Nissan issues 'do not drive' warning for older vehicles, says Takata airbags can explode
Exploding Airbags: Is Your Nissan at Risk?
Nissan has issued a "do not drive" warning for 83,920 vehicles from model years 2002-2006 due to potentially explosive Takata airbags. Affected models include the Nissan Sentra, Pathfinder, and Infiniti QX4. These vehicles were part of a broader Takata airbag recall initiated in 2020.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) warns that the airbags may explode due to propellant degradation caused by long-term exposure to humidity and temperature fluctuations, posing serious risks of injury or death. Vehicle owners are urged to check for recalls and seek free repairs.
What specific models and years of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are included in the "do not drive" warning issued by Nissan?
Nissan has issued a "do not drive" warning for certain model year 2002-2006 Nissan Sentras, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinders, and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4s. These vehicles were already subject to open Takata airbag recalls from 2020.
What conditions are said to contribute to the degradation of the Takata airbag inflators?
The degradation of Takata airbag inflators is primarily attributed to several environmental factors that affect the propellant within the inflators. The primary cause of the degradation is long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, which introduces moisture into the inflator mechanism3. Additionally, high temperatures and high temperature cycling further exacerbate the degradation of the propellant3. These conditions lead to the propellant breaking down over time, which can cause the airbag inflators to explode unexpectedly during deployment, posing severe risks to vehicle occupants3.