Airbag light came on with no previous conditions that should have caused that. Dealership in Dothan, AL originally said a bad connection under the passenger seat caused it. They supposedly cleaned the connection and reset the light. The airbag light came on again days later. The same dealership now says the entire passenger seat and airbags sensors/connections will have to be replaced at $2500+…
2017 Nissan Altima airbags problems
severe 67 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
67
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
9crashes
10injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 67 airbags complaints filed for the 2017 Nissan Altima, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 67 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.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The contact owns a 2017 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
Driver search airbag warning light illuminated Took vehicle to authorized Central Houston Nissan whi SCANNED VEHICLE AND FOUND DTC B0020-13 STORED IN AIRBAG SYSTEM. PRINTED AND FOLLOWED THE ESM DIAGNOSIS PROCEDURE AND PER ESM WILL NEED TO START REPLACING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG MODULE WICH IS PART OF THE SEAT ASSY This is of no fault of my own and not the result of normal wear and tear. My car…
UNKNOWN; Someone rear-ended me Monday, Nov. 27, 2023 and damaged my driver side taillight/corner of bumper. It was an impact of about 20mph, and believed to be a result of black ice/the other driver following too closely. Today, Saturday, December 2, 2023 the airbag warning light appeared. It didn't come on with Monday's impact, so I am concerned that it could suddenly deploy while I am driving.
The driver side airbag warning light appeared on dashboard approx 2 months ago. I took it to Piazza Nissan for service, where a 27 point vehicle inspection was performed. I was told the airbag needed to be replaced, as well as the LF seat back assembly. The parts would cost just over $2000.00, and with labor would be just over $3000.00. I was also told there is a national backorder for the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Nissan Altima?
It's a meaningful issue. 67 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 33,100 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 33,100; a quarter make it past 80,000. 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/2017/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.