Recall 20V747 affects 3,930 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra vehicles for passenger air bag inflator explosion risk. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Nissan dealer.
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. If it has to move, arrange a tow. Repair is free at any franchised Nissan dealer.
Nissan is recalling 3,930 2002-2006 Sentra vehicles under recall 20V747 because some passenger air bags were released after inspection without replacing the Takata inflator. Do not drive an affected Sentra until a Nissan dealer completes the free repair, because an inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into occupants and cause serious injury or death.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger air bag inflator in a 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash, it is supposed to create gas quickly so the air bag fills and cushions the passenger.
This recall concerns Sentras that already went through an earlier Takata passenger air bag inspection, but the wrong inflator type was identified. Nissan says some non-desiccated Takata SPI inflators were released without replacement. Those inflators lack a drying agent, so long exposure to high humidity, high heat, and temperature cycling breaks down the propellant inside. During deployment, the degraded propellant can create too much pressure and cause the inflator to explode.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag light is not described as a reliable signal for this defect, so an owner cannot judge the risk by how the car feels or drives.
Who's affected?
Spans 5 model years, with the front passenger air bag inflator and broader air bag system listed for each year.
| 2002 Nissan Sentra | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2002 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2003 Nissan Sentra | front air bag |
| 2003 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2004 Nissan Sentra | front air bag |
| 2004 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2005 Nissan Sentra | front air bag |
| 2005 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| 2006 Nissan Sentra | front air bag |
| 2006 Nissan Sentra | air bag system |
| Units affected | 3,930 |
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?
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. If it has to move, arrange a tow. Repair is free at any franchised Nissan dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the passenger air bag inflator repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the vehicle has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Nissan dealer to schedule the free passenger air bag inflator re-inspection and any needed replacement that addresses the Takata inflator explosion risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Nissan mailed one, and reference recall number 20V747 when you call.
- Call Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the vehicle until the recall repair is complete. At the dealer, a Nissan technician re-inspects the passenger air bag inflator and replaces the inflator if the earlier inspection released the vehicle without that replacement. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Nissan says the owner notice includes reimbursement instructions for owners who paid for a repair before the recall notice. Bring proof of the paid repair and ask the service desk how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 1, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| January 5, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 22, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V747?
Recall 20V747 covers 3,930 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra vehicles previously inspected for a Takata passenger air bag inflator that was left in place. The inflator can explode after long-term heat and humidity exposure, sending sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Do not drive until the dealer repair is complete.
What should I do if my 2002-2006 Nissan Sentra is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Sentra is included in recall 20V747. If it is, do not drive the vehicle. Contact a franchised Nissan dealer, reference recall 20V747 or Nissan recall PM964, and ask how to arrange the free re-inspection and inflator replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Nissan dealers will re-inspect the vehicle and replace the passenger air bag inflator free of charge when replacement is needed.
What does 'do not drive' mean for this Nissan Sentra recall?
Do not drive the vehicle until the recall repair is finished. This includes short trips, errands, and driving it to the dealer. Call a franchised Nissan dealer and ask about towing or another safe way to move the car for service.
What if I bought my Nissan Sentra used?
The free recall repair still applies. A used vehicle owner has the same recall repair right as the original owner. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Nissan dealer with recall 20V747 or Nissan recall PM964 so the service desk can confirm the next step.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V747000 |
|---|---|
| Nissan customer service | 1-800-867-7669 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V747 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V747000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →