Vehicle Data Hub

2003 Nissan Altima air bags problems

29 complaints about air bags have been filed for the 2003 Nissan Altima, which is 3% of all its NHTSA complaints.

At a glance

Complaints
29 3% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
71,000 miles 20 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
18 and 1
Injuries and deaths
14 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When air bags problems show up

Air bags complaints by mileage, 2003 Nissan Altima Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 71,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 6 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 0 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 2 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 3 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 1 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 1 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 3 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 71,000 miles
Based on 20 complaints that include mileage. 40% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles6
20k to 40k miles0
40k to 60k miles2
60k to 80k miles3
80k to 100k miles1
100k to 120k miles1
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles3

What the data shows

Of the 20 air bags complaints that report mileage, the median is about 70,000 miles, and 40% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 18 crashes, 1 fire, 14 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

There was an initial right passenger door impact, and front bumper impact by a hit and run driver. Followed by a cement barrier impact on the drivers door and front left bumper. The final impact was via a palm tree placed at 20 feet by cal trans on the 101 freeway south bound oxnard, ca at rose avenue exit. The final impact occurred on the front left bumper. Front left quarter panel, and left front drivers door. Chemistry professor [xxx]. Was killed. The air bag failed to deploy.

Reported at 200,000 miles, August 2009 CrashDeath

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 nissan altima. The contact stated that when the ignition was turned to the on position, the air bag warning light illuminated. The failure recurred continuously. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that all of the vehicle's air bags were not functioning and the back of the front passenger seat needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.

Reported at 180,000 miles, January 2015

Other problems reported for the 2003 Nissan Altima

Air bags problems in other years

Air bags problems across all Nissan models