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2013 Nissan Altima: airbag warning light

254 of the 2,315 complaints about the 2013 Nissan Altima describe airbag warning light.

owner complaints
254
of this car's complaints
11%
typical repair cost reported
$1,500
typical mileage
17,857
recalls
4
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls and 8 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below

Airbag warning light by model year

What owners say

Filed Jan 24, 2026 · Airbags · NJ

Passenger airbag light on. I don’t even drive the car much. Out of no where it turned in.

Filed Aug 22, 2025 · Airbags, Fuel system · VA

Fuel System: Car hesitates and cut off after pumping fuel.\n' + 'Outer Tie rods torn rubber, vehicle never been realigned, but tires were worn on both front sides. \n' + 'Takata Air bag light has been on for over 2 years.\n' + 'Transmission over heats. Engine cuts back between 45 and 60 mph on the freeway. So we stop and allow it to cool off.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Airbags · 135,000 miles · NH

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the air bag warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with an air bag wiring failure. The contact was informed that the air bag wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Airbags · NC

Air bag light comes on.

Filed Apr 8, 2025 · Airbags · OH

Air bag light is on again. This car has had other recalls / complaints for airbags before. Airbags are safety , to protect drivers and passengers. This needs to be addressed.

Filed Jan 16, 2024 · Airbags, Seats · VA

My airbag light has been illuminated for the past few months. It does not illuminate while someone is in the seat. Once reset, it stays off for a while. When checked, the mechanic informed me that the sensor in my passenger seat needs to be replaced. Due to this malfunction, the vehicle may improperly deploy airbags. This has not happened but I’m concerned that it could possibly happen.

Filed Sep 13, 2023 · Airbags · AR

The 2013 Nissan Altima passenger light seatbelt dash light stayed on unless seatbelt was buckled with person in seat. Took to Nissan dealer who charged $150 to diagnose as a sensor control unit except when they cleared the codes the airbag light also came on and has stayed on. 1.Issue number one is Nissan had a recall on the sensor unit and Nissan refuses warranty. I called Nissan hotline and took back to dealer and warranty was still refused. 2.Issue number two the air bag light only showed up after the codes where cleared account to Nissan. This means that I was driving with the passenger air bag not functioning without any warning light showing not functioning air bag. I believe this is a warranty issue and also a safety issue where the car has a non-functional passenger air bag even though it does not show until the codes are cleared at a dealer. How many people are driving around not knowing Nissan is not giving a warning Light?

Filed Aug 23, 2023 · Airbags · MD

Front passenger air bag warning lamp is illuminating signaling that the vehicle is not detecting an occupant in the seat. This is the second time this has occurred. The first time the sensor was replaced, (Pc214) agency13V-069. It was covered under a safety recall in April 2013. I took the vehicle to Bowie Nissan, Bowie, MD and asked to have the sensor replaced at no charge as this is a safety issue. I provided the TSB from Nissan notifying the dealerships. The TSB reference number NTB19-071 September 12, 2019. I supplied the service writer a photo of the results of a diagnostic scan that stated occupant sensor was abnormal. The service advisor stated that it is a safety issue but they would have to charge a $189 diagnostic scan. If they confirmed the problem they would then make the repair and charge me the cost since it is not covered by Nissan. My car currently has mileage of 104,389 mile. I feel that this should be repaired by Nissan at no charge as this the second time this part has failed and that it is genuine safety issue. I feel that Nissan is dodging it responsibility to its customers and the federal safety agency.

Filed Jul 25, 2023 · Airbags, Seat belts · TX

The airbag sensor stop working. The airbag light stayed on whether someone was sitting in or not sitting in the passenger seat. The dealership stated there was an opening in the circuit and had to be re-builded. With the airbag not working this made the vehicle unsafe to drive and they could not tell me if the defect was with the driver side or passenger side airbag.

Filed Apr 19, 2023 · Airbags, Engine · 109,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2013 Nissan Altima. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, he noticed a burning smell coming through the A/C vents. The air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that unknown frontal air bag had deployed under the hood and burned; however, the mechanic could not repair the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to another mechanic who informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle. An unknown dealer was contacted but provided no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

Filed Feb 25, 2023 · Airbags · HI

Driver air bag light remains on. Passenger air bag was supposedly fixed per recall years ago, but now the driver air bag seems to be faulty. Car has not been in an accident. Attempts by dealer and other mechanics to reset the light have failed, indicating there is a problem. Nissan refuses to remediate and says that it is the owner's responsibility. Dealer has said that Nissan does not know what the problem is and even if airbag is replaced for a tune of $3K they do not guarantee that the problem will be fixed! There is no option for us and this is extremely unsafe.

Filed Jan 18, 2023 · Airbags · GA

This vehicle has never been in an accident and the driver air bag light came on. Per dealer it was the air bag modular and the who driver seat. Needed to be replaced. I called Nissan and they wouldn’t cover the replacement, because this part is only covered up to 50,000 miles. I’m very concerned and disappointed this is a safety hazard and should have been covered we are talking about air bag which saves lives. While in the dealership getting my car repaired another customer came in with the same issue. Can you please investigate Nissan before the faulty air bag modular they are placing on their cars? I can see the part going out on vehicles involved in accidents , it doesn’t make sense on non-accident vehicles.

Service bulletins that may apply

Related recalls

Air bags: sensor: occupant classificationReported December 19, 2016 · 757 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima vehicles manufactured January 3, 2013, to July 29, 2013, 2015-2016 Rogue vehicles manufactured October 14, 2014, to August 12, 2016, and 2016 Maxima vehicles manufactured June 4, 2015, to August 19, 2015. An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.
Risk
If the front passenger seat occupant is misclassified, the air bag may deploy incorrectly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU and update the OCS software free of charge. The recall began February 13, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 16V911000 · Recall details

Air bags: sensor: occupant classificationReported April 26, 2016 · 3,296,947 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Risk
If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669, Infiniti customer service at 1‑888‑833‑3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020.

Recall number 16V244000 · Recall details

Air bags: sensor: occupant classificationReported October 20, 2015 · 919 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Risk
If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 15V681000 · Recall details

Air bagsReported March 1, 2013 · 82,038 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2013 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, Sentra, and Infiniti JX35 vehicles. Sensors within the passenger Occupant Detection System (ODS) may have been manufactured out of specification. This may cause the system to malfunction and permanently suppress the passenger airbag.
Risk
If the vehicle is involved in a crash necessitating airbag deployment and the passenger airbag is suppressed, there may be an increased risk of personal injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ODS sensors and replace them as neccessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 6, 2013. Owners may contact Nissan Customer Service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 13V069000 · Recall details

Questions about the 2013 Nissan Altima airbag light

Is airbag warning light a common problem on the 2013 Nissan Altima?

254 of 2,315 owner complaints about the 2013 Nissan Altima (11%) mention airbag warning light. The model year with the most reports is 2013.

How much does it cost to fix airbag warning light on the 2013 Nissan Altima?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,500 (median of 19 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2013 Nissan Altima?

There are 4 recalls and 8 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2013 Nissan Altima

Headlights 428Ball joint 222CVT failure 176Stalling 158Transmission failure 130Jerking 102Check engine light 69Shudder 64Door locks 52Won't shift 46Hesitation 44Loss of power 36Grinding brakes 33No deployment 31Slipping 20Whining noise 20Won't start 19Fire or smoke 18Pulling 17Harsh shifting 16Key fob 14Knocking 12Sudden acceleration 10Sunroof shattered 10Engine failure 9Seat belt 9Windshield crack 9Warning lights 8Backup camera 7Power steering loss 7Brake failure 6Adaptive cruise 5Misfire 5Tire blowout 5

All model years of the Nissan Altima

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