RoadVitals

1999 Nissan Altima Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Nov 26, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 87 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
12
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Nissan Altima submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Nov 26, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT MADE A SHARP LEFT TURN ACROSS THE CONTACT'S LANE. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT LATER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE CONTACT CALLED DARTMOUTH NISSAN AT 508-996-3200 (LOCATED AT 483 STATE RD, NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02747) AND WAS INFORMED OF AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE CONTACT'S ATTORNEY TOOK OVER FURTHER INTERACTION WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID
11153988
Incident
Jan 1, 2014
Mileage
43,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 22, 2008
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHEN WE WERE TAUGHT HOW TO DRIVE WE WERE TOLD TO PLACE OUR HANDS AT THE 10 AND 2 O'CLOCK POSITION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. IF THAT IS WHERE YOUR HANDS ARE AT THE DEPLOYMENT OF AN AIRBAG IT THROWS YOUR LEFT ARM AGAINST THE WINDSHIELD AND IT'S FRAME WHICH RESULTS IN BROKEN ARMS AND WRISTS. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A WARNING FOR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235361
Incident
Aug 12, 2007
Airbags
Filed May 22, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 NISSAN ALTIMA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP HER VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. HER AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY. THE PURCHASE DATE AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 153,875 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,855.

NHTSA ID
10191453
Incident
Apr 19, 2007
Mileage
153,855 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 26, 2006
Crash reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH OF THE VEHICLE'S FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS STRUCK HEAD ON BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO CROSSED AN INTERSECTION AT 35 MPH. THERE WAS PRE-IMPACT BRAKING PRIOR TO THE FRONTAL IMPACT. THE OCCUPANTS WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS, AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON 07/26/06 AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE AGENCY ON 07/28/06. THERE ARE PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10163526
Incident
Jul 22, 2006
Mileage
113,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 16, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported

(1) I TURNED LEFT INTO A PARKING FROM SITTING STILL IN A TURN LANE. APPROX. 3 CAR LENGTHS INTO THIS PARKING LOT BOTH OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED IN MY AUTOMOBILE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VEHICLE DAMAGE ETC. THERE WASN'T ANYTHING FOR THEM TO DO. THEY THEN REFERRED ME TO THIS SITE TO FILL OUT A COMPLAINT. (2) ALL THREE OCCUPANTS HAD TO BE SEEN IN THE ER. (3) NISSAN WAS CONTACTED; THEY SENT OUT A VEHICLE INSPECTOR AND THEN NISSAN ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFAULTED PARTS THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIRS OR HOSPITAL COSTS. PERSONAL AUTOMOTIVE INSURANCE COVERED THE INCIDENT. AS FAR AS I KNOW, ALL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $4,000.00 JUST TO REPAIR THE AUTOMOBILE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10114175
Incident
Dec 23, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 13, 2003
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, ALSO THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT, WHICH RESULTED IN INJURIES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10011608
Incident
Mar 5, 2003
Mileage
71,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 15, 2002
Crash reported

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A 45 MPH FRONT COLLISION. NISSAN CAME AND TOOK THE AIR BAGS FROM THE VEHICLE FOR TESTING. PRIOR TO TESTING, NISSAN WAS FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. AFTER TESTING WAS COMPLETED, THEY WILL NOT RETURN OUR CALLS OR LET US KNOWN WHAT THEY FOUND OUT. COMMUNICATION HAS CEASED FROM THEIR END. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****760744

NHTSA ID
10006382
Incident
Mar 7, 2002
Mileage
37,000 mi
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Feb 4, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I WAS IN A TERRIBLE CAR ACCICENT ON 11/1/00. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND I HAD DAMAGE ON ALL FOUR SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. THE WORST OF THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FRONT ... THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS GONE DOWN TO THE ENGINE. THIS VEHICLE NEVER DROVE WELL DURING THE RAIN. IN AN IRONIC WAY, I AM HAPPY TO KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPEND TO. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP,THEY REFUSED TO ANSWER MY QUESTIONS & JUST SAID, "NISSAN HAS A FAIL PROOF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM." I ADVISED I HAD VIDEO TYPE OF THE VEHICLE AFTER HE ACCIDENT, BUT THEY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO SEE OR ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT HAD HAPPEND. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY ANSWERS OR INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
740434
Incident
Nov 1, 2000
Airbags
Filed Sep 1, 2000

AIRBAG LIGHT BLINKS ON AND OFF. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *YH

NHTSA ID
869335
Incident
Aug 1, 2000
Airbags
Filed Apr 19, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ON STREET VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPPED SUDDENLY, AND CONSUMER REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *AK

NHTSA ID
860586
Incident
Dec 5, 1999
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Dec 7, 1999
Crash reported

VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION WHERE IT WAS REAR ENDED AT 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK TO COLLAPSE AND FALL BACK INTO A RECLINING POSITION. ALSO, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
853816
Airbags
Filed Dec 3, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING FORTY MILES PER HOUR THIS VEHICLE REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END WAS TOTALLY SMASHED, BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACED. DRIVER SUFFERED A BRUSED CHEST, AND SEVERE HEADACHES. *AK

NHTSA ID
853657
Airbags
Filed May 3, 1999
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 25 MPH, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
837364
Incident
Apr 30, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .