Nissan Issues Vehicle Recall for Over 1 Million Cars Due to Continued Airbag Problem

Nissan Motor Co. has issued a vehicle recall for the second time due to a problem with passenger-side airbags not inflating when a car accident occurs.

The automotive manufacturer’s vehicle recall covers 990,000 cars in the United States and 60,000 in Canada. More specifically, the vehicle recall covers about 544,000 Altima sedans, 29,000 Leaf electric vehicles, 124,000 Pathfinder S.U.V.s, 183,000 Sentra compacts and 6,700 NV200 taxis from the 2013 model year. Infiniti models affected by the action include 64,000 2013 JX35 and 2014 QX60 models and 40,000 2014 Q50 sedans.

A report issued by the company says that the problem stems from a faulty passenger-side sensor that determines whether or not an adult is in the passenger seat. The sensor is supposed to turn the airbag off if no one is sitting in the seat, or if a child is sitting in the seat so as not to injure the child in a crash. However, if an adult is in the seat, the sensor should detect the adult’s weight and turn the airbag on.

The sensor system is federally mandated.

Nissan reported three accidents in which the airbag failed to deploy, because the sensor misclassified the passenger seat as empty. The documents were filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The NHTSA said that the vehicle recall will begin in mid-April, and Nissan will replace or update the sensor free of charge.

Nissan issued a vehicle recall last April for a similar issue. Reportedly, in 82,000 vehicles from the 2013 model year, a malfunction in “strain gauge sensors” could suppress the passenger-side airbag even if someone were seated there.

The company did not say whether or not their latest vehicle recall involved any cars from the previous airbag sensor recall. However, NHTSA documents show that the company continued to receive complaints about the airbags after the original recall, so Nissan began “monitoring the situation.” They concluded in September 2013 that the problem was not the sensors but was “likely caused by out-of-position occupants.” In October, the company issued a software update for the sensors, although the automotive manufacturer did not say that the update was specifically to correct the airbag sensor problem.

Nissan as so far stated that their latest vehicle recall is voluntary, but federal regulations require automobile manufacturers to inform the NHTSA of a vehicle recall plan within 5 business days of when they become aware of a problem. Toyota recently lost a class action lawsuit related to delayed vehicle recalls, and GM faces a series of federal and personal injury lawsuits due to potentially delayed vehicle recalls for several older model cars.

The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Defective Products and Vehicle Recall Cases

If you have experienced a problem with a defective product in your automobile, especially if a defective part has led to an auto accident or personal injury, and a proper vehicle recall notice has not been issued, you may be entitled to compensation. The attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We can help you with complicated auto insurance claims, and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve to help you with lost income and medical bills. Our attorneys are licensed to practice in South Carolina, Georgia, and New York. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today at (803) 252-4800.