2002 Nissan Altima Airbags Problems

Your car was hit in a minor collision while stopped at a traffic light, but the passenger-side airbag didn't deploy even though the impact was significant enough to trigger your TCS and ABS warning lights. You feel the airbag sensor may be too insensitive and should have activated during this crash.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH GENERAL ALTIMAX RT43 (NA) TIRES, SIZE: 215/60/R16 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A DITCH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY FOR INVESTIGATIVE PURPOSES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SIDEWALL HAD DETACHED FROM THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.

I WAS INVOLED IN AN ACCIDENT GOING AROUND 40 MPH WHEN THE COLLISION HAPPENED. MY ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS CRUSHED TO AND BEYOND THE RADIATOR, AS WELL AS THE HOOD BENT LIKE AN A SHAPE. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ALL AND NISSAN HAS NOT CONTACTED ME AFTER THERE FIRST EMAIL SAYING SOMEONE WOULD BE IN CONTACT WITH ME WITHIN 2 TO 3 DAYS. I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE ON A TWO LANE ROAD WHEN A VEHICLE FROM THE LEFT LANE MOVED OVER RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME AND LOCKED UP THEIR BRAKES FOR NO REASON. I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TIME TO HARDLY HIT MY BRAKES BEFORE WE COLLIDING. THE WAS A POLICE REPORT AND EVERYTHING , BUT KNOW THEY CANT FIND THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE AND I CANT GET NISSAN TO TALK TO ME ABOUT WHY MY AIRBAGS WOULD NOT WORK AT A CRASH AT THAT SPEED. THIS TOOK PLACE IN A CITY. I STILL HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY POLICE REPORT OR ANYTHING AND ITS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH. IM HAVING DOCTOR BILLS PILE UP AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

I WAS AT A LIGHT PROCEEDING TO GO AND A VEHICLE DID NOT YIELD TO TURN AND SHE SLAMMED RIGHT INTO THE FRONT OF MY VEHICLE AT 50 MPH, MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND MY HEAD HIT THE WINDSHIELD .IM GLAD I HAD MY SEATBELT .THE WINDSHIELD OF THE VEHICLE WAS BROKEN BY MY HEAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA.WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. DURING THE CRASH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONLY THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AND HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,000.

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY AND HAS FOR SEVERAL WEEKS NOW. I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT TWO RECALLS WERE ISSUE FOR 2002 NISSAN ALTIMAS. ONE WAS RECALL #69520 ON APRIL 17, 2002, FOR WHICH NISSAN DID SEND ME A RECALL NOTICE. THE OTHER WAS RECALL #44046 ON FEBRUARY 27, 2003, FOR WHICH I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY NISSAN. WHEN I CONTACTED NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2009, THEY STUDIED MY CASE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 21, 2009 AND ADVISED ME THAT RECALL #44046 DID NOT APPLY TO MY VIN AND THAT I WAS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS, IN EXCESS OF $2,000. GIVEN THAT MY DAUGHTER WILL SOON BE DRIVING THE CAR, I FEEL I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PROCEED WITH THE REPAIR, AT MY OWN COST. HOWEVER, IT SEEMS SUSPICIOUS TO ME THAT THE RECALL #44046 DESCRIBES MY AIRBAG PROBLEM BUT DOES NOT COVER MY SPECIFIC VIN. *TR

NISSAN RECALL ON FRONTAL DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG. SHORTAGE THAT WOULD PREVENT AIRBAG FROM DEPLOYING IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. CONTACT NISSAN MY VIN# WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL. NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE SINCE PROBLEM CAUSED BY DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAYS CODES POINT TO SPIRAL CABLE OR AIR BAG UNIT BUT CAN'T SAY FOR SURE WHICH CAUSED ONE LIGHT TO COME ON. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING CONTINUOUSLY. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT DURING DIAGNOSIS THE CODE WAS B1057. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG MODULE. THERE WAS RECALL 02I001000 FOR THE CONNECTORS RELATED TO THAT CODE. THE MECHANIC TOOK THE AIR BAG APART, AND STATED THE CONNECTORS WERE NOT THE FAILURE, THE MODULE WAS THE FAILURE. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 PREVIOUS RECALLS, CAMPAIGN#02I001000, DATED APRIL 16, 2002, AND RECALL CAMPAIGN#03V061000, DATED FEB 21, 2003 FOR BAGS FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE INFLATER AIR MODULE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO CALLED THE NISSAN ALTIMA NATIONAL DIVISION, AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED HER THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT THE REPAIR IF A COLLISION OCCURRED. THE ABS LIGHT WAS RESET ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE BOTH 72500. *AK THE AIR BAG WAS ON BACK ORDER. UPDATED 03/30/07. *JB

TURNED ON CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ON. AIR BAG MODULE AND SWIRL CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT $1500.00. *NM

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS FLASHING, SO A BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALER TO GET IT CHECKED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE SENSOR AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED OR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT WORK IN A CRASH. AT THE TIME I WAS PURCHASING THE CAR THE SAME AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING DURING OUR TEST DRIVE OF THE CAR. THE DEALER CHECKED INTO THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT AND RESET THE MODULE BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR. THIS STOPPED THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHT FROM FLASHING. ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER THE SAME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN. THE DEALER RESET THE MODULE A SECOND TIME. ON MY LAST VISIT FOR THE WARNING LIGHT FLASHING ON 9/29/2006 THE DEALER SAID THE MODULE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE RESET AND THAT IT HAD FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1,100.00 PARTS/LABOR. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 59,000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 79,000 MILES. THE DEALER SAID THIS PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS RECALL R3001. I AM CONCERNED THE FLASHING AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM EARLY ON, IT NEEDED TO BE RESET TWICE BEFORE IT FINALLY FAILED. *NM

I NOTICED MY 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED BLINKING FOR NO REASON. I PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED A CALL FROM NISSAN WORLD,SPRING FIELD NJ STATING THERE WAS A RECALL OUT ON MY CAR. I WENT ON LINE AND CHECKED WWW.NISSANUSA.COM WEBSITE TO SEE IF I CAN IDENTIFY IF MY CAR WAS AFFECTED. I SAW A NOTICE ON THE SAME 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA AIR BAG CONNECTOR CLIP CAUSING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO BLINK ON AND OFF WHICH IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. AS NOTED BY NISSAN, I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALLS OUT FOR MY VEHICLE (MY VIN). JUST BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE APPROXIMATED RANGE AS POSTED ON YOUR WEBSITE, I SEE NO REASON WHY A COMPANY SUCH AS NISSAN WILL NOT RE-COMPENSATE ME FOR THE COST TO REPAIR THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED ON THEIR WEBSITE. I DO HOPE NISSAN USA CAN RE-EVALUATE THIS AIR BAG ISSUE SINCE IT DEFINITELY NOT LIMITED TO THE VIN RANGE AS POSTED. ALL IT REQUIRE IS A MINIMAL COST OF REPAIRING A CONNECTOR CLIP. THIS SMALL DUTY WILL AND CAN PROVE TO SAVE LIVES. NISSAN SHOULD EXTEND THE POSTED RECALL TO ALL 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA OWNERS, AND COMPENSATE THOSE OF US WHO HAD TO PAY FOR THE SAID PROBLEM THEY CLAIM TO AFFECT THE SELECTED FEW. THANK YOU. *JB

I HAD A SMALL INCIDENT WHERE SOMEBODY DAMAGED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN THE CAR WAS PARKED IN A PUBLIC PLACE. I GOT BODY WORK DONE AFTER ABOUT 15 DAYS (NO PROBLEM WITH AIRBAG UNTIL NOW) AND WHEN I TOOK THE DELIVERY OF THE CAR, I NOTICED THAT AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE BODY SHOP AND THEY WERE CLUELESS. NEVERTHELESS THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT A NISSAN DEALER TO GET IT INSPECTED. NISSAN DEALERSHIP CHARGED $110 AND TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS ALL RIGHT AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AGAIN AFTER 2 DAYS. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG CABLES ARE SHORTED AND IT WILL COST $1170 TO REPLACE THE SPIRAL CABLE. I DO NOT THINK THE AIRBAG ISSUE IS GOT ANYTHING TO DO WITH INCIDENT I HAD. THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULD NOT BE SO WEAK TO CAUSE THIS KIND OF ISSUE AND POTENTIALLY PUT ME AT RISK EVERYDAY NOT KNOWING IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE IS A RECALL RELATED TO THIS FOR NISSAN ALTIMA 2002, BUT THAT DOES NOT MATCH THE VIN NUMBER OF MY CAR. I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY TELL ME IT IS NOT RELATED. REGARDLESS WHETHER IT IS RELATED OR NOT I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND NISSAN SHOULD FIX IT FREE OF COST. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS INVOLVED TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A SAFETY CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02I001000; AIR BAGS. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AFTER THE FIRST ACCIDENT. NOW, THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THEY DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN. THEY OFFERED NO FREE REMEDY. *AK

DT: 2002 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE SIDE AIR BAGS WENT OFF WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED IT HAPPENED BECAUSE THE SENSOR FAILED. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON BEFORE THIS. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT INJURED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. SHE WAS NINE MONTHS PREGNANT, AND HER 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS IN THE BACK SEAT AND WAS NOT HURT. ALSO, THE PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED. *AK *JB

WITHOUT NOTICE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON. I CONTACTED THE DEALER & THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY $80+ TAX TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. I JUST HAPPENED TO CHECK FOR RECALLS AND THE RECALL HAS STATED THAT MY ISSUE IS DUE TO A DEFECT AND IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I CONTACTED NISSAN WHO, OF COURSE, IS NO HELP AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN # WAS NOT A PART OF THAT RECALL. THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL ME WHERE MY RECALLS WERE EVEN REPAIRED. I WISH MORE PEOPLE WOULD LET THE NHTSA KNOW ABOUT THIS & ADVISE ANYONE YOU COME IN CONTACT WITH NOT TO BUY A NISSAN. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!! *NM

THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE SIDE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK THE VEHICLE NOSED DIVED INTO A DITCH AND LANDED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONSUMER WAS PINNED IN THE VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *SC *JB

THE DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR THE VEHICLE'S RECALL (RECALL NO. 03V061000) REGARDING ON DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS INFLATOR MODULE. DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FIRST. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. *LA *SC

I HAD AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS HIT GOING ABOUT 35 MPH IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CORNER AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50MPH. VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. *AK *CB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, LOST CONTROL ,AND HIT A TREE. CONSUMER STATES NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR BAG NOT DEPLOYING. WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THE IMPACT WAS NOT HARD ENOUGH , THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG DID.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN A SIDE COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES.*AK.*JG

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT THAT VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR AT ABOUT 15 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK