2013 Nissan Pathfinder Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
I CONTINUE TO GET INTERMITTENT WARNING LITE ABOUT PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT ACTIVATED WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAR HAS HAD THE RECALL FOR THIS PERFORMED ALREADY HOWEVER IT STILL PERSISTS REGARDLESS OF CAR MOTION.
I NOTICED THAT OCCASIONALLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT THAT THE "FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG STATUS LIGHT" WAS INDICATING "OFF." THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH OTHER PASSENGERS AS WELL. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE THIS WAS HAPPENING I DROVE TO THE NEARBY NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND PULLED INTO THE SERVICE BAY. A FEW SECONDS AFTER I CAME TO A STOP AND BEFORE A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE COULD COME OVER THE LIGHT WENT OFF. I RETURNED THE PATHFINDER SEVERAL TIMES FOR REPAIR INCLUDING THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAD A DEALER TECHNICAL SPECIALIST (DTS) LOOK AT THE CAR. THE DTS SAID THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THE SENSORS DETERMINE IF THERE IS A CHILD IN THE SEAT AND "CLASSIFIES" THIS TO THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THERE ARE 3 CONDITIONS THAT CAN BE "CLASSIFIED" - EMPTY, CHILD, AND ADULT. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED FROM PARK THE STATUS ("CLASSIFICATION") AT THAT INSTANT IS RETAINED. SUBSEQUENTLY IF THE VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP (REGARDLESS OF GEAR SELECTION) FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THEN THIS "CLASSIFICATION" IS REPEATED. THE DTS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER WERE ABLE TO "MANIPULATE" THE CAR TO LEAVE THE AIR BAG STATUS LIGHT DISPLAYING OFF BY PUTTING A PARTIAL LOAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THEN MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY TO DRIVE. THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO DISPLAY OFF UNTIL THEY LET THE CAR COME TO A COMPLETE STOP FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THIS "MANIPULATION" WAS WHAT WAS HAPPENING WHEN MY WIFE AND OTHER PASSENGERS WERE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE ALGORITHM OF THE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. IT IS RELATED TO THE CHANGES MADE BY THE RECALL BUT NOT THE SPECIFIC SITUATION. THE DTS THEN SAID THAT THIS WAS "NORMAL" AND COULDN'T BE REPAIRED. THIS IS LIKE THE STEVE JOBS' "YOU'RE HOLDING IT WRONG" COMMENT BUT WITH MY PASSENGER'S SAFETY. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE IN ON THREE SEPERATE OCCASIONS FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR COMING ON WHILE A PERSON OVER 100# IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SENSOR LIGHT SAYS THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF WHILE A PERSON IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THEY HAVE RESET THE SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES AND IT IS STILL NOT FIXED. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF I GET IN AN ACCIDENT MY PASSENGER (USUALLY MY DAUGHTER) WILL NOT BE SAFE BECAUSE THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT IF I WAS THAT WORRIED OR CONCERNED THAT I SHOULDN'T HAVE ANYONE SIT IN THAT SEAT AND JUST HAVE THEM RIDE IN THE MIDDLE ROW OR THE BACK ROW. WHO WOULD SPEND $28,000.00 ON A VEHICLE AND NOT HAVE IT SAFE?? I WAS APPALLED WHEN THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THIS. THIS WILL BE MY LAST NISSAN I EVER PURCHASE. I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE THE SENSORS AND WAS TOLD THAT NISSAN WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THIS REPAIR BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE SENSOR IS NOT WORKING. THE COMPUTER DOES NOT REGISTER FAULT CODES. I HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL PICTURES WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE SITTING IN THE SEAT WHILE THE SENSOR LIGHT IS ON INDICATING THE AIR BAG IS OFF. *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FAULTY EVEN AFTER BEING 'FIXED' PER NTB14-027. OUR TRUCK HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, THOUGH WE'VE HAD THE ISSUE MORE TIMES THAN WE'VE BROUGHT IT IN. WE HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS AND PICTURES OF THIS PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG SENSOR WILL ILLUMINATE DESPITE A PASSENGER WEIGHING OVER 120LBS IN THE SEAT. AND OTHER TIMES THE SENSOR WILL NOT COME ON AS IT SHOULD WHEN A CHILD IS SITTING IN THE SEAT - WE DID THIS AS A TEST WITHOUT DRIVING AND THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON. I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG IS ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT INDICATING THE AIR BAG IS DISABLED INTERMITTENTLY LIGHTS WHEN AN ADULT PASSENGER IS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. WE FIRST NOTIFIED NISSAN APPROXIMATELY IN AUGUST 2013 AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO ISSUES. THEN THE RECALL NOTICES CAME OUT IN APRIL OR MAY OF 2014 AND WE HAD THE RECALL FIX APPLIED. THE OCS STILL INTERMITTENTLY LIGHTS WHEN A PASSENGER OCCUPIES THE FRONT SEAT. SOMETIMES THIS CAN BE RESET BY TURNING OFF AND THEN TURNING ON THE CAR. *TR
MY 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER HAS INTERMITTENTLY LIT UP THE DISABLED PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT WHILE A FULL-SIZED ADULT WAS SEATED CORRECTLY IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. MY OCS MODULE WAS REPROGRAMMED IN MAY, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL. YET, MY CAR STILL CHOOSES TO CLASSIFY CORRECTLY A SEATED ADULT WEIGHING 150 LBS TO 280 LBS AS EITHER AN EMPTY SEAT OR ONE OCCUPIED BY A CHILD OR SMALL ADULT, SHUTTING OFF THE AIR BAG ACCORDINGLY. WHEN THE AIR BAG IS OFF, NO AMOUNT OF FIDGETING OR RE-POSITIONING WILL MAKE THE OCS RECLASSIFY THE PASSENGER (CONTRARY TO WHAT THE SAFETY SERVICE BULLETIN UPDATE SAYS). THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME ON MY LAST VISIT CONCERNING THIS MATTER THAT IF MY PASSENGER IS RECLINED OR LEANING ON THE DOOR, IT WOULD DISABLE THE AIRBAG. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED, I HAD MY PASSENGER, A 6 FT, 240 LB MAN SHIFT TO TRY TO GET THE OCS TO RECLASSIFY HIM, TO NO AVAIL. THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE WAS TO STOP THE CAR, TURN IT OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO REPLACE THE SENSORS SINCE NO ERROR CODES ARE STORED IN THE SYSTEM. MY CAR HAS JUST COME BACK FROM ANOTHER "REPAIR" AT THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY HANDED ME A STACK OF PAPERS THAT EXPLAIN THAT THIS SOMETIMES HAPPENS FOR THE PASSENGER'S OWN PROTECTION, AND GAVE SUGGESTIONS THAT INCLUDED MY ABOVE "FIX." IT IS INSANE TO SUGGEST THAT THE SYSTEM IS WORKING PROPERLY, BUT I MIGHT HAVE TO STOP MY CAR AND WAIT A MINUTE TO MAKE IT DO WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO ON START UP. FOR OTHERS WITH THIS ISSUE, THE PAPERS ALSO SUGGEST THAT THE OCS CAN BE TAKING TOO LONG TO CLASSIFY YOUR PASSENGER BECAUSE YOUR A/C FAN SPEED IS SET TOO HIGH. THE "FIX" IS THAT YOU SHOULD SIT AND SWEAT SO THE PROPERLY FUNCTIONING OCS CAN DETERMINE THE CORRECT CLASSIFICATION FOR YOUR PASSENGER. *TR
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT HAS CAME ON SEVERAL TIME IN THE YEAR PLUS I HAVE OWED MY 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. RE PROGRAMMING HAS BEEN DONE TWICE ON COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SENSORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE SAME DAY THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT CAME ON TWICE. WILL NOTIFY DEALER TOMORROW. *TR
BACK IN JUNE 2013 WE FOUND THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD INDICATE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS OFF EVEN IF AN ADULT OVER 5 FOOT 4 INCHES AND OVER 150 LBS WITH SEAT BELT ON WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT SPORADICALLY. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 2013 PATHFINDERS, ACCORDING TO OUR DEALER OURS WAS NOT INCLUDED THOUGH EVEN THOUGH THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THEY SAID BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE ISSUE (THEY TRIED A FEW TIME) AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT, BUT THAT THEY DID PERFORM A RE-CALIBRATION ON IT. A YEAR LATER I GOT NOTICE THE RECALL HAD BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY PATHFINDER SO I TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY SAID THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL HOWEVER A WEEK LATER WE GOT THE WARNING AGAIN THAT THE AIRBAG WAS OFF SO THE PROCEDURE THEY DID, NOT FIX OUR ISSUE. I CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE AND WAS ASSURED BY [XXX] THAT THEY KNEW THAT THE RECALL WORK DID NOT ALWAYS FIX IT BUT THEY HAD INFORMATION THEY WERE NOT GIVING TO THE DEALERS THAT HE COULD DISCUSS WITH THEM TO FIX IT. I WAS GIVEN CASE NUMBER [XXX] AND I TOOK IT BACK IN ON NOVEMBER 16TH. WE DROPPED IT OFF AND THAT DAY THEY TOLD US NO WORK WAS TO BE PERFORMED BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT RECREATE IT. I INFORMED HIM THAT BACK IN EARLY NOVEMBER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THAT IT WAS SPORADIC AND THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I GAVE THEM [XXX] INFO WITH NISSAN AND NEITHER HIM NOR I COULD GET A HOLD OF HIM THAT WEEK SO I PICKED THE CAR BACK UP AND CONTACTED NISSAN CORPORATE AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND AFTER BEING GIVEN A NEW CASE NUMBER OF [XXX]. THE BOTTOM LINE IS A RECALL FOR MY CAR HAS BEEN MANDATED BY NHTSA, BUT WHAT WAS PERFORMED ON MY VEHICLE DID NOT WORK AND NISSAN IS NOT FIXING IT OR EVEN TRYING TO WORK WITH ME. I DO HAVE PHOTO PROOF THAT THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE AND THAT THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES EVEN WHEN IT SHOULD NOT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DOES NOT ACTIVATE AND REMAINS "OFF" CONSISTENTLY WHEN THERE IS A PASSENGER SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED ON THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM, AND FIVE VISTS LATER THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER THE SIZE OF THE PERSON SITTING IN THE SEAT, 130LB TO 230LB. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. IT HAPPENS WHEN I START THE CAR, THE LIGHT COMES ON AND DOES NOT GO OFF. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO OFF AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR A WHILE. I HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY HAVE REPROGRAMMED IT, BUT IT HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT HAPPENS ON A LOT OF THE PATHFINDERS AND NISSAN HAS TOLD THEM IT IS NORMAL. THE DEALER SAID THEY DON'T BELIEVE IT IS NORMAL, BUT UNTIL NISSAN CHANGES THEIR POSITION, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND IT SOUNDS LIKE MANY PATHFINDER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND NISSAN IS NOT WILLING TO RESOLVE IT. *TR
AIR BAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT DETECT A PERSON AT ALL TIMES. MY DAUGHTER WEIGHS 120 AND IT WILL NOT DETECT HER WHEN SHE IS IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON WHEN MY WIFE (130 LBS) IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE WAS APPARENTLY A RECALL. THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE SITUATION, AS IT OCCURRED AGAIN SEVERAL TIMES. IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY DID A REPROGRAM, YET AGAIN. THE PROBLEM IS THE OCCUPANT SENSOR, I WAS TOLD. AGAIN, IT HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. I CALLED AGAIN AND THEY WERE REALLY GREAT AND GOT ME IN THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID THAT SOME OF THE VEHICLES JUST DIDN'T TAKE TO THE REPROGRAM FOR SOME REASON. IT WAS FINE FOR A WHILE, BUT THEN JUST THIS PAST WEEK IT HAS STARTED COMING ON AGAIN. THIS SIGNIFICANTLY JEOPARDIZES THE SAFETY OF THE PERSON IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IF THERE IS EVER TO BE AN ACCIDENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW AND CURRENTLY HAS AROUND 6500 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER CONCERN WILL BE DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I WOULD SELL IT. THE PROBLEMS REPRESENT AN INHERENT BREACH OF IMPLIED WARRANTY AND THEREFORE HAVE DAMAGED THE REPUTATION AND VALUE OF MY VEHICLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTICE FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V138000 (AIR BAG). HOWEVER, THE RECALL HAS EXCEEDED THE REASONABLE TIME. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MY VEHICLE KEEPS SHOWING AS OFF WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT THAT IS OVER 120 POUNDS. THE DEALER HAS PERFORMED THE AIR BAG RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE AND IT DOES NOT SEEM TO HAVE HELPED. *TR
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON, EVEN WITH ANOTHER ADULT IN THE SEAT. LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO OUR LOCAL NISSAN DEALER THREE TIMES FOR THIS, AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *TR
MY PATHFINDER WAS RECALLED (14V-138) TO FIX THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND IT WAS "FIXED." WHEN MY WIFE, WHO WEIGHS ABOUT 112 POUNDS, SITS IN THE RIGHT SEAT, THE LIGHT COMES ON INDICATING THAT AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF. I CALLED THE DEALER (ABC NISSAN IN PHOENIX) AND THEY SAID THAT THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO TURN THE AIR BAG OFF UNLESS THE OCCUPANT WEIGHS MORE THAT 110 POUNDS. THAT PUTS MY WIFE IN JEOPARDY IN THE EVENT OF A HEAD-ON COLLISION. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY CAN DO - THE SENSOR CANNOT BE TURNED OFF AND THE WEIGHT LIMIT CANNOT BE CHANGED. WHY SHOULD MY WIFE'S LIFE BE JEOPARDIZED TO PROTECT IDIOTS WHO PUT SMALL CHILDREN IN THE FRONT SEAT? IF THEY WANT TO PUT A LIMIT ON THE WEIGHT, IT SHOULD BE AROUND 50 POUNDS. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY WIFE IS INJURED, I GUARANTEE THAT I WILL SUE NISSAN AND NHTSA FOR MILLIONS. *JS
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH KEEPS FLASHING AND THE INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE SAYS PASSENGER AIRBAG 2 OFF. I TOOK IT TO REED NISSAN THE FIRST TIME, AND THEY DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING ON IT BECAUSE IT DIDN'T DO IT WHEN THEY TOOK IT OUT. I TOOK IT BACK A SECOND TIME AND MADE SURE THEY WROTE IT DOWN THIS TIME. THEY KEPT THE CAR TWO DAYS AND RETURNED IT WITH A NOTE STATING THE AIRBAG HAD BEEN RECALIBRATED. LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON WITH PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT. THE MANAGER HAS TOLD ME THAT IS THE WAY THE LIGHTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE FUNCTIONING. NOW I SEE THAT NISSAN IS "DECIDING" WHAT TO DO WITH THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THIS SENSOR PROBLEM THAT COULD LEAD TO THE AIRBAG FAILING. I AM PUBLICLY STATING THAT SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, IT WAS BROUGHT TO REED NISSAN'S ATTENTION, AND THEY CHOSE TO TELL ME THIS IS PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THE LIGHTS. NISSAN AND REED NISSAN WILL BE HELD LEGALLY ACCOUNTABLE IF ANYTHING SHOULD HAPPEN TO MY FAMILY WHILE THEY "DECIDE" WHAT TO DO WITH A MAJOR MALFUNCTIONING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. *TR
THIS IS AN ONGOING INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. IT HAS RE-OCCURRED IN OCTOBER AND AGAIN YESTERDAY, DECEMBER 2,2014. I WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE PASSENGER "AIRBAG OFF" INDICATOR CAME ON. WE DROVE FOR 45 MINUTES AT 55 MPH AND THAT INDICATOR LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF, MEANING THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WOULD NOT DISCHARGE IN AN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN MANY TIMES LAST YEAR DURING THE SUMMER AND AFTER COMPLAINTS TO NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE A MECHANIC CAME TO EVALUATE CAR AND HE DID SOME WORK ON IT AND THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED FOR SOME TIME. IT STARTED TO RE-OCCUR RECENTLY AND I BROUGHT IT TO NISSAN 112, WHO TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM DETECTED AND COMPUTER DID NOT THROW A CODE. I HAVE VIDEO AND PHOTOS OF THIS INDICATOR LIGHT ON WHILE I AM SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THEY INSIST THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG FAILED TO ACTIVATE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.
THE AIR BAG SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS NOT REGISTERING A OCCUPANT SITTING IN THE SEAT. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FIRST TIME DID REGISTER A AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT. THE LOCAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT DOWNLOADED THE FAULT AND CLEARED IT AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN BRING IT BACK IN. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN BUT NOT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT ON THE DASH. THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT WILL REMAIN ON FOR OVER A MINUTE. I HAVE SEVERAL VIDEOS OF THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND STILL NISSAN REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING BUT SAY LOOK AT THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR SAFE SEATING POSITIONS. I DO NOT WANT MY WIFE TO BE INJURED MORE AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. NISSAN NEEDS TO GET THIS PROBLEM SORTED OUT. AT THIS POINT I DON'T EVEN WANT THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. *TR
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SIT AND NOT SITTING IN THE SEAT ( PERSON IS AT THE WEIGHT LIMIT AND SITTING CORRECTLY).HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER SHIP THREE TIMES INCLUDING ONCE FOR THE RECALL OF THIS ISSUE. THEY CAN NOT SEEM TO FIX THE ISSUE AND HAVE NO CLUE HOW TO FIX WITH MULTIPLE CALLS TO THE NISSAN TECH HOTLINE, THEY REPLACED THE SENSORS AT LEAST EVERY TIME. THIS IS STARTING TO BE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE AND WHO KNOWS IF THE AIR BAG WILL EVEN WORK WHEN NEEDED. THEY COULD NEVER DUPLICATE THE ISSUE WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, BUT I GO ARMED WITH PICTURES ANYMORE. I HAVE OWNED MANY NISSANS AND THIS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT HAS GIVEN ME AN ISSUE. I EVEN TURNED TO NISSAN DIRECTLY AND OPENED COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY JUST GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND. I AM NOT LOOKING FOR ANYTHING BUT JUST A CAR THAT WORKS, I BOUGHT A NEW CAR AND WANT A NEW CAR. IF I WANTED A CAR WITH THESE TYPE OF ISSUES I WOULD OF BOUGHT A USED ONE. NISSAN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING WITH THIS PROBLEM IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE GET HURTS OR DIES. THEN WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR IT? I KNOW I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THESE ISSUES! *TR
THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM DEACTIVATED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, AND ACTIVATED THE WARNING LIGHT, WITH A 200+ POUND PERSON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, CENTERED IN THE SEAT AND UPRIGHT, AND SEATBELT ON, FOR OVER ONE HOUR. TOOK VIDEO SHOWING PERSON IN SEAT @ 55 MPH WITH LIGHT ON. DEALER AND NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THEY CAN NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM, THEREFORE, THERE IS NOTHING TO FIX, EVEN AFTER SHOWING THE DEALER THE VIDEO OF THE DEFECTIVE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. REQUESTED CORPORATE TECHNICIAN TO EXAMINE CAR, DEALER HAS NOT PROVIDED THIS SERVICE TO DATE (3 WEEKS LATER). DUE TO THE RANDOM FAULT, WE CAN NOT TRUST THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO WORK AS DESIGNED, AND AS REQUIRED BY THE NHTSA RULE FMVSS208. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT WAS OCCUPIED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE WEIGHT OF A 75 POUND PERSON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 13V069000 (AIR BAGS). AFTERWARD, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 12/20/13*CN
MY PATHFINDER HAS A BUILD DATE OF NOV. 2012. TWO TIMES NOW THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR HAS FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT AN ADULT IS OCCUPYING THE SEAT. IT CAN BE RESET BY STOPPING THE CAR, TURNING IT OFF GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, AND REENTERING AND START BACK UP. IT THEN WORKS AS NORMAL. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS NOT ONE OF THE ONES THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM AND HE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO REPAIR WHEN HE CAN WITNESS IT. I SHOWED HIM A PICTURE WITH THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON AND THE SEAT OCCUPIED AT 70 MPH. I NOTICED IT AFTER EXITING A REST STOP ON I-10 AND DROVE TO THE NEXT REST STOP BEFORE STOPPING TO RESET. CHANGING SEATING POSITION WHILE DRIVING HAD NO EFFECT AT ALL. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2013 NISSAN PATHFINDER SL. THE FIRST DAY THAT I SAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT (DAY 2 OF OWNERSHIP), WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED STATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF AND WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN CALIBRATION PROBLEM WITH THE PATHFINDER'S SEAT SENSORS AND THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY CAR, BUT THAT IT NEEDED TO BE RECALIBRATED, WHICH IT WAS. AFTER HAVING THE CAR BACK FOR 1 WEEK, THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS SEATED "PROPERLY" AS DESCRIBED IN THE USER'S MANUAL. THE CAR WENT BACK TO THE DEALER AND EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR CAR, THEY REPLACED THE SEAT SENSORS BECAUSE IT WAS A "SAFETY ISSUE." TWO WEEKS AFTER HAVING THE CAR BACK THE LIGHT IS ONCE AGAIN COMING ON WHEN I SIT NORMAL AND UPRIGHT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE HEAD TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALERSHIP IS NOW TELLING ME THAT THE CAR IS ACTING IN MY BEST INTEREST TO INTERMITTENTLY TURN OFF THE AIRBAG LIGHT WHEN I AM SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BECAUSE OF MY SIZE. I AM A 5'4, 120 LB FEMALE. I FEEL THAT IF I AM SITTING UPRIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE SEAT, AS A NORMAL SIZE ADULT, THE AIRBAG SHOULD NOT BE DISENGAGED. IF IT IS CALIBRATED TO DISENGAGE FOR A 120LB ADULT SEATED PROPERLY, THEN IT SHOULD CONSISTENTLY DO SO, NOT INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT A CHANGE IN POSITION. NISSAN HAS TOLD ME THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE DONE. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2013 Nissan Pathfinder has 119 Air Bags complaints on file. 2 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.