2011 Nissan Murano

Dashboard light started flashing indicating airbag error. Light indicating passenger airbag inoperative on center stack illuminated. Dealership indicated error code B1018 per ESM diagnostic procedure and recommended replacing entire passenger side seat cushion and retesting. Uncertain if passenger side airbag sensor will prevent driver's airbag from deploying in accident.

The contact's daughter owns a 2011 Nissan Murano. The contact stated that after entering the vehicle, she noticed that the front passenger’s side seat back had completely lowered down and was lying flat. The contact stated that the seat back could not be raised or moved. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

UPDATE TO PREVIOUS NHTSA COMPLAINT #11078866. THE COST TO REPAIR MY CAR WAS OVER$5000 AND COULD NOT JUSTIFY THE EXPENSE. AFTER LIVING WITH THE FAULTY SENSOR FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, IT'S TIME TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE. I HOPED FOR A RECALL TO BE ISSUED BUT NOTHING YET. TO TRADE IN OR SELL THIS VEHICLE, IT'S OBVIOUS DUE TO WARNING LIGHT ON DASH THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH AIRBAGS. I NEED TO DISCOUNT MY VEHICLE VALUE OR REPAIR THIS. AFTER SOME INQUIRY, I'VE DISCOVERED THAT MY PART IS NOW REPLACED BY PART NUMBER 873A2-3ZG6A. THIS PART IS THE REPLACEMENT FOR MODEL YEARS 2011-2014 IN ALL TRIM LEVELS S, SV, SL, LE. IT IS THE ENTIRE PASSENGER BOTTOM SEAT AND COSTS $3700 OR MORE PLUS LABOR=OVER $5000 TO FIX. EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD TO FIX THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE NO PARTS AVAILABLE IN THE USA ACCORDING TO SUTHERLIN NISSAN OF FT. PIERCE FL. THERE IS AN APPARENT BACK ORDER WITH NO PARTS AVAILABILITY. TO CORRECT A SEEMINGLY SIMILAR PART ON A 2015 MURANO MIGHT REQUIRE 2 PARTS TOTALLING PERHAPS $340 AND APPROPRIATE LABOR THIS TOTAL SHOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE QUOTE TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE. AN ONLINE SEARCH OF SUGGESTED NISSAN MURANO REPAIRS FOR THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SENSOR WAS ABOUT $300, QUITE A CONTRAST TO MY ANTICIPATED REPAIR EXPENSE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR MURANOS AND PREVIOUS MODELS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS. I BOUGHT A NISSAN CERTIFIED USED CAR, THEN ADDED A GOLD LEVEL SERVICE PLAN TO COVER BUMPER TO BUMPER AND YET THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED. THIS IS A REQUIRED SAFETY DEVICE. ITS FAILURE HAS MADE MY VEHICLE WORTHLESS, BASED ON POTENTIAL TRADE OFFERS. I ASSUME NISSAN USA LOST LOTS OF MONEY ON THE PREVIOUS SENSOR RECALL CAMPAIGN, AND NOW THEY HOPE TO RECOVER SOME OF THOSE LOSSES BY PASSING THAT EXPENSE ON UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMERS. I THINK NISSAN USA REALIZES THIS AS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONCEAL THIS FAULT.