Check a VIN

1998 Nissan Maxima airbags problems

24 complaints (21% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 75,263. 8 crashes reported.

owner complaints
24
of this car's complaints
21%
typical mileage
75,263
crashes
8
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Frontal
    8
  • Side/window
    4
  • Frontal: sensor/control module
    4

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Nissan Maxima airbags problems in other years

1990199520002005201020152020

Specific symptoms reported on the 1998 Nissan Maxima airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Airbag light 7No deployment 6

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

What 1998 Nissan Maxima owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jan 17, 2013 · Airbags · 150,000 miles · MO · crash · 1 injury

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.

Filed Nov 18, 2010 · Airbags · 145,000 miles · MA

1998 nissan maxima se airbag light is flashing. Compuer tells me it is the rt front airbag.

Filed Oct 26, 2010 · Airbags · 40,000 miles · IL · crash · 3 injuries

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.

Filed Apr 22, 2010 · Airbags · 75,263 miles · NY

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.

Filed Mar 27, 2010 · Airbags · 90,000 miles · WA

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

Filed Jan 6, 2009 · Airbags · 40,278 miles · OH

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.

Filed Aug 6, 2008 · Airbags · 110,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Feb 18, 2006 · Airbags, Electrical · IL

Recall-nissan maxima alternator ,1998 .open recall,does not need to be original owner. Before I was informed of recall alternator stopped working (on highway going 55 lucky to be alive)! After repairs were made,car came out of repair shop with air bag light blinking. Took car to nissan. After paying $100.00,they informed me side air bags were faulty and they're not sure if front air bags will work properly. After I was informed of recall I brought car back to nissan,they replaced new alternator with another new alternator and paid me for the first alternator. My claim is that the faulty alternator under a recall notice caused my air bags to stop working. Nissan has informed me it's possible we will look into it. Have not heard anything from nissan. They did inform me it would cost $1,200.00 to fix. So now my son is driving the car without knowing one way or the other if the air bags will work. Nissans not sure if fronts will work! Nissan needs to replace air bags at there cost. There product caused the problem.

Filed Aug 17, 2005 · Airbags · 60,500 miles · CA

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.

Filed Dec 13, 2004 · Airbags · WA

Failure of airbag modules. Taken to dealer denied coverage to fix under extended warranty, also emailed nissan corporation to request help. Nothing was done.

Questions about the 1998 Nissan Maxima airbags

Does the 1998 Nissan Maxima have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the airbags of the 1998 Nissan Maxima, 21% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.

At what mileage do 1998 Nissan Maxima airbags problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 75,263 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1998 Nissan Maxima airbags?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Nissan Maxima have bad airbags?

The Nissan Maxima model years with the most airbags complaints are 2009 (43 complaints), 2003 (35 complaints) and 2001 (29 complaints).

Other 1998 Nissan Maxima problems

Electrical 24Brakes 10Body 8Engine 7Suspension 6Tires 6Transmission 6Visibility 6Acceleration 5Fuel system 5Steering 4Seat belts 2Lights 1Locks 1

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 1998 Nissan Maxima?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history