I was hit from behind in a crash and was knocked into a car in front of me. Suffered mild head injury. None of the air bags deployed. The injury could have been worst. *jb
2016 Nissan Versa airbags problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
7crashes
8injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 15 airbags complaints filed for the 2016 Nissan Versa, 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 19% 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 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: A 2016 Versa airbag system is unreliable: the warning light comes on frequently without deployment issues, and worst—multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy during actual collisions and rollovers, sometimes causing injury. One case involved unexpected deployment while parked, and dealer repairs run $1,000–$4,000 with no guarantee of a fix.
Owners report two distinct airbag problems in 2016 Versa models: warning light failures and deployment failures during crashes.
Warning light issues are frequent and persistent. Owners describe the Check Airbag light coming on without any collision and staying lit. One owner was charged $4,000 just for repair, with diagnosis showing a faulty left-side airbag module. Another owner dealt with the light flashing repeatedly—it returned three times in one month after dealer visits supposedly cleared it. A third owner's light came on within six months of purchase and won't reset. These are clearly unverified complaints, but the pattern suggests an electrical or sensor defect.
Deployment failures are more serious. At least six owners describe collisions—ranging from 25 mph fender-benders to head-on impacts at highway speeds and rollovers—where airbags did not deploy. One owner hit a telephone pole after losing consciousness; another swerved to avoid an animal, went head-on into a pole at roughly 70 mph, and spun out. A third was rear-ended, then hit a car ahead, and rolled over—no airbags. One owner even reported an airbag exploding unexpectedly while the vehicle was parked with the door shut, causing eye and neck injury, and the vehicle remained unexamined for 18 months.
These narratives carry Takata recall references, suggesting possible supplier defects in the system.
Same Nissan Versa airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Check Airbag Light—No Deployment Issue
Check Airbag warning light illuminates and stays on without collision. Owner reports side module left (LH) identified as faulty at dealer diagnosis.
When: January 2025 reported; vehicle age not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Check Airbag light comes on and stays on; No incidents preceding light
Codes mentioned: AIRBAG SIDE MODULE LH FAULTY
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis fee $209.96; estimated repair cost $4,000.00
Airbag Non-Deployment During Frontal Impact
Airbags fail to deploy in multiple low-to-moderate and high-speed frontal collisions including head-on pole impact at highway speed and low-speed vehicle-to-vehicle crashes.
When: Reported across multiple incidents; one at 3,649 miles; one at 25 mph; one at ~70 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy on frontal impact; Vehicle damage sustained without airbag protection; Injuries reported in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle totaled; multiple insurance claims filed; police reports made
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall mentioned in some narratives; Nissan response to non-deployment claims noted as vehicle did not hit 'correctly'
Airbag Non-Deployment During Rollover and Multi-Impact Collision
Airbags fail to deploy during rollover events and sequential impacts (rear-ended, then hitting vehicle ahead, then rolling over). Owner expected driver and side airbags to activate.
When: 11/30/2017 reported; vehicle condition at time unclear
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during rollover; Airbags do not deploy in chained collision sequence; Injury to occupant (broken toe, pain and suffering)
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance claim filed; rescue required from rollover vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Takata recall notice received 11/6/2017
Intermittent Check Airbag Light—Recurrent
Check Airbag warning light flashes on and off repeatedly. In one case, light returns three times within one month despite two separate dealer visits for diagnosis and clearing.
When: Recent reports; one case six months of ownership; another case recurring over one month
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light flashing; Light returns after dealer visits; No collision or malfunction preceding illumination
Codes mentioned: DIAGNOSIS MODE, HISTORY MODE
Repairs/costs cited: Two dealer visits; light clears temporarily but recurs within days
Unexpected Airbag Deployment While Parked
Airbags deploy unexpectedly while vehicle is parked and owner is entering the vehicle. Injury sustained to eyes and neck.
When: Incident date not specified; unresolved for 18 months at time of report
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags explode when driver door is shut; Occupant eye and neck injury; Vehicle parked; no collision
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not yet examined by dealer after 18 months
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Received written notification of airbag recall Nissan versa sv also owned a 2016 versa that was wrecked
Airbag recall notice recipient on 11/6/2017 checked VIN number crash occurred on 624 e hungry mother rollover front end crash neither airbag deployed I [xxx] have a claim against nationwide insurance. Broken toe pain suffering had to rescue mother from bridge covered with moss mildew rot and ice owned by [xxx] occurred 11/30/2017 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information…
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Nissan versa. While driving 25 MPH, the contact crashed into a vehicle that ran through a red light. The air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle would be towed at a later date by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure…
Had airbags trouble with your 2016 Nissan Versa?
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 Versa?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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 9,050 and 45,000 miles, with the median around 35,523. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,050; a quarter make it past 45,000. 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/Versa.
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.