Recall 16V242 covers 645,898 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra vehicles for a child-seat air bag classification defect. Repair is free at any franchised Nissan dealer.
Nissan is recalling 645,898 2013-2016 Sentra vehicles because the front passenger seat belt bracket can deform when used to secure a child restraint system. That deformation can cause the Occupant Classification System to leave the front passenger air bag active with a child seat installed, increasing injury risk in a crash; the Nissan dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger seat belt bracket on 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra vehicles helps route and hold the seat belt at the seat. When a child restraint system is installed in that seat, the belt and bracket work with the occupant classification system, the sensor setup that decides whether the front passenger air bag stays on or turns off.
On affected Sentras, the bracket can deform when the seat belt is pulled too tight around a child restraint system while the automatic locking retractor is engaged. The automatic locking retractor is the belt mode that locks the belt after it is pulled out to secure a child seat. If the bracket bends, the occupant classification system can misread the child restraint system and leave the front passenger air bag active when it should be turned off.
There is no warning sign before failure. The bracket deformation and air bag classification error are not something an owner can reliably see from the driver's seat.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2013 through 2016 Sentra model years, all tied to the same air bag system component.
| 2013 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
|---|---|
| 2014 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2015 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2016 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| Units affected | 645,898 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA campaign 16V242 identifies an increased injury risk for a child in a front passenger child restraint system if the passenger air bag deploys during a crash. Keep child seats out of the front passenger seat and contact a Nissan dealer for the recall repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Nissan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Nissan dealer to confirm whether the free repair is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the seat belt bracket reinforcement and ACU/OCS reprogramming, which fixes the front passenger child-seat air bag classification problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Nissan mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V242 when you call.
- Avoid installing a child restraint system in the front passenger seat until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Nissan technician reinforces the front passenger seat belt bracket, then reprograms the Air Bag Control Unit and OCS Electronic Control Unit. The final dealer repair is free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Until the repair is complete, do not install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. Nissan's owner notice includes reimbursement instructions for owners who paid for a related repair before the recall notice on vehicles no longer under warranty. Keep repair paperwork and follow the notice instructions to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 26, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 24, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| May 24, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 13, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V242?
Recall 16V242 covers 645,898 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra vehicles with a front passenger seat belt bracket that can deform when used with a child restraint system. The defect can cause the occupant classification system to leave the passenger air bag active when a child seat is installed.
What should I do if my 2013-2016 Nissan Sentra is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Sentra is included in recall 16V242. If it is, contact a franchised Nissan dealer to schedule the free repair. Nissan warns owners not to install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair recall defects at no cost. Nissan dealers will reinforce the seat belt bracket and reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit and Occupant Classification System Electronic Control Unit for free.
Is it safe to use a child seat in the front passenger seat?
No. Nissan warns owners not to install a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. If the bracket deforms, the occupant classification system can classify the seat incorrectly and leave the passenger air bag active, increasing injury risk to a child in a crash.
When did the Nissan Sentra recall repair begin?
The recall repair began on June 13, 2016. Owners with an included VIN can contact a franchised Nissan dealer for the bracket reinforcement and control-unit reprogramming. Reference recall 16V242 when you call, or contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V242000 |
|---|---|
| Nissan customer service | 1-800-867-7669 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V242 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V242000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →