2015 Nissan Pathfinder Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Oct 6, 2026 · 55 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, 17% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 12,800 miles. The words owners use most often: “air bag” (40% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Air bag: mentioned in 22 of 55 complaints (40%)
  • Passenger seat: mentioned in 13 of 55 complaints (24%)
  • Airbag off: mentioned in 6 of 55 complaints (11%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 35 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles12 · 34%
10k–25k miles11 · 31%
25k–50k miles4 · 11%
50k–75k miles1 · 3%
75k–100k miles2 · 6%
100k–150k miles3 · 9%
150k+ miles2 · 6%

How serious are the reports?

Of 55 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury.

Nissan Pathfinder air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2013, with 177 complaints
1995: 119951996: 111997: 131998: 1019981999: 112000: 42001: 920012002: 92003: 142004: 1120042005: 222006: 142007: 2320072008: 412009: 112010: 1120102011: 122012: 42013: 17720131772014: 922015: 552016: 1820162017: 72018: 42019: 420192020: 12022: 52023: 220232024: 22025: 2

n = 600 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2025 Pathfinder24%5,000
2024 Pathfinder22%—
2023 Pathfinder22%10,080
2022 Pathfinder54%22,300
2020 Pathfinder12%—
2019 Pathfinder45%86,497
2018 Pathfinder45%—
2017 Pathfinder74%58,473
2016 Pathfinder1817%14,500
2015 Pathfinder5517%12,800
2014 Pathfinder9216%10,000
2013 Pathfinder17720%10,250
2012 Pathfinder417%36,000
2011 Pathfinder1227%91,200
2010 Pathfinder1128%136,000
2009 Pathfinder1130%91,500
2008 Pathfinder4113%130,000
2007 Pathfinder234%114,500
2006 Pathfinder142%70,000
2005 Pathfinder222%117,000
2004 Pathfinder1116%81,693
2003 Pathfinder1413%116,458
2002 Pathfinder96%135,000
2001 Pathfinder94%140,000
2000 Pathfinder44%109,000
1999 Pathfinder1111%80,000
1998 Pathfinder107%68,116
1997 Pathfinder136%62,615
1996 Pathfinder117%—
1995 Pathfinder11%—

When owners reported it

Peak: 2016, with 29 complaints
2015: 6201562016: 292016292017: 6201762019: 3201932020: 3202032022: 1202212023: 2202322024: 2202422025: 2202522026: 120261

n = 55 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (2)

Air bags:sensor:occupant classificationApr 26, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V244000 · 3,296,947 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

Air bags:sensor:occupant classification; air bags:frontalOct 20, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V681000 · 919 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Altima and Pathfinder vehicles, 2013-2014 Nissan Sentra vehicles, 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles, 2014-2015 Infiniti QX60 vehicles and 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid vehicles. The affected vehicles received an incorrect occupant classification system (OCS) control unit during a repair. These OCS control units may incorrectly classify the front passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.

Risk: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger air bag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on November 30, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the front driver’s side curtain air bag deployed without impact. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact slowed down and veered over to the side of the road to park and inspect the vehicle. The Fire…

Received Jul 16, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11750809

The contact owns a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the passenger's side air bag. The contact was informed that the air bag needed to be…

Received Jul 2, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11670840

I purchased a used 2015 Nissan Pathfinder last year. Recently the passenger airbag light does not turn off. After searching the internet, I found their was a recall for this issue in the past. I contacted Nissan, and to my dismay they claim the issue had been addressed for my vehicle and will not…

Received Mar 31, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11651862
Nissan Pathfinder
Front view of a 2026 Nissan Pathfinder Platinum AWD crossover. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Deathpallie325, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2015 Nissan Pathfinders have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 55 owner complaints about air bags for the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder (17% of the 321 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder air bags?

Yes: 2 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 12,800 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2015 Nissan Pathfinder?

The most frequent phrase is “air bag”, in 22 of 55 complaints, followed by “passenger seat” (13).

Other 2015 Nissan Pathfinder problems

See all 2015 Nissan Pathfinder problems or air bags problems across all Pathfinder years.