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3.7 million Nissan, Infiniti, Chevrolet vehicles recalled for passenger airbag problems
Nissan has issued two recalls affecting more than 3.7 million vehicles registered in the U.S. Most are Nissan and Infiniti models, though the Chevrolet City Express van is also included because it's based on the Nissan NV200.
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Both recalls involve problems with the occupant classification system, or OCS, which determines whether an adult is seated in the passenger's seat and turns airbags on and off accordingly.
RECALL #1: 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima; 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, and Sentra; 2013-2017 Nissan Pathfinder; 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX50, Infiniti Q60; 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue; 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Chevrolet City Express; 2013 Infiniti JX35
UNITS AFFECTED: 3,177,645
This recall stems from problems with the affected vehicles' OCS software. The short version is that the OCS may see a passenger's seat as empty or occupied by a child, even when an adult is seated there. In such cases, the airbag won't deploy during an accident, creating a greater risk of injury for passengers.
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The longer version is a bit more nuanced, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's defect report explains:
"In the subject vehicles, a small number of rare passenger ingress scenarios and unusual seating postures immediately upon entering the vehicle, can cause the [OCS] to initially classify an adult passenger as a child or classify an occupied seat as an 'empty seat.' In both of such rare instances, the passenger airbag will be suppressed. If the vehicle begins driving while this condition is present, the current OCS logic will lock this classification until the vehicle comes to a stop and remains stationary for 12-13 seconds."
NHTSA explains that if the OCS classifies the occupant as a child, the passenger airbag indicator light will illuminate, letting the driver know that the airbag has been disabled. If, however, the OCS determines that the seat is empty, no such warning will be issued.
Nissan and General Motors will send interim notices to owners within the next 60 days, followed by final recall notices when the fix is available. That fix will be different for different models.
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In the Nissan Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra, dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit and OCS Electronic Control Unit. In the Nissan LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, QX60, and Chevrolet City Express, however, dealers will just replace the OCS Electronic Control Unit. All repairs will be carried out at no charge.
If you own one of these vehicles and have further questions, you're encouraged to call Nissan customer service at 800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 800-222-1020. You can also contact NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #16V244000.
RECALL #2: 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra
UNITS AFFECTED: 622,110
Some of the Sentra vehicles affected by recall #1 above are also affected by this recall. The problem in this case, however, is a bit different.
NHTSA says that if owners use a child restraint system in the Sentra's front passenger's seat, the seat belt bracket can become deformed over time. That can cause the OCS to malfunction, causing it to identify the child as an adult and leaving the passenger-side airbag on. If that airbag deploys during a collision, it could increase the risk of injury to the child.
The recall is limited to Sentra vehicles built between June 13, 2012 and April 14, 2016. As with the recall above, Nissan says that it will send interim notices to owners of those vehicles, followed by final notices when the fix becomes available. That fix will involve dealers reinforcing the Sentra's seat belt bracket and reprogramming both the Air Bag Control Unit and OCS Electronic Control Unit.
In the meantime, Nissan asks owners not to place children in need of child restraint systems in the front passenger's seat.
If you believe that you own one of the affected vehicles, you can call Nissan customer service at 800-867-7669 for additional details. Alternately, you can call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #16V242000.
Nissan has issued two recalls affecting more than 3.7 million vehicles registered in the U.S. Most are Nissan and Infiniti models, though the Chevrolet City Express van is also included because it's based on the Nissan NV200.
CHECK OUT: Hyundai Santa Fe Vs. Honda Pilot: Compare Cars
Both recalls involve problems with the occupant classification system, or OCS, which determines whether an adult is seated in the passenger's seat and turns airbags on and off accordingly.
RECALL #1: 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima; 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, and Sentra; 2013-2017 Nissan Pathfinder; 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX50, Infiniti Q60; 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue; 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Chevrolet City Express; 2013 Infiniti JX35
UNITS AFFECTED: 3,177,645
This recall stems from problems with the affected vehicles' OCS software. The short version is that the OCS may see a passenger's seat as empty or occupied by a child, even when an adult is seated there. In such cases, the airbag won't deploy during an accident, creating a greater risk of injury for passengers.
READ: Will Apple ever sell cars? One analyst says no
The longer version is a bit more nuanced, as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's defect report explains:
"In the subject vehicles, a small number of rare passenger ingress scenarios and unusual seating postures immediately upon entering the vehicle, can cause the [OCS] to initially classify an adult passenger as a child or classify an occupied seat as an 'empty seat.' In both of such rare instances, the passenger airbag will be suppressed. If the vehicle begins driving while this condition is present, the current OCS logic will lock this classification until the vehicle comes to a stop and remains stationary for 12-13 seconds."
NHTSA explains that if the OCS classifies the occupant as a child, the passenger airbag indicator light will illuminate, letting the driver know that the airbag has been disabled. If, however, the OCS determines that the seat is empty, no such warning will be issued.
Nissan and General Motors will send interim notices to owners within the next 60 days, followed by final recall notices when the fix is available. That fix will be different for different models.
CHECK OUT: China, UAE shift to autonomous cars, leaving the U.S. behind
In the Nissan Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra, dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit and OCS Electronic Control Unit. In the Nissan LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, QX60, and Chevrolet City Express, however, dealers will just replace the OCS Electronic Control Unit. All repairs will be carried out at no charge.
If you own one of these vehicles and have further questions, you're encouraged to call Nissan customer service at 800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 800-222-1020. You can also contact NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #16V244000.
RECALL #2: 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra
UNITS AFFECTED: 622,110
Some of the Sentra vehicles affected by recall #1 above are also affected by this recall. The problem in this case, however, is a bit different.
NHTSA says that if owners use a child restraint system in the Sentra's front passenger's seat, the seat belt bracket can become deformed over time. That can cause the OCS to malfunction, causing it to identify the child as an adult and leaving the passenger-side airbag on. If that airbag deploys during a collision, it could increase the risk of injury to the child.
The recall is limited to Sentra vehicles built between June 13, 2012 and April 14, 2016. As with the recall above, Nissan says that it will send interim notices to owners of those vehicles, followed by final notices when the fix becomes available. That fix will involve dealers reinforcing the Sentra's seat belt bracket and reprogramming both the Air Bag Control Unit and OCS Electronic Control Unit.
In the meantime, Nissan asks owners not to place children in need of child restraint systems in the front passenger's seat.
If you believe that you own one of the affected vehicles, you can call Nissan customer service at 800-867-7669 for additional details. Alternately, you can call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 and ask about safety campaign #16V242000.
