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2016 Nissan Altima air bags problems

72 owner reports12 crashes1 fires15 injuries

This is a safety-related system. If you notice symptoms, stop driving and have it inspected.

Related recalls

  • 16V244000 · Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 N…

Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

  • “The airbag light on my 2016 Nissan Altima model came on, showing code B0020-13. This airbag code indicates a problem with the driver side airbag system, typically caused by damaged wiring, a malfunctioning seat sensor, or a loose connector beneath the driver's seat. The repair quote from my local Nissan dealership ranges from $1500 to $3000 to replace the entire seat back. With other airbag issues resulting in a recall, Nissan's failure to address this particular issue raises significant concern…”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 10/23/2026

  • “I have a 2016 Nissan Altima, Its airbag light is on. diagnose say the driver side airbag has problem. Nissan has recall, but not include my VIN: [XXX]. How?? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 10/13/2026

  • “There is an active recall for the generic 2016 Nissan Altima OCS sensor, but it does not apply to my specific VIN apparently. This sensor is a problem with other vehicles of the same year, make, and model, but I am apparently on the hook for almost $1000 repair cost because the recall did not extend to my VIN. Again, same year, make, model, and issue as other 2016 Nissan Altimas, but the recall did not extend for some reason.”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 07/30/2026

  • “The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with curtain air bags failure. The dealer provided an estimate for the repair, and the contact was informed that the cost of the repair would not be covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure …”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 12/23/2025

  • “I am experiencing an issue with the airbag light on my 2017 Nissan Altima S model, which is showing code B0020. This airbag code indicates a problem with the passenger side airbag system, typically caused by damaged wiring, a malfunctioning seat sensor, or a loose connector beneath the driver's seat. The repair quote from my local Nissan dealership ranges from $1728 to $3500, depending on the faulty components and the labor required for installation. This is a recognized problem for Nissan, and …”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 09/25/2025

  • “Air bag indicator light turns on indicating a failure of the airbag system. I understand this disables this safety system putting all passengers at risk. The dealer advised the issue is caused by the driver seat side airbag wiring failure. From reading other users, this appears to be a common issue due to severe bends of the wiring from the connector to the airbag. To me this is a design failure which normally does not occur. The cost is ~3000 USD to replace the seat back.”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 08/18/2025

  • “Water leak...from trunk and sunroof....electrical problems airbag light on and off.....sensor issues i paid out of pocket.”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 07/08/2025

  • “The air bag sensor light is on continuously. According to the manual it indicates there is something wrong with our airbag. After reading several comments from individuals this seems to be a problem with many.”

    NHTSA complaint · filed 06/15/2025

Unverified owner reports from NHTSA's public complaint database.

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How common are 2016 Nissan Altima air bags problems?
72 owners reported air bags issues to NHTSA for the 2016 Nissan Altima, 12 involving a crash and 1 a fire. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Is there a recall for 2016 Nissan Altima air bags problems?
Yes — campaign 16V244000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; confirm by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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