Problems · by component
2000 Nissan Maxima air bags problems
25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2000 Nissan Maxima cite air bags, 7% of all 376 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
25
7% of all complaints
Crashes
22
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
29
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ON FREEWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR, AND THE ROAD WAS FLAT AND HAD NO OBSTACLE. THEN THE AIRBAGS ON DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH I DID NOT HIT ANYONE OR ANYONE HIT ME. I DID HAVE ONE COLLISION ONE YEAR EARLIER IN WHICH THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, CONSCIOUSNESS WAS LOST AND AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF A TRACTOR TRAILER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK AND WHIPLASH INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CAME INTO THE CONTACT'S PATH WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000.”
“MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. TRAFFIC. IM IN THE FAR LANE ON THE BELTWAY AND MY EXITS COMING UP. MOTORCYCLES EVERYWHERE. HEAVY TRAFFIC TOO BUT ITS MOVING. I CANT CUT OFF THE MOTORCYCLES. SO I WAIT TO PASS THEM. IM MERGING, LOOKING TO THE SIDE, LOOKING BEHIND ME. I WASN'T PAYING TO MUCH ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS COMING UP IN FRONT OF ME. I MEAN, WHAT ELSE IS THERE BUT CARS IN FRONT OF ME. THAT'S ALL I NEED TO WATCH OUT FOR RIGHT? SO I THOUGHT. I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE RIGHT LANE, MERGING INTO EXIT LANE. "OH NO!" THERE'S A CURB. A TRIANGLE CURB RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME. I SWERVE TO MY LEFT. REAR RIGHT TIRE HITS THE CURB AND TAKES LIFT OFF. AND SO DOES THE CAR, RIGHT INTO THE CENTER OF THE BELTWAY. I HAVE IT, I CAN FEEL ME GAINING CONTROL. THEN I FEEL THE FRONT TIRES LOOSE IT. AND THERE'S THE WALL. SMACK. FACE FIRST. SPIN AROUND ONE GOOD TIME. ROLL TO A STOP PERFECTLY ON THE SMALL SHOULDER ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. WELL IM STICKING OUT A LITTLE BUT IM OUT OF THE WAY. NO ONE HIT ME. NO OTHER ACCIDENTS WERE CAUSED. ONLY ONE COUPLE STOPPED BUT THAT'S OK. AND ONLY AFTER THE SHAKING WORE OFF, AND I STOPPED CRYING DID I REALIZE. "HEY, WHY DIDN'T THE AIR…”
“DRIVER AND PASSENGER NORTHBOUND ON I-805 REAR ENDED A DODGE DURANGO SUV @ 50-60 MPH 6:30 AM; BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY; BOTH TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MINOR INJURIES; VEHICLE IRREPAIRABLE AND TOTAL LOSS.”
“WE WERE DRIVING IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD ABOUT 5 FEET TO GO BEFORE THE CAR WAS PARKED. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE CAR SLOWED DOWN FURTHER. SUDDENLY THE CAR ENGINE REVVED AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, NOT THE GAS PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE BUILDING IN FRONT OF ME, BUT HIT THE ADJACENT RESTAURANT INSTEAD. THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE RESTAURANT WALL AND SENT A LARGE REFRIGERATOR CRASHING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROOM. FORTUNATELY, NO RESTAURANT PERSONNEL WERE IN THE PATH OF THE REFRIGERATOR AT THE TIME. SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE RESTAURANT AND TO THE CAR. MY HUSBAND WHO HAD ALREADY TAKEN OFF HIS SEAT BELT, AS WE WERE NEARLY STOPPED, HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HEAD. HE IS IN THE HOSPITAL. I BADLY BRUISED MY HAND AND CHEST. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. OUR CAR IS A 2000 NISSAN MAXIMA. IT WAS TOWED TO A NEARBY BODY SHOP. NO ONE HAS TOUCHED IT OR ATTEMPTED ANY REPAIRS. I EXPECT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL DETERMINE THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. *TR”
Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.