This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The light for my sensor for my passenger airbag (occupant classification system OCS sensor) is on all the time and flashing, even when there is an adult passenger sitting in the car. After a search online, I found that Nissan Leafs from 2013 to 2018 have been recalled for that OCS part, but my 2011 Nissan Leaf has not. Online, many other owners of my same year Nissan have had the same problem. My dealer told me, in order to replace the sensor, since it is outside the warranty, it will require replacing the entire passenger seat, which is upwards of $2700, not including labor. I called Nissan, who told me that it is too far out of the warranty, and they cannot help me. The customer service agent tried to get me a courtesy reimbursement, but he was unable to convince the higher-ups, and also couldn't even convince them to reimburse the amount I had to pay to have the dealer confirm what I already knew about the defective part (another $145). I am now forced to ride without airbags for my front passenger. It seems unconscionable for Nissan to allow a sensor (a part integral to the safety of the vehicle and not affected by normal wear and tear of the car) to not be part of a recall, especially when so many other vehicles (Nissan and otherwise) have the exact same issue. I can only assume it's because the sensor is too difficult to replace cheaply. They likely figured out the problem within the first few years of the car's manufacture and changed the location of the sensor - hence the reason they would agree to replace those in later models and not their earliest models.
Passenger airbag system disabled by occupant sensor failure. This happened on startup. Dtc B1018 air bag occupant sens [unit fail] I want model year 2011 Nissan Leaf to be added to the existing recall for models 2013 Nissan Leaf.
Occupant sensor failure is preventing the passenger air bag from deploying. The code is reported as a B1013. As this model was designed with a sensor within the seat, the official action is to replace the entire seat, for an estimate of $3133.51. This is highly cost prohibitive for a safety feature that should not prevent an air bag deployment.
The airbag light is always on and indicates the airbags are off as I understand it. Went to Nissan and they said it would cost $5,000 to repair and refused to correct this serious safety issue! we are stunned and have not used the car for a long time now, terrified that we might be seriously hurt or killed...help!! date it happened I do not recall but put a couple of years ago....
While driving the vehicle straight at around 35 mph, the airbag light came on. Subsequent diagnosis showed a B1018 code thrown by the Leaf, which indicates that the passenger occupancy sensor has failed. The code was reset and stayed off, but again about 5 days later, the same issue occurred. This time, the code would not reset. I was quoted $2700 in parts and $300 labor by the dealership to repair the problem, which was uneconomical and more than half the value of the car. The car only has 53,000 miles and is only 7 years old. I contacted Nissan customer affairs and they would not help with the price of the repair at all. I was informed by the dealership that not repairing the sensor would result in all airbags being disabled, since the light was illuminated. It seems like a big safety issue that if the passenger occupancy sensor fails, all airbags are disabled. We will have to continue driving the car and cannot afford a $3000 repair to a $5500 car. This same part is recalled on 2013-2015 Leafs as well as millions of other Nissan cars. If this is a common failure, maybe it should be recalled on the 2011-2012 Leaf as well.
- Lees Summit, MO, USA
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The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that air bag indicator illuminated, which was a safety concern. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and it was diagnosed that the air bag seat sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and opened case number: 31686373. The manufacturer referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was 38,000.
Passenger air bag seat pressure sensor fail. Passenger air bag off light illuminate when front passenger occupied the seat also flashing airbag light on the dash board. Error code B1018. Dealer wants whole seat replacement cost $3000. No Nissan warranty or recall on 2011 Nissan Leaf.
So, apparently the 2012 - 2014 Nissan Leaf had an issue with the passenger airbag sensor and is covered by recall, but not the first year models, 2011. Is this to assume that the sensor is different from the first to these subsequent years.
2011 Nissan Leaf passenger seat occupant sensor off when passenger is in seat. I took it to dealer who inspected harness and connections under front seat for wear or damage. No findings. Followed inspection procedures in esm. I was told that vehicle will require a seat cushion replacement with occupant detection control unit. Cost approximately $2,900 and no guarantee of fix. May need air bag control unit replacement. Seems to be the same problem as the 2013 - 2016 recall, but 2011 did not get recalled.
The contact owns a 2011 Nissan Leaf. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator for the front passenger side illuminated. The dealer (coggin Nissan on atlantic in jacksonville 10600 atlantic blvd, jacksonville, fl 32225 (904) 302-8231) diagnosed that there was an OCS error failure, in which the front passenger side air bag could deactivate off or fail to function. The dealer and manufacturer verified that the failure was related to an air bag recall, but the VIN was excluded. The NHTSA campaign number was not provided. The failure mileage was not available.
Passenger airbag turned off. Cannot turn back on. Now have flashing red warning light. Seems ridiculous to have this safety failure fail on a car bought in August 2011. Nissan dealer (elk grove, ca) says they've never heard of this. I don't believe them.
Passenger seat airbag on/off switch sensor needs replacement according to Nissan dealer. Passenger airbag "off" light is flashing even with 125 pound passenger in seat. Nissan couldn't tell me whether or not passenger airbag was really on or off. Quoted $2400 to replace the passenger seat airbag switch and seat assembly because is no longer under warranty according to Nissan. This appears to be exactly the problem covered by 2013 Leaf recall for hardware manufacturing problem in same sensor.
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- Sherman Oaks, CA, USA