1998 Nissan Maxima Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH AND TRAVELED OVER A PATCH OF ICE. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN AROUND AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT CRASHED HEAD FIRST INTO AN UNKNOWN OBJECT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED KNEE AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE POLICE WERE PRESENT ON SCENE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE YARD AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE SERVICED TWO MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

1998 NISSAN MAXIMA SE AIRBAG LIGHT IS FLASHING. COMPUER TELLS ME IT IS THE RT FRONT AIRBAG. *TR

WAS DRIVING A (BOUGHT NEW) 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA WITH OPTIONAL SIDE AIR BAGS ON LEATHER SEATS IN APR 2003. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER A SIDE IMPACT FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON FRONT BUMPER AND LEFT FRONT WHEEL. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BY ACCIDENT. I SUFFER FROM NECK INJURY FROM HITTING THE DRIVER DOOR PILLAR (BY SEAT BELT ADJUSTER). HAD CERVICAL FUSION OF C4 & C5 IN THE NECK. NOW SUFFER A LIFETIME OF PAIN AND NUMBNESS. *TR

AFTER RECLINING MY SEAT, THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM WARNING LAMP STARTED TO BLINK AND HAS REMAINED BLINKING EVER SINCE. AFTER DIAGNOSING THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULE IN THE SEAT TO BE CAUSING THE PROBLEM. I FOUND A NISSAN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NTB00-043, APPLYING TO ALL 1998-1999 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES, WHICH STATES THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULES FOR THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FRONT SEATS ARE TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW UPDATED ONES THAT REPLACE THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULES AND THE SEAT-SUB HARNESS THAT THE MODULES CONNECT TO. THIS IS A MANUFACTURING SAFETY DEFECT IN THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULE'S HARNESS. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES TO ROUTE THE NEW HARNESS EXACTLY AS THE OLD HARNESS WAS ROUTED, THEREFORE ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF THE HARNESS ROUTING IN THE SEAT BEING THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THAT THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULE INSTALLED ORIGINALLY IN THE VEHICLE CONSISTS OF A TWO PIECE HARNESS; THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WITH A SHORT SECTION OF WIRE THAT CONNECTS INTO A SUB HARNESS THAT IS ROUTED THROUGH THE SEAT, WHERE IT IS CONNECTED TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM CIRCUIT. THE UPDATED SIDE AIRBAG MODULE ELIMINATES THE TWO-PIECE HARNESS SYSTEM, REPAIRING THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAULT AND THEREFORE ELIMINATING THE WARNING INDICATOR CONSTANTLY FLASHING. THIS REQUIRES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULES, WHICH IS VERY COSTLY AND THIS ISSUE CREATES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAIN SYSTEM IF EVER REQUIRED TO BE USED. IN ADDITION, NISSAN DOES NOT OFFER THE SIDE AIRBAG MODULES FOR PURCHASE TO MY EXTENT OF KNOWLEDGE. AFTER CONDUCTING MY OWN RESEARCH ON WEBSITES FOR NISSAN MAXIMA OWNERS, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE THAT OCCURS ON THE 1998-1999 NISSAN MAXIMA VEHICLES. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA IN 2004 I WENT ON A TRIP HALF WAY DOWN WE STOP AT A BANK, AND WHEN WE GOT BACK IN THE CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT DID NOT TURN OFF, BUT JUST KEPT BLINKING. UPON RETURNING I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY RESET THE LIGHT AND SAID THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHOWED A FAULT (OPEN CIRCUIT). I DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT AT THIS POINT. THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AFTER A FEW MONTHS BUT I DID NOT TAKE THE CAR IN AGAIN TILL 2008 AND WANTED TO REPLACE THE PART THAT IS WHEN I FOUND OUT FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SIDE AIRBAGS WITH THIS CERTAIN MODEL. IT WAS A CONNECTION PROBLEM WITH THE CONNECTORS SHE COULD IT A DESIGN PROBLEM. THE SOLUTION WAS THAT THE NEW AIR BAG HAD ONE CONNECTION INSTEAD OF TWO WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT GET IT REPLACE, BECAUSE I FELT THAT IT IS A RECALL ISSUE IF THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS A POOR DESIGN AND I BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE CHANGED OUT AT NO CHARGE ESPECIALLY BEINGING A SAFETY RESTRAINT ISSUE. I ALSO HAD A RECORD THAT CAME WITH THE CAR THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG HAD BEEN REPLACE NOT TO LONG AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE AGAIN AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $709. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,278 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 2/17/09 *CN UPDATED 02/19/09. *JB

AIRBAG LIGHT STARTING FLASHING ON MY 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA GLE. DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SERIOUS, DEALER WAS ABOUT $500 FOR A CHIP TO REPLACE. THIS IS THE SECOND 1998 NISSAN MAXIMA THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO. *TR

AIR BAG LSENSON LIGHT BLINKS IN FRON PANEL. DEALER NOTE AFTER CHECK: RAN ECC TEST WITH CONSULT FOUND DTC RIGHT FRONT SEAT AIRBAG MODULE OPEN.CHECK NISSAN ASSIST FOUND TSB TNB00-043.IT WILL NEED TO REPLACE RH SIDE AIRBAG.ALSO LONG HARNESS. *AK

FAILURE OF AIRBAG MODULES. TAKEN TO DEALER DENIED COVERAGE TO FIX UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, ALSO EMAILED NISSAN CORPORATION TO REQUEST HELP. NOTHING WAS DONE. *AK

THE ABS DASH-OARD WARNING LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. I TOOK IT TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN SANTA FE NM. THEY TOLD ME THAT A PROBLEM EXISTED IN THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MODULE, AND THAT REPLACING THE MODULE WOULD BE NECESSARY, AND THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG MAY OR MAY NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATE COST, $300, PLUS $72/HOUR LABOR.*AK

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE AIRBAG MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED.THE FIRST TWO TIMES WERE UNDER WARRANTY AND WERE DEFECTS, NOW THAT I AM AT 110000 KM I AM TOLD IT IS NOT A DEFECT AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THEREFORE HOW IS IT THAT THE AIRBAG MODULES KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM?

LETTER ON BEHALF OF ANTHONY A ABELE CONCERNING NON DEPLOYMENT OF FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS DURING A CRASH INVOLVING 1998, NISSAN MAXIMA. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 50 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'SAIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AT 35 MPH WITH FRONT BUMPER AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY / MAJOR FRONT END DAMAGE / CAR WAS IN DEALER FOR REPAIR OF AIR BAG 6 WEEKS AGO FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK

EVERY SIDE OF VEHICLE WAS HIT AGAINST A CEMENT BRIDGE. WHY DIDN'T MY AIR BAGS DEPLOY? *AK

MY CAR IS AGAIN AT THE DEALER BEING SERVICED. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR AIRBAG SERVICE ON 11 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 10 MONTHS AFTER I DROVE OFF THE LOT WITH THE CAR. I AM CONVINCED NISSAN HAS BEEN GIVEN A REASONABLE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I NOW NEED RESULTS SO I CAN DRIVE A CAR THAT WILL WORK AS DESGINED.

THE CAR WAS SOLD NEW WITH A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG LIGHT-WE DIDN'T NOTICE IT UNTIL AFTER WE SIGNED THE PURCHASE PAPERS. WE WERE TOLD TO RETURN IT THE NEXT DAY FOR REPAIR! SINCE THEN WE HAVE TRIED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED FOUR ADDITIONAL TIMES, BUT THE LIGHT COMES ON WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER WE LEAVE THE SHOP. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME IF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS TRULY FUNCTIONAL.

WAS TRAVELING 40MPH & HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION. AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, NEITHER ONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK

NO DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH AIR BAGS DURING COLLISION WITH ABANDONED VEHICLE.

MAJOR FRONTAL ACCIDENT -- NO AIRBAGS (DRIVER OR PASSENGER) DEPLOYED !!!!

AIR BAG SENSOR IN SEAT FAILED, CAUSING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. *YC