NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
155 reports100,000 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Electrical System
RIGHT REAR DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN DRIVER ACTIVATES DOOR LOCK LEVER. ALSO DOES NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK DEVICE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE OVER $700. I CHOSE NOT TO HAV…
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RIGHT REAR DOOR DOES NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK WHEN DRIVER ACTIVATES DOOR LOCK LEVER. ALSO DOES NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK WHEN USING THE REMOTE DOOR LOCK/UNLOCK DEVICE. THIS FIRST OCCURRED AT ABOUT 100,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND SAID THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE OVER $700. I CHOSE NOT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE SAME PROBLEMS APPLY TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 110,000 MILES. AGAIN I CHOSE NOT TO SPEND $700+ TO REPAIR THAT. THE SAME PROBLEMS APPLY TO THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THIS OCCURRED AT ABOUT 113,000 MILES. I AGAIN CHOSE NOT TO PAY $700+ FOR REPAIRS. SINCE THREE OF MY FOUR DOORS HAVE NOW EXHIBITED THE SAME DEFECT, I ASKED THE DEALER TO HAVE AN INFINITY REPRESENTATIVE CONTACT ME. I WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THAT INFINITY WOULD NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE COSTS OF THESE NEEDED REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE AND AGE OF THE CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10851763
130,000 miles · Mar 16, 2016
Engine
THIS CAR SHOULD BE CALLED, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR JUST DIED, WHEN I STOPPED, I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T HAVE GAS OR THE BATTERY DIED. A LIGHT SAYING VDC (SLIPPED) TURNED ON AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON. I LET IT SI…
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THIS CAR SHOULD BE CALLED, IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS THE ENGINE JUST STOPS. I WAS DRIVING ALONG, WHEN ALL OF SUDDEN MY CAR JUST DIED, WHEN I STOPPED, I COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE STARTED, IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT DIDN'T HAVE GAS OR THE BATTERY DIED. A LIGHT SAYING VDC (SLIPPED) TURNED ON AS WELL AS THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON. I LET IT SIT FOR A FEW MINUTES AND IT STARTED. THE ENGINE STOPPED WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN SO I STARTED TO PULL OVER AND THE ENGINE CAME BACK ON. I LOOKED ON LINE AND THE INFINITI G35 WAS RECALLED FOR THIS REASON AND SINCE MY CAR IS AN M35 THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT GIVE ME THE RECALL. HERE IS THE INFO ON THE G35 RECALL AND SEE MY BILL ATTACHED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE STALLING ON INFINITI G35 THE CRANKSHAFT ANGLE SENSOR OR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR CAN FAIL AND CAUSE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, AN ENGINE THAT CUTS OUT, AND OTHER DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS. THIS WILL CAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. CERTAIN MODELS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL, PLEASE CLICK HERE REPAIRPAL VERIFIED AVERAGE MILEAGE: 110,527 (10,334'230,000) 6 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 PLEASE DO SOMETHING SO THAT ANOTHER PERSON MIGHT NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE.
NHTSA ODI #10849925
73,400 miles · Feb 20, 2016
Seats
WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM 6 FT. 1 IN. TALL. IT IS MY OPINION SOMEONE 5 FT. 8 IN. TALL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE INFINITI DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN LOWE…
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WHILE DRIVING ON A PARKWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE DRIVERS SEAT SUDDENLY DROPPED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM 6 FT. 1 IN. TALL. IT IS MY OPINION SOMEONE 5 FT. 8 IN. TALL WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE INFINITI DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A BROKEN LOWER SEAT TRACK WELD WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE VEHICLE OWNERS COST OF $1,519. IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN APPROXIMATELY 25 PREVIOUS REPORTS OF THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND PERHAPS MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTED. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD WARRANT A MANUFACTURERS RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10837313
100,000 miles · Jan 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other
MULTIPLE STRESS CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THIS WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT CAUSED TOYOTA TO RECALL THEIR CARS. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR. I NOTICED THIS AROUND OCTOBER 2015. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE BUT JUST NOT AS NOTICEABLE BEFORE THEN. THERE ARE MORE CRACKS THAN WHAT THE PICTURE SHOWS SOME LARGER SOME SM…
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MULTIPLE STRESS CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD. THIS WAS SIMILAR TO WHAT CAUSED TOYOTA TO RECALL THEIR CARS. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGED AND WELL CARED FOR. I NOTICED THIS AROUND OCTOBER 2015. THEY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE BUT JUST NOT AS NOTICEABLE BEFORE THEN. THERE ARE MORE CRACKS THAN WHAT THE PICTURE SHOWS SOME LARGER SOME SMALLER.
NHTSA ODI #10820836
100,000 miles · Dec 29, 2015
Seats
AT APPROXIMATELY 100K MILES THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AND LEANS INTO AND BINDS WITH THE CONSOLE. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT NORMAL USE AND JUDGING FROM OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NO LONGER STABLE OR SAFE BECAUSE IT CAN BE EASILY MOVED AROUND BY HAND. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL …
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AT APPROXIMATELY 100K MILES THE DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE AND LEANS INTO AND BINDS WITH THE CONSOLE. THERE WAS NOTHING BUT NORMAL USE AND JUDGING FROM OTHER ONLINE COMPLAINTS THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS NO LONGER STABLE OR SAFE BECAUSE IT CAN BE EASILY MOVED AROUND BY HAND. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHETHER STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
NHTSA ODI #10816761
117,000 miles · Dec 21, 2015
Seats
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 INFINITI M35. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT FRACTURED OFF THE TRACKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
NHTSA ODI #10811385
120,000 miles · Nov 17, 2015
Seats
MY M35 (2007) DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY IS "OFF TRACK". IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S STILL IN THE FLOOR TRACKS, BUT IT HAS MOVED ABOUT 3 INCHES TO THE RIGHT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT NOW RUBS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE EVERY TIME IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THERE IS NO LONGER A GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CONSOLE, LIKE THERE IS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. W…
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MY M35 (2007) DRIVER'S SEAT SUDDENLY IS "OFF TRACK". IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S STILL IN THE FLOOR TRACKS, BUT IT HAS MOVED ABOUT 3 INCHES TO THE RIGHT TO THE EXTENT THAT IT NOW RUBS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE EVERY TIME IT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. THERE IS NO LONGER A GAP BETWEEN THE SEAT AND THE CONSOLE, LIKE THERE IS ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHAT HAPPENED, AND WHAT DO I DO? IT ALSO MOVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND I CAN MOVE THE ENTIRE SEAT BY GRABBING THE HEADREST. THE SEAT MOVES WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION
NHTSA ODI #10794470
83,000 miles · Aug 29, 2015
Seats
AS I APPROACHED A STOP LIGHT I FELT THE VEHICLE SEAT MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN. SEEMS DETACHED FROM SEAT RAILS
NHTSA ODI #10760119
110,000 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Seats
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDING TO A STOP LIGHT MY SEAT JUST FEEL ON ONE SIDE AND TOOK A DIP. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DEFINITELY STARTLED ME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND COULD BARELY DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO MY DESTINATION, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE 2 MINUTES AWAY AT THAT POINT AND LOOK AT THE SEAT AND IT TURNED OUT TO …
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WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AND PROCEEDING TO A STOP LIGHT MY SEAT JUST FEEL ON ONE SIDE AND TOOK A DIP. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DEFINITELY STARTLED ME. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AND COULD BARELY DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GET TO MY DESTINATION, WHICH HAPPENED TO BE 2 MINUTES AWAY AT THAT POINT AND LOOK AT THE SEAT AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE NOTHING I CAN DO. NOW THE SEAT LIFTS AND DROPS ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA ODI #10758720
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 2015
Structure
2007 INFINITI M35. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE DASHBOARD STARTING TO CRACK. *SMD MA 10/22/2015
NHTSA ODI #10730067
Official recalls
4Jan 9, 2020
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Jan 10, 2017
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
May 24, 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Sep 26, 2013
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2004, through October 5, 2010. Over time, the accelerator pedal sensor signal may deteriorate resulting in the output of an incorrect signal causing the engine to go into fail-safe (limp home) mode.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In this fail-safe mode, throttle valve deposits may cause the engine to stall when the vehicle is coming to a stop or at idle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly and reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
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