There are 25 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2012 Nissan Maximain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Passenger airbag notifi action blinks and will not show it is activated to function in a crash. Airbag has never worked. Also driver seat belt keeps releasing without being pushed to open. Seat belt issue just began Dec 2023
The contact owns a 2012 Nissan Maxima. The contact stated that the passenger’s side air bag failed to turn on while the front passenger's side seat was occupied. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that it was a known issue, and that the front passenger's side seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened; however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
2012 NISSAN MAXIMA PASSENGER SEAT BELT NOTICE STAYS ON NO MATTER WHO SIT IN SEAT. DEALER SAYS NEED TO BE REPLACED $1,600 TO FIX THIS IS ABSURD AS THEY RECALLED 2013 MODELS. HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR PAST 3 MONTHS.
HAD A MINOR REAR END COLLISION. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR ONLY HAS 74,000 MILES. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AFTER CAR WAS REPAIRED. NISSAN DEALER STATED THE MAIN AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT WAS BAD AND THE WEIGHT OCCUPANT SENSOR WAS BAD. THIS ISSUE ALONE OF OVER $2,000 DOLLARS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE A TOTAL LOSS BY INSURANCE. THE MINOR DAMAGE SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED THIS ISSUE. THEREFORE NISSAN NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX THEIR ISSUES WITH THE AIRBAG SUPPLIERS ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED.
VEHICLE HAS 50,300 MILES WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON. NISSAN SAYS THAT THE INTERANAL FAILURE TO AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT.PART NUMBER 98820-9N092 WAS REPLACED FOR PART PRICE OF $463.15. LABOR TO INSTALL WAS ALSO $463.15.
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL FRONT END DAMAGE. I WAS TRAVELING WESTBOUND IN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY 84 AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP. I APPLIED MY BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO AVOID IMPACTING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS CRUMPLED. BOTH FRONT QUARTER PANELS, FRONT BUMPER, GRILL ASSEMBLY, AND HOOD WERE DESTROYED. THE WINDSHIELD ALSO CRACKED. WITH THE EXTENT OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE, THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.
THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO OPEN IN A CAR ACCIDENT. THE FRONT BUMPER WAS SMASHED AND MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE PREVENTED INJURIES IF THE AIRBAGS HAD OPEN. I HAVE LOST TRUST IN NISSAN AND THIS CRUSHED MY FAITH IN THEIR PRODUCTS! !!!
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, MEANING AIRBAG IS OFF, WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT AND THE CAR IS IN MOTION; THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY COMES ON WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT, THEN IT GOES OFF FOR A WHILE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR AND I KEEP CHECKING FOR A RECALL. I TALKED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID A RECALL WOULD BE COMING OUT IN MARCH 2016, BUT IT'S JULY AND THERE IS STILL NO RECALL. I AM ASTOUNDED THAT I AM PUT IN A POSITION TO HAVE AN ADULT CHILD OF MINE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT RIDING WITH ME WHEN THEY WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED BY THE AIRBAGS THAT I TRUSTED NISSAN TO PROVIDE AND KEEP IN OPERATIONAL CONDITION IN MY CAR. FORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHENEVER A 120 LBS PASSENGER OCCUPIED THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS OFF AND ON WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS IN THE SEAT. AND THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION.
VEHICLE INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS ON WHEN SEAT IS VACANT; OFF WITH SEAT IS OCCUPIED. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR EVERY TIME, BUT IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM. THE DEALER CLAIMS TO BE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND HAS DEEMED THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE.
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND SPUN AROUND AND HIT THE FREEWAY CENTER DIVIDER DIRECTLY HEAD ON AT 60MPH WITHOUT ANY AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *TR
2012 MAXIMA'S PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT COMES ON WITH ADULT PASSENGERS EVERY 3RD OR 4TH TRIP. WENT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP, MAXIMA UNDER WARRANTY, THEY SAID NO CODES WERE TRIPPED AND THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM BUT ARE AWARE OF IT. THEY ALSO GAVE ME A HANDOUT DESCRIBING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AIRBAG OFF LIGHT AND AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME IF THERE IS ANYTHING HE CAN DO FOR ME. I CALLED 1-800-NISSAN1 AND FILED A CASE, BUT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP IS "WORKING ON IT". THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED THAT IF I HAVE AN ADULT PASSENGER IN MY MAXIMA AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT OFF IS ON, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ANY PASSENGERS IN MY MAXIMA AND FEEL NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO IGNORE IT. *TR
MY WIFE WEIGHS ABOUT 135 POUNDS .THE AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN SHE SITS IN THE SEAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT GOES ON WHICH INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS NOT WORKING I HAVE PICTURES TO VALIDATE. SO FAR NISSAN IS NOT TRYING TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DEALERS , THEY SAY EVERTHING IS NORMAL BUT THE PHOTO PROVE MY COMPLAINT. *JS
ME AND MY WIFE WERE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND IN OUR 2012 NISSAN MAXIMA AROUND 30MPH ON WESTERN AVENUE IN CHICAGO WHEN SUDDENLY A FORD FOCUS 2007 THAT RAN A STOP SIGN TRAVELING EAST BOUND ON ROSEMONT AVENUE T-BONED US ON DRIVER'S SIDE. AS OUR CAR WAS MOVING AT A SIGNIFICANT SPEED IT STOPPED AFTER CRASHING INTO A FIRE HYDRANT WHICH WAS ON THE CORNER OF THE INTERSECTION. MY WIFE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL IN AN AMBULANCE WITH ARM AND BACK INJURIES AND I ALSO HAD INJURIES ON MY LEFT ARM, SHOULDER AND LOWER BACK. MY MAIN CONCERN IS WHY NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IF THE CAR WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED MORE THAN 20 MPH AND HIT A SOLID OBJECT(FIRE HYDRANT). BOTH OF US WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY BOTH THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS. I AM GLAD THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPENED AT A HIGH SPEED OTHERWISE I WOULD RESTING IN PEACE NOT BE FILING THIS COMPLAIN. NISSAN SHOULD BE QUESTIONED AS TO WHAT SPEED THE AIRBAGS IN MAXIMA DEPLOY AND WHY NONE OF THEM INCLUDING CURTAIN AND FRONTAL DEPLOYED. *TR
THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES SPORADICALLY WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT WHICH INFORMS THAT THE AIRBAG IS DEACTIVATED. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER 5 TIMES OVER THE PAST 6 MONTHS. EACH TIME I WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT THERE WERE NO ERROR CODES SHOWING UP. THE LAST TIME THEY CHECKED WAS FRIDAY APRIL 4TH 2014. THE DEALER STATED THE SAME THING. THE MECHANIC WHO TESTED CAME OUT TO TALK TO US ABOUT THIS. MY WIFE SAT IN THE DRIVERS SEAT AND STARTED THE CAR. I SAT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN FRONT OF THE MECHANIC. I ASKED HIM IF I WAS SEATED PROPERLY, HE AGREED I WAS AND TOOK THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS STILL RUNNING TO TEST FOR CODES AGAIN. HE COULD NOT FIND ANY ERROR CODES BUT, ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. NISSAN NORTH AMERICAN TOLD ME THAT THEY SPOKE TO THE REPAIR MANAGER AND HE STATED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS OPERATING PROPERLY AND NISSAN TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. SEEMS STRANGE THAT NISSAN IS RECALLING 994,000 2013 AND 2014 VEHICLES FOR THIS SAME ISSUE CLAIMING THERE IS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT CONSIDER UPDATING THE SOFTWARE IN MY 2012 MAXIMA. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY NISSAN AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO SO. *JS
SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2013 I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT WITH OR WITHOUT SOMEONE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT MY AIR BAG SENSOR WILL LIGHT UP SHOWING THAT THE AIR BAG IS OFF NO MATTER HOW I OR THE PERSON IN THE SEAT MOVES IT WILL NOT COME ON. THE AIR BAG JUST REMAINS TURNED OFF. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME I JUST FOUND OUT HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT ABOUT IT IN HOPES OF GETTING IT FIXED. I KNOW THERE ARE RECALLS ON MANY NISSAN MAKES AND MODELS FOR THIS BUT THE 2012 MAXIMA IS EXCLUDED. *TR
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG TURNS OFF WHEN EITHER WHEN MY HUSBAND WHICH IS 230LBS AND MYSELF 132 LB AND SOME OTHER PASSENGERS. REPORTED THIS TO NISSAN BROUGHT THE CAR IN. THE SAY ITS WORKING FINE. EVEN WHEN I HAVE VIDEO THAT THE AIRBAG HAS CLICKED OFF FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
WHEN ANY ADULT SITS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WHO IS NOT HEAVY WILL NOT ENABLE THE AIRBAG. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT IS HOW IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE BUT THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED IN ANY OTHER CAR. *TR
THERE IS A NEW RECALL FOR AIRBAG SENSER MISINTERPRETING THE WEIGHT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IN MANY NISSAN MODELS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR, MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL - BUT I HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN MY WIFE, WHO IS AROUND 130 LBS, SITS IN THE SEAT, ABOUT HALF OF THE TIME THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE AIRBAG IS DISABLED. SHE ALWAYS SITS ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE SEAT. SPEED OR DRIVING ENVIRONMENT DO NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE ISSUE. I HAVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS, AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. THE FIRST DENIED THEY COULD HELP BECAUSE IT WASNT CURRENTLY HAPPENING WHEN I HAD IT AT THE SHOP. THE SECOND DEALERSHIP RECALIBRATED THE SENSOR AND IT THAT BROUGHT THE FREQUENCY DOWN SLIGHTLY TO THE CURRENT 50% I AM FRUSTRATES THAT MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALL AND FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE OTHER MODEL YEARS, SUCH AS MINE.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026