There are 4 owner-reported air bags & restraints complaints for the 2003 Nissan Xterrain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
My son missed a sharp turn going approx 40 mph. Went up an embankment, off a 4 ft retaining wall and struck a guard rail with the front passenger side of the xterra. Airbags failed to deploy.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN XTERRA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES, BUT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATEDON THE 2003 NISSAN XTERRA THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 40 MPH IN FOG, AT NIGHT, WHEN ITBSTRUCK A DEAR. THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THERE WAS NO ONE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. THE POLICE FILED A REPORT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45-50 MPH, THE DRIVER TRIED TO AVOID A CRASH BY HITTING A WALL HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT WITH THE WALL, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *PH
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