What 57 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Nissan Leaf Plus (60 Kwh Battery)

Dealer is Mike Erdman Nissan Merritt Island Fl 32953 Airbag warning light flashing red on console. Paid $260 for diagnostic check on July 21, 2024. They cannot fix it as an airbag sensor on the passenger side seat is malfunctioning and the entire passenger side seat must be replaced and part is not available or is no longer in stock. They MAY be able to locate an entire seat Nissan Leaf 2012 somewhere, but if they do (and they said probably not) it will cost $4000.00. The seat is no longer made by Nissan and after market seats would not meet safety standards (they said). There is a published complaint list of well over 2000 Nissan Leaf owners regarding 2011 and 2012 Leaf owners who say there should be a safety recall as this issue has been known by Nissan and the 2013 and later models had safety changes installed for this issue but no safety recall was made for 2011 and 2012 models. I believe a safety recall to fix this issue is imperative.

NHTSA ODI 11603953

My Nissan Leaf is showing a warning sign that front passenger side airbag is disabled. I see that this is a common complaint from many 2011-12 Nissan Leaf owners. I would like to add my name to the list of owners who had a similar complaint and please update if you make Nissan do a recall for this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11541074

The brakes on the vehicle jerk alot when going under 15, causing everyone in the vehicle to get jerked forward multiple times and are touchy resulting in almost being in an accident. Airbag sensor for front passenger also no longer works and Nissan refuses to repair any defect

NHTSA ODI 11529118

The passenger occupancy sensor has failed and as a result the passenger airbag is now permanently off, as indicated on the console. The dashboard airbag and general error lights are now constantly flashing as well. The dealer indicated the failure is the mat in the seat, OBD code B1018, and there is no repair for this failure. I see there are mutiple complaints online about this same problem on 2011-2012 LEAFs, and that NHTSA had opened an investigation. Do I have some recourse here? I am concerned to have people ride in the vehicle with no airbag.

NHTSA ODI 11514951

I believe my newly purchased 2012 Nissan LEAF is suffering from the same passenger-side airbag faulty sensor problem that has been documented in NHTSA case id: 11234415. I am experiencing the same flashing warning lights when I operate the vehicle. There are no signs of damage or tampering with the passenger-side seat. I will do my best to make the vehicle available for inspection upon request. I am worried that the faulty senor, if unfixed, might be shutting off the whole airbag deployment safety system. If it is doing that, Nissan MUST recall these vehicles for repair! A previous owner took the vehicle to the dealership that originally sold the car and their service center reported that the problem was a known issue. [NOTE: Date of Incident in this report refers to date of purchase of the vehicle, NOT the date that the problem began to occur. I do not have that information available to me.]

NHTSA ODI 11473743

THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AND THE DEALER HAS TOLD US THE ENTIRE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR $4,000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11286687

WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES (CONTINUOUSLY FLASHING) AND CONTINUES TO FLASH WHILE DRIVING. ON 11/22/2019 THE NISSAN DEALER REPORTED THAT THE SEAT OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION MODULE HAS FAILED AND IS REPORTING A TROUBLE CODE B1018. THE REPAIR INVOLVES REPLACING THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $3938. THE COST TO REPAIR IS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS KNOW ISSUE WITH LATER MY NISSAN LEAF AND IS THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11282156

B1018 PASSENGER SEAT SENOSR NEEDS REPLACEMENT NISSAN SAYS IS NOT COVERED UNDER THERE 10 YEAR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. WILL COST $3900.00 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHAT IS COVERED UNDER THE AIR BAG WARRANTY? THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY.

NHTSA ODI 11256669

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR (OCS) HAS FAILED. ONLY REPAIR OFFERED BY NISSAN IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE CUSHION SEAT ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES A SIDE AIRBAG AND SEAT HEATER, FOR OVER $4000 - THIS IS APPROXIMATELY THE VALUE OF THE CAR ON THE USED MARKET! A SIMILAR FAILURE FOR LATER MODEL YEARS (2013-2016) RESULTED IN A MANDATORY RECALL. USING PARTS IN A CRITICAL SAFETY SYSTEM THAT BARELY SURVIVE PAST THE CAR WARRANTY SHOULD BE CRIMINAL.

NHTSA ODI 11193091

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN LEAF. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND CONTINUED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS RESET. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR AND CUSHION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO DAYS LATER. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,470.

NHTSA ODI 10959555

DESPITE AN ADULT OCCUPYING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DISABLED INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS HAPPENED WITH TWO DIFFERENT FULL SIZED ADULTS. DEALER COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO ATTEMPT A REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10628995