Recall 17V449 covers 515,394 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles for driver air bag inflator rupture. Repair will be free at any franchised Nissan dealer once available.
Nissan is recalling 515,394 2007-2012 Versa vehicles under recall 17V449 because the driver frontal air bag inflator can rupture after long-term heat and humidity exposure. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the driver or occupants, causing serious injury or death; the Nissan dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag inflator in the 2007-2012 Nissan Versa is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a crash, it burns propellant to create gas that fills the air bag quickly. That controlled burst is what helps the air bag deploy in front of the driver.
On affected Versa vehicles, the Takata PSDI-5 inflator uses calcium sulfate desiccant, a drying material meant to control moisture inside the inflator. After long-term exposure to moderate humidity, heat, and temperature changes, the propellant inside the inflator degrades. If the air bag deploys with degraded propellant, the inflator can rupture instead of filling the air bag in a controlled way.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle can look and drive normally before the inflator ruptures during an air bag deployment.
Who's affected?
All 6 model years name the same driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2007 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2008 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
| 2009 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
| 2010 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
| 2011 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
| 2012 Nissan Versa | front air bag |
| Units affected | 515,394 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 895 field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the list, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. If your VIN is included, limit driving until you have a repair plan and call the dealer for scheduling guidance. Repair will be free at any franchised Nissan dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2012 Nissan Versa is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Nissan dealer and ask whether the free driver air bag inflator replacement is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 17V449 when you call Nissan or the dealer.
- Schedule the inflator replacement once Nissan confirms service for your VIN; the repair replaces the rupture-prone driver frontal air bag inflator with one from a different supplier.
- Bring the recall notice if Nissan mailed one to you.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Nissan technician replaces the driver frontal air bag inflator with a new inflator made by a different supplier. Because this campaign is listed as under development, treat the final dealer repair as not open until Nissan confirms availability for your VIN. Once available, the inflator replacement is free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. Nissan has a general reimbursement plan on file for qualifying out-of-pocket repairs. Keep related repair documentation and ask Nissan customer service how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 17, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 21, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| July 21, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 9, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V449?
Recall 17V449 covers 515,394 2007-2012 Nissan Versa vehicles with a driver frontal air bag inflator that can rupture after long-term propellant degradation. An inflator rupture can send metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. Nissan dealers replace the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2012 Nissan Versa is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Versa is included in recall 17V449. If it is, contact a franchised Nissan dealer to schedule the driver air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall 17V449 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Nissan dealers replace the driver frontal air bag inflator free of charge. Nissan customer service is available at 1-800-647-7261.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an air bag inflator rupture that sends metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants. The official consequence for recall 17V449 is serious injury or death. The repair path is replacement of the subject inflator with a new one from a different supplier.
What if I bought my Nissan Versa used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Versa is included, then contact a franchised Nissan dealer and reference recall 17V449 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V449000 |
|---|---|
| Nissan customer service | 1-800-647-7261 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V449 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V449000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →