On 21 dec 2020 we were in a accident with a deer we wear going about 80mph when the dear came out of no wear and we hit it head on and neither one of the air bags deployed my husband hit his head on steering wheel and neither one the airbags deployed I was sitting in passenger seat and nothing either this was on the highway at night time
2016 Nissan Pathfinder airbags problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 19 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder, 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
Airbags accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 5 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2016 Pathfinder's passenger airbag sensor has a documented, widespread defect where the occupant detection system fails to recognize seated adults, leaving the airbag disabled. Even after Nissan's 2016 recall repair, owners report the same problem recurring within weeks, and repair parts remain unavailable years later—potentially leaving your passenger unprotected in a crash.
The 2016 Pathfinder has a widespread passenger-side occupant classification system (OCS) sensor failure. Most complaints center on the airbag-off indicator staying lit even when an adult occupies the front passenger seat, or the light blinking intermittently on the dashboard. Many owners report this began soon after Nissan's recall repair (16V244000, issued May 2016) or recurred within weeks or months of the dealer addressing it.
Owners describe the sensor as not detecting seated passengers—sometimes happening on every start, other times intermittently (occurring 10–75% of the time). Temporary fixes include restarting the vehicle multiple times, power cycling, or having the passenger exit and re-enter the seat. One owner reported neither front airbag deployed during a head-on collision with a deer at highway speed despite being present and a passenger occupying the front seat. Several owners also mention their VINs were excluded from the original recall despite having the identical problem. Some dealerships report repair parts remain unavailable years after the recall was issued; others claim the vehicle is operating as designed and refuse further warranty service.
Same Nissan Pathfinder airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger OCS sensor malfunction—airbag-off light stays on despite adult occupancy
The occupant classification system sensor fails to detect that an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, leaving the airbag-off indicator light illuminated. This is the most prevalent complaint across all 19 narratives.
When: Typically begins immediately after or within weeks of the recall repair; some owners report it starting on first start-up after purchase.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag-off indicator lamp remains on while adult sits in front passenger seat; Indicator light blinks continuously on dashboard; No manual control available to turn airbag on; Light does not extinguish even with a 160 lb occupant present
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000, NHTSA Campaign 15V681000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers claim original recall repair parts are unavailable or out of stock; some owners state VINs are excluded from the recall despite identical failure; one owner reports Nissan deemed the vehicle operating as designed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V244000 issued May 2016 (for 2016 Pathfinder); parts unavailability noted in multiple complaints. Some owners report Nissan denied repeat repairs after initial recall address, citing warranty expiration or VIN exclusion. One complaint references Nissan determining the vehicle operating as designed for small adult occupants.
Intermittent OCS sensor dropout requiring power cycle to restore function
The sensor intermittently disables the passenger airbag, requiring the driver to restart or power cycle the vehicle to clear the fault. This pattern persists across multiple service visits.
When: Occurs 10–75% of the time on vehicle start or while driving; recurs at intervals ranging from days to weeks after dealer adjustment.
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag-off light illuminates intermittently during startup; Light clears after restarting vehicle (may require 3–4 restarts); Issue repeats after functioning normally for days or weeks; Passenger must occasionally exit and re-enter seat, or disconnect and reconnect lap belt, to restore function
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have made adjustments multiple times (reported at 5,000-mile service intervals); problem recurs. One owner at 75,000 miles reports 75% failure rate after adjustments made at 55,000 miles; adjustments provided only temporary relief.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V244000 (May 2016); manufacturer determined one vehicle operating as designed for small adult occupants. Dealerships report making repeated adjustments with no lasting resolution.
Airbag non-deployment during collision
One owner reported a head-on collision with a deer at highway speed (80 mph) in which neither front airbag deployed despite sensors being active and passengers present.
When: December 21, 2020, at approximately 80 mph on highway at night.
Symptoms owners cite: Neither front airbag deployed on head-on impact with deer; Driver struck head on steering wheel with no airbag cushioning; Passenger in front seat received no airbag protection
Repairs/costs cited: No repair attempted; incident reported as complaint.
Recall repair parts unavailable—extended delay without corrective action
Multiple owners report being notified of recall 16V244000 but being unable to complete the repair because the manufacturer has not made corrective parts available. Years have elapsed since the recall issuance (May 2016) without resolution.
When: Complaints filed years after initial recall (May 2016); one owner filed complaint in 2024 stating parts still unavailable.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but no repair available; Dealer unable to obtain parts; Vehicle remains under active recall with unresolved condition
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 16V244000
Repairs/costs cited: No repair completed; parts remain unavailable per VIN tool confirmation in at least two complaints.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 16V244000 issued May 2016; parts availability issue acknowledged in at least two complaints but no corrective timeline provided.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I was the person who first filed the airbag issue on NHTSA. Finally today, the issue was "patched".I say patched not fixed since now the "airbag off" light is always on in my car which does not match the manual of my vehicle.a bigger issue though is that this confuses us into thinking the similarly orange colored cross traffic light on the passenger side is on and twice out of two times we almost…
Upon starting the ignition, air bag ocs indicator shows both front passenger air bags not working. Indication light remains on while vehicle is both stationary and while in motion.
RECALL
I purchased a used Nissan pathfinder in july 2019. When I purchased the vehicle I also purchased a full-coverage warranty through the dealership, however, the dealership claims that they have no responsibility to help me. Their reasoning is that they are not a Nissan dealer yet, they sold me a vehicle that is potentially dangerous for my children to be in and refuse to honor the warranty or…
Passenger side air bag indicator is off all the time even with an adult in the seat. The red blinking indicator light flashes for the air bag on the control panel. The air bag cannot be manually turned on or off. If in a crash I do not know if the air bag will deploy. Your site shows 0 recalls other sites show a sensor recall. What do I do?
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 Nissan Pathfinder?
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 Pathfinder?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 19 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 26,333 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/2016/Nissan/Pathfinder.
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.