IllustrationAirbag warning came on. I took to dealership for diagnostic. There was malfunction with the passenger airbag. Seat coushin needed to be replaced so the “normal” wear and tear airbag would no longer be an issue. Nissan stated this is not a safety concern and all expenses were out of pocket.
2011 Nissan Maxima
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Nissan Maxima do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 99.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Maxima years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
1225–50K
1450–75K
975–100K
18100–150K
0150K+
64 reports with mileage · 42 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
23 reportsPassenger seat airbag sensor has failed
THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILED, I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT THAT REQUIRED MY FRONT BUMPER, AC CONDESOR AND RADIATOR TO BR REPLACED. AFTER GETTING IT FIXED I NOTICED MY SEATBELT LIGHT WAS BLINKING, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD GO AWAY. I GOT IT SCANNED TURNS OUT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR WENT OUT AND CAUSED ALL THE AIRBAGS TO …
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THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR FAILED, I WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT THAT REQUIRED MY FRONT BUMPER, AC CONDESOR AND RADIATOR TO BR REPLACED. AFTER GETTING IT FIXED I NOTICED MY SEATBELT LIGHT WAS BLINKING, I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD GO AWAY. I GOT IT SCANNED TURNS OUT THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR WENT OUT AND CAUSED ALL THE AIRBAGS TO TURN OFF.
THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG (OFF) LIGHT STAYS LIT ON THE PASSENGER DASH, EVEN WHEN THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE SEAT, AND A SEPARATE ONE IS ON THE DRIVER'S DASH PANEL. WAS TOLD IT PROBABLY WAS A SENSOR IN THE SEAT AND WOULD COST ABOUT $1600. IT STAYS LIKE THAT AND NEVER CHANGES. NISSAN WANTS MONEY JUST TO TAKE A LOOK.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEMET NISSAN (153-12 HILLSIDE AVENUE,…
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TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. NEMET NISSAN (153-12 HILLSIDE AVENUE, JAMAICA, NEW YORK 11432, (718) 523-5858) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND SCHEDULED A DIAGNOSTIC APPOINTMENT FOR OCTOBER 2, 2018. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SEATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILU…
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2011 NISSAN MAXIMA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON INDICATING AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHILE A PASSENGER WAS SEATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE FAILURE EVENTUALLY BEGAN TO OCCUR WITHOUT ANYONE OR ANYTHING OCCUPYING THE SEAT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP WHO ADVISED THE VEHICLE HAD A FAILED CLOCK SPRING. *JS
OCS SYSTEM DOES NOT SENSE WHEN A PASSENGER (GROWN ADULT OVER 150 LBS.) IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. AS A RESULT THE AIRBAGS REMAIN OFF.
DASHBOARD IS MELTING CAUSING AN UNSAFE GLARE IN SUNLIGHT. ALSO POTENTIALLY WEAKENING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION.
MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIST HAS BEEN ON FOR A YEAR NOW. I AM WORRIED THAT IF I HAVE A PASSENGER SIDE THEY MAY GET HURT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT WORK!! IT IS HIGHLIGHTED THE ENTIRE TIME THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN ON FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. IT IS ON AS LONG AS THE CAR IS CRANKED.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.