The product liability attorneys at McCune Law Group (MLG) are investigating reports that 2016-2018 Nissan Altima vehicles may have a defective front passenger airbag occupant sensor that fails to detect a seated adult, potentially preventing the airbag from deploying in a crash. These vehicles were left out of earlier occupant sensor system recalls issued for other Altima model years. If you own a 2016, 2017, or 2018 Nissan Altima and have experienced airbag warning light issues, contact our firm today for a free case evaluation.
You May Qualify for Legal Action
If the airbag warning light in your 2016, 2017, or 2018 Nissan Altima stays on when an adult is seated in the front passenger seat, the occupant sensor may not be detecting them correctly. This matters more than it might seem. When the sensor doesn’t register a passenger, the airbag may not deploy in a crash.
McCune Law Group attorneys have more than 35 years of experience representing consumers who have been harmed by vehicle safety issues. We’re investigating on behalf of affected Altima owners whose 2016-2018 vehicles were left out of earlier occupant sensor system recalls. If your vehicle has shown signs of this problem, you may have legal options. We’d like to hear from you.
If your airbag warning light stays on with a passenger in the front seat or you’ve been told the sensor failed, contact our team today by calling (909) 417-4089 for a free case evaluation. Our attorneys can help you determine whether your situation qualifies.
Do You Qualify?
You may be eligible if all of the following apply:
- You own a 2016, 2017, or 2018 Nissan Altima
- You purchased it new or certified pre-owned from a Nissan dealer, or leased it with more than 24 months remaining
- You still own the vehicle
- You purchased and currently live in one of these states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, or Washington (must be the same state)
- The airbag system or occupant sensor hasn’t been replaced or modified
- The vehicle hasn’t been in an accident where the airbags deployed
- The vehicle doesn’t have a branded or salvage title
- You’ve experienced at least one of the following:
- A mechanic or Nissan dealer diagnosed the occupant sensor as failed, or
- The passenger airbag indicator light doesn’t switch to ON/armed when an adult is in the front passenger seat
What to Look For
Owners of 2016-2018 Altimas have reported the following:
- The airbag warning light stays on and doesn’t switch to ON/armed when an adult is in the front passenger seat
- The passenger airbag shows as disabled or OFF even when the seat is occupied
- A mechanic or dealer confirmed the occupant sensor has failed
- The dealership said the vehicle isn’t covered by any recall, leaving the owner to pay out of pocket
For many owners, the warning light is the only visible sign that something is wrong. It’s easy to assume it’s a minor issue and put off getting it checked. But if the sensor isn’t picking up a seated passenger, the airbag may not be there when you need it.
Why This Matters
A passenger airbag occupancy sensor that doesn’t register a seated adult is a serious safety problem. If the sensor fails to detect a passenger, the airbag may not deploy in a crash, leaving the person in the front seat without protection they’re counting on.
If a dealer has told you there’s nothing they can do under any recall, or quoted you hundreds or thousands of dollars to repair a safety component Nissan fixed for free in other Altimas, that’s worth discussing with an attorney.
How to Get Started
- Step 1: Document the problem
Note when the warning light appeared and whether it’s consistent or intermittent. Save any dealer or mechanic records and repair estimates. - Step 2: Contact us
Call (909) 417-4089 or submit our online intake form. Tell us what the light is doing and whether a dealer told you your vehicle isn’t covered by any recall. - Step 3: Free case evaluation
Our attorneys will review your situation at no cost and explain your options under applicable warranty and consumer protection laws.
If your 2016, 2017, or 2018 Nissan Altima has an airbag warning light that won’t turn off when a passenger is seated, or if you’ve been told the occupant sensor has failed, you may have legal options. Call us at (909) 417-4089 for a free case evaluation.
Frequently Asked Questions
My airbag light is on. Does that mean I qualify?
It’s one of the primary qualifying symptoms. If the light stays on or the passenger airbag shows as disabled when an adult is in the front seat, you may qualify. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to reach out.
Is there a recall on my vehicle?
Not for 2016-2018 owners. Nissan recalled the same sensor system in earlier Altima models but excluded your model years. If a dealer told you your VIN isn’t covered by any recall, that’s exactly the gap this investigation is focused on.
What if I already paid to have it repaired?
Reach out anyway. Prior out-of-pocket repair costs may be relevant to your case and should be documented along with any records from the dealer or mechanic.
The dealer told me my car is fine. Should I still reach out?
Yes, if you’ve seen the airbag indicator light not switching to ON with an adult in the front seat. Some owners have been told there’s no issue, or that their vehicle isn’t covered by any recall, even when the sensor isn’t working correctly. Your own observation of the symptom is enough to start a conversation with us.
Is my vehicle safe to drive?
We cannot advise on the safety of your specific vehicle. What we can tell you is that a sensor that doesn’t register a seated passenger may result in that airbag not deploying in a crash. If you have concerns, we encourage you to have the vehicle inspected by a qualified mechanic.
How much does it cost to work with McCune Law Group?
The initial case evaluation is free. If we take your case, we work on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf.
Nissan Left You Out. We Haven’t.
If you own a 2016, 2017, or 2018 Nissan Altima and the airbag warning light stays on when a passenger is in the front seat, we want to hear from you. The same applies if a mechanic has told you the occupant sensor has failed. Nissan recalled this sensor system for earlier Altima owners and didn’t extend the same fix to your model year. You may have been told there’s no recall covering your vehicle and paid out of pocket for a repair the manufacturer covered for others.
McCune Law Group has recovered more than $1 billion for our clients. Our attorneys have handled complex auto product liability cases against major manufacturers, and we know what it takes to build a case when a company has left consumers without a remedy. We work on contingency. You pay nothing unless we recover on your behalf.
Call (909) 417-4089 or complete our secure online form today to find out if you qualify.
Attorney Advertising
McCune Law Group, APC is responsible for this advertisement. The information provided on this website is for general information purposes only. The information you obtain is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Use of this website or submission of the online form does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Counsel David C. Wright is licensed to practice in the state of California. The law firm of McCune Law Group has attorneys licensed to practice law in AZ, CA, GA, MO, NY, and PA. McCune Law Group is a national firm that brings lawsuits in a majority of the states. In states where one of its attorneys is not barred, it does so by filing the complaint along with local counsel barred in that state.
The results discussed do not guarantee, warrant, or predict the results in future cases.
