2018 Nissan Leaf Air Bags & Restraints Problems

After four years of owning this vehicle purchased new, the passenger side seatbelt warning light came on the dash. It indicated the seatbelt was not buckled while no one was sitting in the passenger seat. When buckled the light went out. Brought it to the attention of Nissan, Service every year when they would clear the code and it would be good for a month or two, and the light would come back on like before. Last month on May 9, I brought the vehicle in again and asked for a thorough assessment. Nissan service said to make the light go out they would have to replace two passenger side occupancy sensors, totaling $1800 parts and labor. They did not have the parts on hand, I left with the vehicle only to find out that the intermittent seatbelt light that would go out when buckled, stayed on continuous now. Also noticed the illuminated airbag light stating the airbag was off. And that was also on at all times whether someone was in the passenger seat or not. When purchasing the vehicle new we also purchased a gold preferred extended warranty, that I believed would cover these parts. But Nissan, consumer affair said the the warranty will not cover those items. After a month of trying to get Nissan, service and consumer affairs to work with me, still no help. Searching online I found Nissan, has had numerous issues and even some recalls with occupancy sensors in the seats of many vehicles. It seems to be an ongoing issue with Nissan, regarding earlier model vehicles and newer models. Thank you for your time and your help.

Front passenger seat occupancy sensor has failed resulting in an illuminated seat belt warning even when the front passenger seat is unoccupied. Workaround is either to clip the seatbelt in all the time or put a black piece of tape over the warning light. Either workaround degrades safety as the intended operation of the warning light is bypassed.

There is a faulty passenger airbag sensor. I see that this has been an issue in the past for older Nissan models. The dealer has inspected it and confirmed the problem. If there is no passenger in the front seat, the supplemental airbag warning light and the front passenger airbag status light stay on. If there is a passenger, the supplemental airbag warning light will turn off, but the front passenger airbag status light stays on.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 NISSAN LEAF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEIR SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THE FAMILY VEHICLE AND WAS ABOUT TO COME TO A STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE FROM THE REAR. THEY ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE SLID UNTIL IT HIT CURB. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS NOT INJURED. THERE WAS KNOW ONE ELSE IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE. THE PERSON THAT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS NOT INJURED. THEIR WAS NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.