Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicles affected
307,962
Reported to NHTSA
2020-01-09
Owners notified
2020-02-12
Defect description
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.
Safety risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Manufacturer 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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Safety risk
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Manufacturer remedy
Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Safety risk
THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME.
Safety risk
THIS CAN CAUSE A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM, THE STOPPER FOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL PREVENT EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ACCELERATOR POSITION SENSOR. IF THE DRIVER APPLIES OVERLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PUSHING IT TO THE RIGHT, THE PEDAL CAN "OVER TRAVEL" DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE PEDAL STOPPER.
Safety risk
THIS WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP TO COME ON AND THE ENGINE SPEED TO BE SEVERELY LIMITED. IF THIS OCCURS UNEXPECTEDLY, IT COULD LEAD TO A CRASH.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL STOPPER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 11, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 800-662-6200.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine
11
141,000 mi
Air bags
9
155,000 mi
Exterior lighting
8
185,000 mi
Suspension
7
99,455 mi
Engine and engine cooling
6
170,000 mi
Vehicle speed control
6
94,000 mi
Unknown or other
5
85,000 mi
Electrical system
4
100 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline
4
—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.
4
78,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
4
—
Suspension: front
4
—
Fuel system, gasoline
3
—
Power train
3
160,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components
3
—
Steering
3
99,455 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal
3
44,000 mi
Air bags: frontal
2
74,500 mi
Power train: automatic transmission
2
59,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic
2
279,000 mi
Structure
2
—
Air bags: side/window
1
102,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly
1
111,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
1
14,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: crankcase (PCV)
1
—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
1
83,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
1
100 mi
Fuel/propulsion system
1
94,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
1
59,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter
1
59,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly
1
—
Seats
1
—
Seats: front assembly: head restraint
1
—
Seats: front assembly: power adjust
1
—
Service brakes
1
55,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
1
—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor
1
—
Steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm
1
—
Structure: body: door
1
—
Structure: frame and members
1
85,000 mi
Suspension: front: shock absorber
1
—
Suspension: rear: shock absorber
1
—
Traction control system
1
279,000 mi
Visibility
1
185,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls
1
—
Visibility: windshield
1
—
The 2001 model has 62 times as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Open investigations
An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.
EA21002Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.