2016 Nissan Murano airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2016 Murano owners report the front passenger airbag sensor frequently fails to detect seated passengers, leaving the airbag disabled during driving—a serious safety gap that affects different-sized occupants and persists even after dealer recalibration. Nissan has been unable or unwilling to diagnose the root cause.
The 2016 Murano's front passenger occupant sensor has a documented pattern of failing to recognize when a passenger is seated, causing the airbag warning light to remain on (indicating the airbag is "OFF") even with an adult or child belted in. Owners report this happens unpredictably—some experience it at every startup, others intermittently during drives at any speed. The warning sometimes clears after shutting off and restarting the engine, but recurs within the same drive or at the next startup.
At least one passenger airbag failed to deploy during a collision. One owner provided dealership diagnostic code B00A0-00 (occupant sensor unit, abnormal voltage). The sensor malfunction affects passengers across different weights: a 67-pound child, a 150-pound adult, and a 190-pound adult all triggered false "airbag off" warnings. A Nissan dealer replaced the sensor on a loaner vehicle, only to have the same problem occur, suggesting this is not isolated to individual cars. Nissan has consistently told owners they cannot find anything wrong, and at least one dealership stopped responding to complaints despite videos documenting the failure over months. The underlying cause—whether sensor calibration, wiring, occupant detection module failure, or something else—remains undiagnosed.
Same Nissan Murano airbags reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger airbag sensor misidentifies or fails to recognize passenger presence
The front passenger occupant detection sensor fails to correctly identify when a passenger is seated, causing the airbag to deactivate (warning light on) even when an adult passenger is present and belted in. The issue occurs intermittently and unpredictably—sometimes during startup, sometimes during driving at all speeds. Restarting the vehicle occasionally clears the warning, but the problem recurs frequently.
When: Occurs at startup and intermittently during driving; reported from 600 miles to within a year of ownership; owners purchased vehicles starting June 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag warning light remains on (indicating airbag 'OFF') when passenger is seated; Airbag deactivates randomly while passenger is seated and belted, including during highway driving; Warning light does not turn off despite passenger presence, seat belt engagement, or passenger position changes; Passenger airbag fails to deploy during collision despite no prior warning lights; Problem resolves temporarily only after shutting off and restarting engine; Sensor malfunction affects different weight passengers (67 lbs, 150 lbs, 190 lbs)
Codes mentioned: B00A0-00 (occupant sensor unit, abnormal voltage)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed sensor 'update and recalibration' on at least one vehicle; dealer recommended occupant sensor unit replacement and sensor replacement on another vehicle; repairs have not resolved the issue in reported cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan has stated they cannot find anything wrong with the vehicle; dealership did not diagnose root cause in multiple visits; manufacturer stopped responding to owner complaints in at least one case
Electrical system intermittent malfunction affecting occupant sensor and infotainment
Broader electrical system malfunction affecting both the occupant sensor and the infotainment/communication system. The passenger airbag sensor deactivates intermittently while the touchscreen also fails to respond to commands and cell phone pairing drops.
When: Occurs as soon as car starts at rest and continues while in motion at all speeds; problem documented over many months
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag deactivates randomly while in motion; Touchscreen does not follow commands; Cell phone pairing intermittently fails to communicate; Malfunctions occur on highway and city streets at all speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership attempted multiple diagnostics and failed to resolve; owner documented problem with multiple videos over many months
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership no longer returns calls; Nissan does not respond to complaints
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2016 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 24,100 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.