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 Maxima airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Nissan Maxima have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 23,862 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
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Maxima | 25 |
| 2013 Maxima | 16 |
| 2014 Maxima | 21 |
| 2016 Maxima (this page) | 13 |
| 2017 Maxima | 16 |
5crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Maxima, 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.
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 of the 2016 Maxima report airbags that fail to deploy when they're supposed to. We've got complaints from people who crashed at speeds between 30 and 60 mph—head-on hits, T-bones, impact with barriers and trees—and their airbags didn't go off. Several occupants ended up injured (head, neck, shoulder, back, knee injuries) because of it. One owner found out after purchase that the vehicle had no driver airbag and no passenger side curtain airbag installed, despite a prior deployment showing in the vehicle history; nothing was ever replaced or disclosed.
On the flip side, one owner reports the driver and seat airbags deployed spontaneously at 30 mph with no warning lights beforehand.
Warning light issues are common: owners bring vehicles in because the airbag warning light is on. Dealers have cleared the codes or diagnosed Occupant Classification System sensor failure, but the light comes back or the vehicle stays unrepaired. One owner's warning light showed up right after the vehicle was serviced under recall campaign 16V244000. Another owner dealing with the same recall campaign ran into delayed repairs because parts weren't available.
One complaint mentions stalling and battery drain tied to an ABS light, which may be unrelated to airbag function.
Same Nissan Maxima airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Front driver airbag and/or front passenger curtain airbag failed to deploy during collision events at speeds ranging from 30 to 60 mph, despite impact conditions that should trigger deployment.
When: Approximately 16,000–27,000 miles; also reported at 40+ mph traveling speed without specific mileage
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag inflation upon front-end collision at highway speeds; No airbag deployment on side-impact T-bone collision; Vehicle occupants sustained head, neck, shoulder, back, and knee injuries as a result
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles taken to independent mechanics or tow lots; not repaired at dealerships. One vehicle destroyed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan notified; case number 33669624 provided for one complaint; no recall campaign numbers applied to these specific failures
Missing airbags—not installed or replaced after prior deployment
Vehicle purchased with no driver airbag installed and no passenger side curtain airbag installed, despite vehicle history showing prior airbag deployment. No replacement or repair on record.
When: Discovered at purchase inspection (vehicle history showed prior deployment)
Symptoms owners cite: Certified mechanic confirmed complete absence of driver airbag; Certified mechanic confirmed complete absence of passenger side curtain airbag; Vehicle sold without disclosure of missing federally required safety equipment
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; vehicle sold in unsafe condition
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No repair or disclosure provided by Nissan or selling dealer
Airbag warning light—persistent after dealer code clearing
Airbag warning light illuminated; dealer cleared diagnostic codes, but warning light returned within two days. Repeated visits to dealer did not resolve the issue.
When: Approximately 59,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illumination; Warning light persists after code clearing; No diagnosis or repair completed
Repairs/costs cited: Taken to dealer twice; codes cleared on first visit; not diagnosed or repaired on second visit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified
Airbag warning light—Occupant Classification System sensor
Front passenger side airbag warning light illuminated. Dealer diagnosed faulty Occupant Classification System sensor requiring replacement.
When: Approximately 84,741 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front passenger side airbag warning light illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified Occupant Classification System sensor replacement needed; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated VIN not included in NHTSA Campaign 16V244000 (Air Bags)
Airbag system malfunction requiring full system replacement
Airbag warning light illuminated after vehicle startup. Dealer determined entire airbag system required replacement. Failure occurred shortly after vehicle service performed under NHTSA Campaign 16V244000.
When: Approximately 5,126 miles; post-campaign service
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illumination after engine start
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer stated entire airbag system replacement needed; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; failure occurred after NHTSA Campaign 16V244000 (Air Bags) service
Spontaneous airbag deployment
Front driver airbag and driver side seat airbag deployed without warning while vehicle was in motion at 30 mph. Vehicle was parked at residence when complaint filed.
When: Approximately 103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Spontaneous deployment of driver airbag and driver side seat airbag; No warning lights illuminated before deployment; Contact sustained head and left arm injuries requiring medical attention
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; dealer not contacted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed
Delayed or unavailable recall parts—extended repair timeline
Owner received NHTSA Campaign 16V244000 (Air Bags) recall notification but parts were unavailable for repair, causing unreasonable delay in completing the safety recall.
When: Campaign 16V244000 recall period
Symptoms owners cite: Parts unavailable to complete recall repair; Repair timeline exceeded what owner considered reasonable
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts unavailable
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000 (Air Bags) recall issued; parts unavailable to complete repair
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The 2016 Nissan Maxima (VIN: [XXX] ) I purchased in January 2025 has been confirmed by a certified mechanic to have no driver airbag installed and no passenger side curtain airbag installed, despite a previous airbag deployment shown on the vehicle history report. There is no record of any airbag replacement or repair. The vehicle was sold to me in this unsafe condition without disclosure.…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan maxima. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. As a result, the front driver side wheel was bent inward and the air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained shoulder and back injuries that required medical attention. The front passenger sustained shoulder, back, and knee injuries. The rear passenger sustained head…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 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 2016 Nissan Maxima?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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 9 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 11,500 and 59,000 miles, with the median around 23,862. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,500; a quarter make it past 59,000. 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/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.