The 2016 Nissan Maxima (VIN: [XXX] ) I purchased in January 2025 has been confirmed by a certified mechanic to have no driver airbag installed and no passenger side curtain airbag installed, despite a previous airbag deployment shown on the vehicle history report. There is no record of any airbag replacement or repair. The vehicle was sold to me in this unsafe condition without disclosure. Driving the vehicle presents a serious safety risk because no airbags will deploy in a collision. Nissan and the selling dealer did not repair or disclose this federally required safety equipment failure (49 U.S.C. §30122). Safety Risk: This defect puts me at severe risk of injury or death in a crash. The airbag system is nonfunctional, and the vehicle is being operated on public roads without any airbags installed. This vehicle should not have been sold or financed in this condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2016 Nissan Maxima airbags problems
14 complaints (10% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 23,862. 5 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 14
- of this car's complaints
- 10%
- typical mileage
- 23,862
- crashes
- 5
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
- Sensor: occupant classification: front passenger1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Nissan Maxima airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- 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 classification
- 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
What 2016 Nissan Maxima owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I can be going at a regular rate of speed and my car would stall completely the abs light comes on and it drains my battery causing my car to shut off.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact noticed that the front passenger side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the front seat passenger’s Occupant Classification System sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V244000 (Air Bags). The failure mileage was 84,741.
Problem 1. Airbag. Driver's side airbag prematurely failed in 2021. Dealer says requires replacement of driver's seat back at $5K Problem 2. Transmission failed prematurely (77,000 miles) after placing me in multiple dangerous traffic situations. The car would fail to accelerate and eventually stall while I was turning or simply driving. Once it failed to accelerate when I was turning and I was almost struck by oncoming traffic! It was only the grace of God that saved me.
The contact owns a 2016 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the codes were cleared; however, two days later the warning light returned. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000.
2016 nissan maxima. Consumer writes in regards to ABS actuator safety recall. *ld the consumer stated there was an ABS actuator recall performed on the vehicle, but continued to receive notices stating the recall was not completed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 nissan maxima. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, when the front driver air bag and driver side seat air bag deployed on its own. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The contact sustained head and left arm injuries and had sought medical attention. The vehicle had been parked at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired as of yet. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 103,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 nissan maxima. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact crashed into another vehicle. As a result, the front driver side wheel was bent inward and the air bag failed to deploy. The driver sustained shoulder and back injuries that required medical attention. The front passenger sustained shoulder, back, and knee injuries. The rear passenger sustained head injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for body repairs. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 33669624. The approximate failure mileage was 27,000. *dt *dt
While traveling down a road at 40+ MPH, avoided hitting a deer that jumped out, applied the brakes to no avail and impacted a tree that was off center of the hood on initial impact and no airbags inflated anywhere within the vehicle.
I was making a left turn from the highway on to a side street & was t-boned on the passenger side by a SUV. The air bags did not implore.
Questions about the 2016 Nissan Maxima airbags
Does the 2016 Nissan Maxima have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the airbags of the 2016 Nissan Maxima, 10% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Nissan Maxima airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 23,862 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Nissan Maxima airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 16V911000, 16V244000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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 2016 Nissan Maxima problems
Transmission 33Electrical 31Brakes 21Engine 20Acceleration 14Fuel system 10Steering 9Body 8Driver assistance 7Lights 7Visibility 6Wheels 5Seat belts 4Suspension 4Seats 3
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