1994 Nissan Altima airbags problems

The 1994 Nissan Altima has 42 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 35% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

Airbags complaints

35%

Share of year

Crash-involved

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Altima airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V150000AirbagsApril 25, 2003 · 190,000 units

Defect

NISSAN IS RECALLING MY 1994 AND EARLY 1995 ALTIMA VEHICLES FOLLOWING REPORTS THAT PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN THESE VEHICLES HAD CAUSED A NUMBER OF MODERATE-TO-SEVERE EYE INJURIES. NISSAN HAS DEVELOPED A NEW PASSENGER AIR BAG THAT IS LESS POWERFUL WHEN IT INFLATES IN A CRASH TO REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.

Consequence

NISSAN EXPECTS THAT THIS NEW AIR BAG CAN HELP REDUCE THE RISK OF AIR BAG INFLATION-RELATED INJURIES.

Remedy

NISSAN WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AT NO CHARGE TO THE CONSUMER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPORTED THAT OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 28, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

What owners report

“WHILE DRIVING ON A BUSY STREET TRAVELLING ABOUT 20MPH, PULLED INTO THE LEFT HAND TURNING LANE AS PROCEEDING TO MAKE THE TURN, A VEHICLE IN THE FAST LANE HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND TOTALLED IT. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. AIRBAG DEPLOYED LATER AFTER THE CRASH AS DRIVER UNBUCKLED…”
Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · November 23, 1999 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 1994 Nissan Altima have?

NHTSA has 42 complaints about the 1994 Nissan Altima airbags — 35% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1994 Nissan Altima airbags?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the airbags: 03V150000.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.