2015 Nissan Altima · symptom sheet
Passenger airbag sensor problems
- 51owner reports
- 19,875median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 22, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
51 of the 177 reports of airbag on the 2015 Altima describe passenger airbag sensor faults.
Part of Airbag warning light or recall (177 reports) · also: airbag light on, Takata airbag recall
Tick what matches of 51 reports
Passenger airbag sensor faults on other Altima years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside airbag problems for the passenger seat sensor, the system that decides whether the front passenger airbag should be on or off. Owners here see a "passenger airbag off" light with an adult in the seat, or an airbag warning that comes on when someone sits down.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (17 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the airbags cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An incorrect Occupant Classification System (OCS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) may have been installed in the front passenger seat. The incorrect ECU and seat combination may misclassify the front passenger seat occupant.
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.
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.
All 10 recalls on the 2015 Nissan Altima, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Altima
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Open.
Occupant classification system failure. Closed may 2, 2017, led to recall 15V-681.
Occupant classification system failure. Closed sep 1, 2015.
Autoliv air bag propellant mixture. Closed may 8, 2012.
Passenger air bag-related facial/eye inj. Closed apr 24, 2003, led to recall 03V-150.
Passenger air bag-related eye injuries. Closed aug 9, 2001.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,000 and 50,000 miles, from the 36 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2015 Nissan Altima that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
DTC B00A0-00 STORED IF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed,
What owners wrote
“The passenger air bag light is showing off, cannot get it to reset by the switch or turning the car off.”
Filed Sep 6, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 51 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Headlights too dim or fail 254 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 64 reports
- Doors, latches or locks fail 62 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 46 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 39 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 28 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 26 reports