Nissan Motor Co. is recalling more than one million vehicles due to the front passenger air bags being unable to inflate in an accident.
The action includes 989,701 vehicles and is the second passenger air bag recall Nissan has issued, according to USA Today. 82,038 2013-model vehicles were recalled last April due to a sensor being built incorrectly and possibly keeping the passenger bag from working in a crash.
The recall affects different cars, vans and SUVs. These include the Altima midsize car, Pathfinder SUV and Sentra compact 2013 and 2014 models, Leaf electric car, and the 2013 Infiniti JX35 SUV and NV200 Taxi van. The 2014 Q50 and Infiniti QX60 SUVs are also included, Associated Press reported.
In documents on file with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Nissan stated that while there have been accidents, no deaths or injuries were identified due to this issue, USA Today reported.
The action involves the occupant classification system, which decides if anyone is sitting in the passenger seat in order to choose to inflate the bag during a crash.
Nissan said the occupant classification system won't inflate the bag if it doesn't identify an adult in the passenger seat, Associated Press reported.
The recall is expected to begin in mid-April. The company will contact owners of the vehicles, and dealers will improve the software at no charge.
Dealers replaced sensors in the vehicles last February when the company recalled most of the vehicles for a similar problem, Associated Press reported. However, the company said it still received complaints and warranty claims in cars that weren't fixed. Front passenger seats feature sensors that find the passenger's weight and turn the air bags off when a child is in the vehicle. The sensors that don't work can turn off air bags even when an adult is in the seat.
Spokesman Steve Yeager said in an email that Nissan received three reports of air bags malfunctioning in an accident. He added that he is not sure if anyone was hurt in the crashes, but the issue has not resulted in any deaths.
