NHTSA Investigation PE25005

Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) became aware of a single-vehicle crash involving a 2009 Nissan Cube resulting in an airbag deployment. When the front-driver airbag deployed the airbag module detached from the steering wheel, striking the driver, and causing injuries requiring medical attention.A police report states that the driver’s airbag module was found in the back seat of the vehicle.Further inspection of the vehicle showed the airbag cushion and inflator remained secured to the module housing. The 2009 Nissan Cube vehicles are equipped with Takata PSDI-X inflators.Nissan has confirmed the inflator involved in the subject crash is the original equipment associated with the vehicle’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).After analysis of the subject vehicle failed parts, Nissan and New Leaf LLC (formerly known as Takata) have reported that it appears the rupture occurred at a weld point between the inflator cap and inflator housing.This failure mode indicates a potential manufacturing defect involving a weld in the inflator. The PSDI-X inflator is within the scope of EA21002, in which NHTSA is investigating the potential degradation of desiccated airbag propellant in Takata inflators.However, the failure mode observed in the subject inflator appears to be inconsistent with known ruptures attributed to propellant degradation.As such, at this time, NHTSA is not aware of evidence to suggest that the rupture of the subject inflator relates to the propellant issues under investigation in EA21002. Nissan has stated their inflator-to-vehicle traceability records for this production period are limited, making the identification of any affected VINs difficult.Nissan has collected parts from the field for analysis to learn more about the potentially affected population.Currently, Nissan has decided not to conduct a safety recall. The ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation to assess the scope, root cause, and analysis of potential weld defects in 2009 Nissan Cube equipped with PSDI-X airbag inflators.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.