not deploy in frontal collision at 40–44 mph; Driver sustained bruises to chest, shoulder, neck from seatbelt alone; no airbag cushioning; Driver struck head on steering wheel when seatbelt did not lock; No skid marks observed in one accident, suggesting no airbag deployment system activation
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports tow truck driver noted brake system issue (rock-hard foot brake) after accident; Nissan replaced brake fluid after service.
Faulty Occupant Weight Threshold — Airbag Disabled for Passengers Under 110–140 lbs
The OCS sensor incorrectly applies a weight threshold, disabling the passenger airbag for adults weighing less than approximately 110–140 pounds. Nissan dealers confirm this is by design but owners view it as a safety defect, as it leaves lighter adults unprotected.
When: Reported continuously during vehicle use; one instance in 2019 accident
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag 'off' light illuminates when passenger under ~110–140 lbs sits in seat; Nissan acknowledges sensor only activates airbag for passengers over 110–120 lbs; Light stays on for passengers 50 lbs to 140 lbs depending on reported threshold; Airbag disabled for adult passengers, creating safety gap
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan dealers state this is by design to protect children but acknowledge the threshold (110–140 lbs) as a fixed parameter. No recall issued for this design choice.
Seat Sensor Wiring Failure — Severe Bends in Connector to Airbag Wiring
The airbag sensor wiring experiences stress or bends due to seat design, causing intermittent or permanent failure of the OCS sensor. One owner identifies this as a design flaw in how the wiring is routed from the connector to the airbag module.
When: Failure reported around 60,000–75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminates; Dealer diagnostic indicates driver-side airbag wiring failure; Sensor module cannot be reset or repair is temporary
Codes mentioned: B0020-13
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement cost ~$3,000 USD to replace seat back due to wiring routing issue.
Synthesized from 61 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My airbag light is on. It just came on one day. (No accident or anything else to cause this to happen) I checked to see if a recall was on my vehicle but it was not. There are other Nissan Altima"s that have a recall for this reason.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with curtain air bags failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair, and the contact was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated when the vehicle was started. The vehicle was taken to robbins Nissan (281-446-3181, located at 18711 highway 59 n, humble, tx 77338) where the air bag system was updated. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 Nissan Altima?
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 2016 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 61 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 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 31,000 and 78,000 miles, with the median around 64,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,000; a quarter make it past 78,000. 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/2016/Nissan/Altima.
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.