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Nissan Versa no deployment problems

85 of the 3,330 owner complaints about the Nissan Versa describe airbags did not deploy in a crash, most of them for the 2012 model year.

owner complaints
85
worst model year
2012
typical mileage
37,000
Is there a fix? There are 12 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 2, 2026 · AZ · crash

On XXX, my son was driving a 2024 Nissan Versa (VIN: [XXX]), with approximately 12,000 miles, on [XXX] near [XXX]. During nighttime travel, the vehicle apparently encountered a possible patch of ice, lost traction, spun, and came to a stop on the roadway. My son attempted to restart the engine multiple times, but the vehicle would not start. The occupants noticed approaching headlights and exited the vehicle for safety. A bus passed without striking the Nissan. They returned to the vehicle and again attempted to restart it without success. Shortly afterward, another vehicle approached. All occupants exited the Nissan a second time. Within seconds, a semi-truck struck the stationary vehicle. Fortunately, everyone escaped before impact. Had they remained inside, the consequences could have been fatal. Following the collision, the airbags had not deployed. We are reporting two potential safety concerns: 1.Engine/Starting System: The vehicle would not restart after the initial incident, leaving it disabled and exposed to approaching highway traffic. The cause remains UNKNOWN. 2.Airbag System: The airbags did not deploy when the semi-truck struck the vehicle. We request an evaluation to determine whether the restraint system functioned as designed. The vehicle is located at [XXX], and may be available for inspection upon coordination. Nissan North America has been contacted and requested additional information. A technical diagnosis has not yet been provided. Whether any warning lights or messages appeared before the incident is UNKNOWN. Whether the vehicle's electronic safety systems have been inspected is UNKNOWN. We request that the federal safety agency investigate both concerns and evaluate whether a potential vehicle safety defect exists. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Sep 7, 2026 · Acceleration, Airbags · WA · crash

I bought my car while living in Florida from a lady that didn't drive it for a while and after I bought it I drove it i drove to Washington two and a half times. before this though it had an airbag safety issue where the airbags didn't deploy and also my gas gauge does not work correctly as well as the suspension, which the coils are not up to codes and regulation also my odometer does not work well period when I got in my car accident my airbags had not deployed which is the safety risk and I looked up online due to the multiple risk zones that I crossed over I know that it is a good chance that I qualify for recalls that maybe it wasn't listed prior to putting up on here because I was unaware of a recall list.

Filed Mar 27, 2026 · Airbags · 69,443 miles · AZ · crash · 1 injury

The vehicle was involved in a side impact collision at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was deemed a total loss after the accident, as the side impact was the drivers side door and wheel well. The air bags never deployed, despite the high rate of speed and the entire front drivers side of the vehicle being affected.

Filed Oct 23, 2024 · Airbags, Seat belts · 66,685 miles · VA · crash

The contact owns a 2020 Nissan Versa. The contact stated while her husband was driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle in front abruptly stopped causing the contact to depress the brake pedal in order to avoid rear-ending the vehicle in front. As a result, the contact was rear-ended, and the vehicle behind that vehicle that rear ended the contact crashed into the rear of the vehicle as well. During the impact, it caused the contact vehicle to be pushed forward and then rear-end the vehicle in front that abruptly stopped. The air bags did not deploy. The driver and passenger seats fractured in a backward position. In addition, the front passenger side seat belt failed to retract during the crash. The contact was seated in the front passenger seat and during the impact she hit her head dashboard and sustained a concussion, shoulders, head, back, jaw, and left leg. The contact sustained head, shoulders, back, and leg injuries. Both received medical attention via the hospital. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jun 14, 2023 · Airbags · 165,000 miles · KY · crash · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2012 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact vehicle; however, the air bags failed to deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was injured but did not receive medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2022 · Airbags · WI · crash

Airbags failed to deploy in an accident at 55 mph.

Filed Jan 12, 2022 · Airbags · AL · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2018 Nissan Versa. The contact stated that she had collided with a deer that entered the roadway at 60 MPH. The airbags failed to deploy upon impact. The contact sustained sourness to her neck, back, and both shoulders but did not seek medical attention. The police were not called to the scene and a report was not filed. The contact had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic for repair. The dealer was notified of the failure and was promised a call back; the contact had yet to hear back from that dealer. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN number was not available.

Filed Mar 4, 2021 · Airbags · 60,000 miles · VA · crash · 1 injury

Tl* the contact owned a 2017 nissan versa. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the sun's glare blinded her eyes which caused her to hit the road railings and barriers. The vehicle was turned sideways and the air bags did not deploy. The contact's chest hit the steering wheel and she suffered three cracked ribs, a broken sternum, bruising to the lungs, seat belt burn to the neck and gashes to the left hand. Medical attention was received as the contact was transported by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was deemed totaled. The dealer and the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. *dt

Filed Jan 20, 2021 · Airbags, Body · TX · crash

I was hit from the side. The collision was pretty bad, my car was totaled. It was the the front of the passengers seat. At the speed the crash happened, the force with which I was hit and the damage to the car I was unpleasantly surprised that the airbags did not deploy, they could have prevented injury. My car was in forward motion on a highway, I was hit by a turning car.

Filed Aug 11, 2020 · Airbags, Seat belts · CA · crash · 1 injury

I was involved in a auto accident , air bags didn't deploy and seat popped off & started smoking .

Related recalls

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported February 27, 2024 · 351 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improperly.
Risk
An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD104, and PMA34.

Recall number 24V154000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 9, 2020 · 307,962 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888‑737‑9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888‑810‑3715.

Recall number 20V008000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported July 6, 2018 · 233 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2008 Nissan Versa sedan and Versa hatchback vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation due to exposure to humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
If an inflator were to explode it may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 25, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669. Note: The vehicles covered by this recall are in addition to those covered by recall 16V‑349.

Recall number 18V452000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported June 15, 2018 · 104,762 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2011-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. Nissan is also recalling 2010-2011 Nissan Versa sedan vehicles and 2010-2012 Nissan Versa hatchback vehicles ever registered in the states of ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑867‑7669.

Recall number 18V401000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 10, 2018 · 52,614 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Versa Hatchback, and 2009-2011 Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Versa Hatchback, and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Nissan is also recalling certain 2009 Versa Hatchback and Versa Sedan vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 18V044000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator moduleReported July 17, 2017 · 515,394 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and 2007-2012 Versa Hatchback vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver frontal air bag inflator that may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to moderate absolute humidity, temperatures, and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the subject inflator with a new one manufactured by a different supplier, free of charge. The recall began on March 9, 2018. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 17V449000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported April 26, 2017 · 509 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Versa, and Versa Note vehicles. The ring plate that secures the air bag cushion to the passenger frontal air bag assembly may fail, possibly causing the air bag to deploy improperly in the event of a crash.
Risk
In the event of a crash, if the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began June 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 17V275000 · Recall details

Air bags: side/windowReported March 6, 2017 · 54,751 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa vehicles. Degradation of the side impact sensor connector pins may cause the curtain and seat-mounted air bags to deploy unexpectedly if the door is slammed.
Risk
If the curtain and seat-mounted air bags inadvertently deploy, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will install a new jumper harness, and replace the side impact satellite sensors, free of charge. The recall began November 28, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 17V144000 · Recall details

Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator moduleReported January 10, 2017 · 152,554 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 17V028000 · Recall details

Air bags: side/windowReported October 11, 2016 · 1,754 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2017 Versa vehicles manufactured August 1, 2016, to August 16, 2016. A seam in the fabric section of the side curtain air bags may tear during side curtain air bag deployment, potentially affecting the performance of the air bag. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation", and number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk
In the event of a crash necessitating side curtain air bag deployment, if the side curtain air bags do not deploy as intended there would be an increased risk of injury.
Remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right side curtain air bags, free of charge. The recall began on December 2, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1‑800‑647‑7261.

Recall number 16V724000 · Recall details

Questions about the Nissan Versa no deployment

Which Nissan Versa years have airbags did not deploy in a crash problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2012 (13 complaints), 2014 (10 complaints) and 2009 (9 complaints).

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