2011 Nissan Frontier Airbags Problems

On January 25, 2024 my son was driving this truck and hit a dog on the highway. His driver side airbag deployed, the driver side seatbelt would not retract, and there was some minor body damage. The engine of the vehicle is fine and completely operational. Since then, we have been waiting for repairs to be made. Per USAA, repairs will be approx $5000 or less. The vehicle is worth over $12,000 so they decided to repair it. The problem is that part number 98820-ZP78A (air bag control module) is no longer being manufactured by Nissan. All other parts, including the *actual* air bag can still be purchased from Nissan, but they are not making the sensor we need to fix this vehicle. We are not the only ones who cannot obtain this part.

NHTSA ID

11585943

Incident

Jan 25, 2024

The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Frontier. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23E012000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11551021

Incident

Oct 20, 2023

My air bag light kept flashing on my 2011 Nissan Frontier Pro 4x4, I had it looked at when I got my oil changed and was told that it is a malfunction where you click the seat belt into, the light is off now but once some one sets in the passenger side seat and puts the seat belt on the light will come back on, due to malfunction in the seat belt, and if I would get into a accident and some one is sitting in the passenger side the seat belt will not properly secure them

NHTSA ID

11421180

Incident

May 1, 2021

MY AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH A YEAR AGO I TOOK IT TO NISSAN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A SEAT CUSHION SENSOR IT WOULD COST ME $500.00 TO HAVE IT FIXED. I AM WRITTING THIS IN COMPLAINT THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN IN RECALL I HAVE WAITED FOR THIS PERIOD IN EXPECTATION OF RECEIVING A RECALL NOTICE. ALSO A FAILURE CODE FOR BELT TENSIONER. TO HAVE THESE ITEMS REPAIRED WOULD COST A TOTAL OF $2175.14. I DON'T AGREE I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR. NO ONE SITS IN THE SEAT, NOTHING SHOULD GO WRONG WITH THE SENSOR. IT CAME ON ALL OF A SUDDEN. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11366501

Incident

Jun 18, 2019

Mileage

121,372 mi

I HAVE REPEATEDLY GOTTEN INDICATORS (VIA VEHICLE'S COMPUTER) OF AIR BAG FAILURE, ON A VEHICLE OF LOW MILEAGE, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, AND HAS GOTTEN FAILURES REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH IS RARELY USED. THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEATBACK AND AIRBAG UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME THE DEALER REPLACED THE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY. HOW, THE 3RD TIME, THEY TELL ME THAT THE SAME SEAT - CUSHION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE AIRBAG, AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY OVER $2,000 FOR THIS. EACH TIME I GET THIS FAILURE NOTIFICATION, MY AIRBAG IS DISABLED. SO, IT IS AN ONGOING ISSUE. THE AIR BAG FAILURE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON RANDOMLY, NOT RELATED TO A DRIVING INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11265482

Incident

Sep 25, 2019

Mileage

49,100 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A CORNER POST ON A FARM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMPACT MOVED THE POST A COUPLE OF INCHES INTO THE FARM. ONLY THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SOME CUTS, BRUISES, AND SORENESS TO HIS ENTIRE BODY. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS BRIEFLY AND SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BY THE FARM OWNER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED AND DEEMED TOTALED DUE TO THE SIDE AIR BAGS. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT REPURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE CONTACT CALLED ADA NISSAN AT 580-332-2233 (LOCATED AT 420 LONNIE ABBOTT BLVD, ADA, OK 74820) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN THE MATTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11256867

Incident

Jun 3, 2019

Mileage

30,000 mi

PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT "YELLOW DASHBOARD LIGHT" THAT TYPICALLY COMES ON WHEN ANYONE SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. (ANYTIME AT ANY LOCATION) ALSO THE RED AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. DEALER STATES IT WILL COST $2400 TO REPAIR. OTHER MODELS OF NISSAN VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ARE COVERED BY A RECALL, NOT 2011 FRONTIER P/U. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR.

NHTSA ID

11175928

Incident

Feb 14, 2018

THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS FLASHING ALL THE TIME.THE PASSINGER SEAT AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH READS AIRBAG OFF.THE DEALER WANTS TO REPLACE THE PASSINGER SEAT AIRBAG PARTS AT A COST OF $2300.NISSAN HAS RECALLED OTHER CARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NOT THE FRONTIER.

NHTSA ID

11154029

Incident

Nov 9, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG SHOWS "OFF" WHEN OCCUPIED.

NHTSA ID

11019997

Incident

Aug 25, 2017

Mileage

46,500 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN TURNING ON FOR NO REASON WHETHER THE CAR IS PARKED OR RUNNING. TOOK IT TO SERVICE THEY RESET IT AND WENT ON AGAIN

NHTSA ID

10826144

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

71,200 mi

THE VEHICLE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY FLASHES FOR NO REASON. IT BLINKS WHILE STATIONARY OR IN MOTION. IT WAS RESET BY THE NISSAN SERVICE TECH, BUT STARTED FLASHING AGAIN AFTER 5 MINUTES ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID

10816194

Incident

Dec 14, 2015

SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A SMOOTH COUNTY ROAD WITHOUT A COLLISION AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH. DRIVER ONLY IN THE VEHICLE, EARS ARE RINGING. HAD TO CUT THE AIR BAGS TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. IN DRIVE WAY, UNUSABLE AT THIS POINT. SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ACTIVATED SO CANNOT USE SEATBELT AT THIS POINT.

NHTSA ID

10786739

Incident

Oct 25, 2015

Mileage

34,400 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS LIT AND WILL NOT RESET. I AM NOT SURE IF THE AIRBAG IS OPERATING CORRECTLY OR NOT. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN A COLLISION OR ANY OTHER DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10659385

Incident

Jul 1, 2014

Mileage

14,000 mi

GOING DOWN BACK ROAD, HIT A DEPRESSION, THE TRUCK NATURALLY ROCKED A BIT FROM SIDE TO SIDE, SIDE AIRBAGS (PASSENGER AND DRIVER) SUDDENLY DEPLOYED W/A HORRENDOUS LOUD BANG, SCARING ME HALF TO DEATH A LONG W/MY LEFT EAR RINGING. RIDICULOUS THAT IT IS THAT SENSITIVE IN A 4X4 TRUCK THAT THEY ADVERTISE NAVIGATING ROUGH CONDITIONS. I TRULY HOPE THIS DOES NOT END UP COSTING ME AND THAT NISSAN STEPS UP TO THE PLATE AND MAKES THIS RIGHT. 2 OTHER VERY SIMILAR REPORTS ON THIS SITE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10492025

Incident

Jan 9, 2013

Mileage

29,370 mi

MYSELF AND THREE KIDS AND DOG HAD BEEN ON A MILD 4 WHEEL DRIVE ROAD HAVING A LITTLE COOK OUT AND HIKE. WE WERE COMING HOME ON A SMOOTH MAINTAINED COUNTY ROAD GOING AND COMING TO STOP BY A STREAM. I THINK MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WE WERE MAYBE GOING 20 MILES AN HOUR WHEN MY SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED. SEAT AIR BAGS AND FRONT AIRBAGS FORTUNATELY DID NOT EXPLODE. I RECEIVED MILD BURNS AND BRUISES ON MY FACE. MY 6 Y.O. RED, HURT ON HIS CHEST. 11 Y.O. LOST HIS HEARING TEMPORARILY AND RED STINGING EAR. OTHER CHILD, 8, UNINJURED AS SHE WAS BENDING OVER PUTTING ON HER SHOES AS WE WERE COMING TO A STOP, BUT IS AFRAID TO SIT UP STRAIGHT IN A CAR NOW. WANTS TO LAY DOWN ON THE SEAT ALL THE TIME. WE HAD TO CUT OURSELVES OUT OF THE VEHICLE WITH OUR JACK KNIVES. WE HAD NO CELL PHONE SERVICE AND HAD TO DRIVE HOME 45 MINUTES WITH NO SEAT BELTS AND THEY LOCKED UP. I CAN NOT EVEN START TO DESCRIBE HOW SCARY IT WAS. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT. 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER WITH A 6 YEAR EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY ARE TRYING TO GET OUT OF FIXING IT. NO ONE UNDERSTANDS HOW THIS CAN BE. NISSAN IS NOW LOOKING IN TO THE 'LITTLE BROWN BOX'. WE ARE LOOKING FOR HELP. *KB

NHTSA ID

10419941

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

6,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN FRONTIER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER A PASSENGER WAS OCCUPYING THE SEAT AT A WEIGHT OF 100 POUNDS OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. UPDATED 07/08/11*LJ UPDATED 07/20/11

NHTSA ID

10404350

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

Mileage

1,000 mi