2012 INFINITI M37 Airbags Problems

The front passenger airbag warning light came on with a dash warning flashing light. I isolated the fault to the passenger seat weight sensor, which prevents the airbag from deploying when a passenger of less than 90 pounds is sensed in the front seat. The time from the onset of the warning light to discovery of the actual fault was less than a week and this was facilitated by a mechanic with a sophisticated enough OBD reader to flesh out Infiniti codes. I called my local Infiniti dealer in Tacoma, WA and they were able to supply a part number but it has been discontinued for the 2011-2013 Infiniti M37 models. Without this sensor working, the passenger airbag may not deploy in the event of a collision, and that is unsatisfactory/downright unacceptable. These cars will operate for 20 plus years and are otherwise engineered to last 200/000 miles. I have 90,000 miles on the odometer and the car is otherwise in great shape, but I may be forced to scrap it if I can't resolve the weight sensor malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11711442

Incident

Jan 12, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti M37. The contact stated that the front passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact was quoted a diagnostic fee and declined to pay the fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

NHTSA ID

11593625

Incident

Apr 11, 2023

Mileage

68,000 mi

Passenger Air Bag Sensor Failed. Concerned Passenger Airbag will not deploy when passengers are in the car. This is a Very Known and Problematic issue with Infiniti and Infiniti will not address this critical safety issue. Infiniti says repairs would be the owner responsibility and cost in excess of $8,000. This is a critical safety issue and needs to be addressed by Infiniti before someone gets hurt.

NHTSA ID

11479314

Incident

Mar 17, 2022

airbag light blinks. We tried the reset and it worked until someone sat in the seat. Called dealer and they said the seat bottom needs replacing as it’s a occupancy sensor. Cost for part + labor = 5K .. Totally outrageous. safety issue

NHTSA ID

11436513

Incident

Oct 1, 2021

THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON IN MY 2012 INFINITI M-37 UPON STARTING IT THE MORNING OF 10/09/2020. I BROUGHT IT INTO MY LOCAL TAMPA INFINITI DEALERSHIP ON 10/21/2020 WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE HAD OVER 90% OF THE SERVICING COMPLETED. MY SERVICE ADVISOR MICHAEL ENGLISH EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $7104 TO REPLACE THE BOTTOM OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. IN ADDITION A DIAGNOSTIC SENSOR WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $450. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ONE THAT OCCURS IN A NUMBER OF INFINITI AUTOMOBILES OF THIS TYPE. HE WAS SORRY THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY AND THAT IT DIDN'T SEEM FAIR THAT A RECALL WASN'T AVAILABLE TO REMEDY THE SAFETY PROBLEM. MY CAR HAS ONLY 120,000 MILES ON IT AND RUNS VERY WELL AND IS WORTH ABOUT $8000 AS A TRADE IN BUT NOT WITH A FAULTY PASSENGER SEAT SAFETY HAZARD. I CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THAT COST NEARLY AS MUCH THE CAR IS WORTH. HOW COULD INFINITI MAKE OR DESIGN A SEAT WITH AIR BAG SENSORS THAT CANT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT? THIS IS THE RESULT OF POOR ENGINEERING AND IS A PRODUCT SAFETY HAZARD FORCING MANY CONSUMERS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN HAVING SAFETY EQUIPMENT OR DOING WITHOUT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH EXPENSE TO REPAIR. I'VE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS AND MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT AND PROPERLY MAINTAINED. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THERE SHOULD BE A REMEDY FOR ALL THOSE OWNERS OF THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. I HAVE NOTICED THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF SIMILAR INFINITI VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11376775

Incident

Oct 9, 2020

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS FAILED AND THE DEALER HAS QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $7019 TO REPAIR IT, SAYING THE SEAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. THE COST IS EXORBITANT, AND APPROACHES TO HE TOTAL VALUE OF THE CAR. THIS IS A DEFECT OF THE PART AND THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS THAT CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BARE.

NHTSA ID

11340954

Incident

Jul 22, 2020

Mileage

45,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON PASSENGER SEAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH COST AROUND $5500. *TR

NHTSA ID

11328083

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG SENSOR TURNS OFF AIRBAG WHEN AN ADULT IS SEATED THERE. THIS OCCURS ALMOST EVERY TIME I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT. I CAN OCCASIONALLY GET IT TO TURN AIRBAG ON BY SHUTTING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING, SOMETIMES IT TAKES 3 CYCLES OF OFF/ON. MOST TIMES IT STILL WON'T RESET AND MY PASSENGER HAS TO MOVE TO A REAR SEAT. THIS HAPPENS EVEN WITH A 200 LB. MAN SEATED THERE. THIS IS MY 4TH INFINITI AND THEY'VE ALL HAD THIS ISSUE. INFINITI SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND MAKE NEEDED REPAIRS TO THE AIRBAG SENSOR

NHTSA ID

11181254

Incident

Feb 19, 2019

Mileage

108,000 mi