Nissan Versa: Safety-Seats, seat belts and supplemental restraint system - Supplemental Restraint System (SRS)

• Precautions on SRS
• NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System (front seats)
• Front passenger air bag and status light
• Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags
• Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front and rear seats)
• Supplemental air bag warning labels

Precautions on SRS Nissan Versa 2020

This comprehensive SRS section contains vital safety information concerning the following advanced occupant protection systems engineered into your Nissan Versa:

• Driver and front passenger supplemental front-impact air bag (featuring the highly advanced NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System)
• Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system designed for torso protection
• Rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system protecting second-row passengers
• Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag system protecting outer seating positions
• Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags engineered to limit lower-limb movement
• Seat belt systems with integrated pretensioners designed for rapid tightening (equipped on both front and rear seats)

Supplemental front-impact air bag system

The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System is engineered to help cushion and distribute the severe impact forces directed toward the head and chest of the driver and front passenger during specific moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.

Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system

This localized safety system is designed to help absorb and cushion the intense lateral impact forces targeted at the chest area of the driver and front passenger during certain side-impact collisions. The side air bags are configured to deploy rapidly only on the specific side of the Nissan Versa that sustains the impact.

Rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag system

To extend protection to rear-seat occupants, this side-impact system helps cushion the torso and chest area of passengers sitting in the rear outboard seats during specific side collisions. Similar to the front side air bags, these rear side-impact modules deploy exclusively on the side where the vehicle is struck.

Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag system

This overhead system is designed to help protect the heads of occupants seated in the outboard front and rear positions during severe side-impact crashes. These curtain air bags deploy along the side roof rails on the side of the impact. In the event of a rollover, the sensors in your Nissan Versa will trigger the curtain air bags on both sides, and they are engineered to remain inflated for a brief period to provide continued protection and occupant containment.

Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bag

This specialized lower-cabin protection system is engineered to deploy beneath the steering column and lower glovebox area. It helps cushion and absorb the deceleration forces directed at the driver's and front passenger's knees during certain frontal impacts.

The entire Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) is designed to work as a supplement to, and not a replacement for, the primary crash protection provided by the driver, front passenger, and rear seat belts. For maximum safety, seat belts must always be worn correctly by all occupants, who should sit upright and at a safe distance from the steering wheel, passenger-side instrument panel, and side door trim panels.

The supplemental air bags can only operate and deploy when the vehicle's ignition switch is placed in the ON position.

When you turn the ignition switch to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light on the instrument cluster will illuminate as a system check. If the system is fully operational, this safety light will automatically turn off after approximately 7 seconds.

WARNING

• The supplemental front air bags typically will not inflate in the event of side-impacts, rear-end collisions, rollovers, or minor frontal crashes. Always wear your seat belt properly to dramatically reduce the risk and severity of injuries across all categories of accidents.
• The front passenger air bag and the companion front passenger supplemental knee air bag are programmed not to deploy if the passenger air bag status light on the dashboard is illuminated to indicate that the sensor has disabled them.
• Both the seat belts and the front air bags provide their highest safety benefit when you are sitting fully back against the seatback in an upright position. The front air bags deploy with incredible speed and force. Even with the advanced sensors in your Nissan Versa, if you are unbelted, leaning forward, slouching, or out of position, you face an elevated risk of severe injury or death. Being too close to the deploying airbag module can result in fatal impact injuries. Always sit back, adjust your seat as far back from the dashboard as practical, and keep your seat belt properly fastened.
• The seat belt buckles for the driver and front passenger are equipped with smart buckle sensors that detect whether the belts are securely clicked in. The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System continuously monitors crash severity alongside seat belt status to determine the optimal deployment force. Failure to buckle up increases both crash forces on your body and the severity of airbag deployment.
• The front passenger seat is equipped with an occupant classification sensor (weight sensor) that automatically switches the front passenger air bag and knee air bag OFF under certain weight and occupant-type conditions. This advanced sensor operates exclusively on the front passenger seat. Failing to sit correctly and wear the seat belt properly can interfere with the sensor and increase injury risks during a collision.
• Always keep your hands positioned on the outside of the steering wheel rim. Placing your hands, wrists, or arms inside the steering wheel rim or across the center pad increases the risk of fractures or severe injury if the front air bag deploys.

WARNING

• Never allow children to ride unrestrained, stand up, or lean their hands and face out of the windows while your Nissan Versa is in motion. Do not attempt to hold a child on your lap or in your arms, as crash forces make it impossible to retain them. Several examples of highly dangerous riding positions are illustrated to emphasize what must be avoided.

WARNING

• Children can be severely injured or killed by the extremely rapid deployment of front, side, or roof-mounted curtain air bags if they are not properly secured in a certified restraint. Preteens and children should always be buckled up in an appropriate restraint system in the rear seat whenever possible.

WARNING

• Even with the smart technology of the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System, you must never install a rear-facing child restraint in the front passenger seat. An inflating front air bag striking the back of a rear-facing child seat can easily cause catastrophic, fatal injuries to your child.

WARNING

Regarding the front and rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags and the roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bags:

• The side-impact and roof-mounted curtain air bags are programmed not to deploy during typical frontal crashes, rear-end impacts, or minor side collisions. To protect yourself in all types of road incidents, always ensure your seat belt is correctly fastened.

WARNING

• The safety belts, side air bags, and roof-mounted curtain air bags offer the highest level of occupant protection only when you sit well back, upright, and with both feet flat on the floor. Because these side and curtain air bags inflate with immense velocity and force, do not allow anyone to rest their hands, legs, or face near the side airbag modules located in the seatbacks, or near the upper roof side rails. Do not allow passengers to extend their hands out of the windows or lean sideways against the doors. Examples of these dangerous positions are illustrated above for your safety.

WARNING

• When riding in the rear seat, never hold onto or lean against the seatback of the front seats. If the front seat-mounted side air bag deploys, the force could cause serious injury to your hands or arms. Pay close attention to children, ensuring they remain properly buckled up in their designated seats. Refer to the illustrations for visual examples of dangerous sitting positions that must be prevented.
• Do not use aftermarket seat covers on either the front or rear seatbacks of your Nissan Versa. These covers can block, delay, or completely interfere with the rapid deployment of the side-impact air bags.

NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System (front seats) Nissan Versa 2026

1. Roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag
2. Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front seats)
3. Shoulder belt height adjustment (front seats)
4. Side-impact pressure sensor (driver's side shown; front passenger side similar)
5. Crash zone sensor
6. Supplemental front-impact air bag modules
7. Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags
8. Air bag Control Unit (ACU)
9. Occupant classification system control unit
10. Occupant classification sensor (weight sensor - located in front passenger cushion frame)
11. Front seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags (passenger's side shown; driver side similar)
12. Side satellite sensor (passenger's side shown; driver side similar)
13. Rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags
14. Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (rear seats)

WARNING

To ensure the proper and unobstructed operation of the front passenger's NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System in your Nissan Versa, please observe and strictly adhere to the following safety precautions.

• Do not allow a passenger sitting in the rear seat to push, pull, or apply pressure on the front passenger seatback pocket.
• Do not hang or place heavy loads heavier than 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) on the front seatback, the head restraint/headrest, or inside the seatback pocket.
• Make sure that there is absolutely nothing pressing against the rear of the seatback, such as a child restraint system installed in the rear seat directly behind it or any cargo and loose objects stored on the rear floorboards.
• Make sure that there are no objects of any kind placed or wedged under the front passenger seat cushion assembly.
• Make sure that there is no object placed between the front passenger seat cushion and the center console, or between the seat cushion and the inner door trim panel.
• If a forward-facing child restraint is installed in the front passenger seat, do not slide or adjust the front passenger seat forward to a position where the child restraint contacts the instrument panel. If the child restraint does make physical contact with the dashboard, the occupant classification system may incorrectly determine that the seat is occupied by an adult, which can cause the passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag to deploy during a collision. Additionally, the front passenger air bag status light may fail to illuminate as intended.
• Always confirm the correct operating condition of the system by verifying the illuminated status of the front passenger air bag status light.
• If you notice that the front passenger air bag status light is not operating in accordance with the descriptions provided in this section, do not carry a passenger in that seat. Have the occupant classification system checked immediately. It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for this professional diagnostic service.
• Until you have confirmed with an authorized dealer that your front passenger seat occupant classification system is working properly and calibrated correctly, position all passengers in the rear outboard seating positions.
• Do not position the front passenger seat so that it makes physical contact with the rear seatback or bench. If the front seat contacts the rear seat, the air bag control module may detect an unusual physical force, interpret it as a sensor malfunction, illuminate the front passenger air bag status light, and cause the supplemental air bag warning light to flash on the instrument panel.

This vehicle is equipped with the highly sophisticated NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System for the driver and front passenger seating positions. This occupant protection system is designed and calibrated to meet the strict crash safety certification requirements outlined under United States Federal regulations. It is also fully permitted for use in Canada. However, all of the safety information, cautions, and warnings detailed throughout this owner's manual still apply and must be followed meticulously to guarantee maximum occupant safety.

The driver's supplemental front-impact air bag is housed securely in the center pad of the steering wheel. The front passenger's supplemental front-impact air bag is integrated directly into the dashboard panel above the glove box. These front air bags are engineered to deploy in moderate-to-severe frontal collisions, though they may also inflate if the deceleration forces generated in another type of accident (such as a side impact or rollover) are similar to those of a severe frontal impact. Conversely, they may not inflate in certain types of frontal impacts where deceleration forces are absorbed primarily by the vehicle body. Note that visible vehicle damage—or the lack thereof—is not a reliable indicator of proper front air bag system operation.

The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System installed in your Nissan Versa continuously monitors real-time data from the front crash zone sensor, the Air bag Control Unit (ACU), the seat belt buckle sensors, and the advanced occupant classification sensors (weight sensors) located in the front passenger seat frame. Airbag inflator deployment is calculated based on collision severity and seat belt usage for the driver. For the front passenger seat, the occupant classification system sensors are also evaluated. Based on this sensor data, only one front air bag may deploy in a crash, or they may deploy with varying inflation forces depending on the crash severity and whether the occupants are wearing their seat belts. Additionally, the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag may be automatically disabled under specific conditions, depending on the passenger's weight detected on the seat and how the seat belt is being utilized. If these airbags are deactivated, the front passenger air bag status light will illuminate to notify you. The inflation of only one front air bag during an accident does not indicate a system failure; rather, it demonstrates that the system has targeted its deployment appropriately.

If you have any questions or require maintenance regarding the advanced air bag system in your Nissan Versa, it is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer. If you require vehicle modifications to accommodate a physical disability, you may also contact NISSAN customer support. Detailed contact information is provided in the front pages of this Owner's Manual.

When a front air bag deploys, a loud noise is produced, immediately followed by the release of a fine smoke-like powder. This powder is completely non-toxic and does not indicate a fire inside the cabin. However, occupants should avoid inhaling it directly, as it can cause temporary throat irritation, coughing, or mild choking sensations. Individuals with a history of asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions should seek fresh air immediately after the vehicle comes to a stop.

The supplemental front air bags, working in tandem with the vehicle's active three-point seat belts, help to cushion and distribute the severe impact forces directed at the face and chest of the driver and front passenger.

These safety systems are critical to saving lives and mitigating severe upper-body injuries. However, because of the high velocity of deployment, an inflating front air bag can cause minor facial abrasions, bruising, or other localized injuries. It is also important to note that the front air bags do not provide restraint or protection for the lower body and legs.

Even when your vehicle is equipped with the advanced NISSAN air bag safety suite, seat belts must always be worn correctly by all occupants. Both the driver and front passenger must sit upright and as far back from the steering wheel and instrument panel as practical. The front air bags deploy with extreme speed and force to protect occupants in a fraction of a second. Consequently, if a passenger is sitting too close to, leaning against, or out of position relative to the air bag module during deployment, the inflation force can significantly increase the risk of severe or fatal injury.

The front air bags are designed to deflate rapidly immediately following the completion of a collision to ensure driver visibility and ease of exit.

The front supplemental air bags can only operate when the vehicle's ignition switch is placed in the ON position.

After switching the ignition to the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light on the instrument cluster will illuminate as a diagnostic system check. This warning light will automatically turn off after approximately 7 seconds if the diagnostic scan confirms the entire SRS system is fully operational.

Front passenger air bag and status light Nissan Versa 3rd Gen

WARNING

The front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag in your Nissan Versa are engineered to automatically turn OFF under specific, predetermined conditions to protect vulnerable occupants. Read this safety section thoroughly to understand how the system operates in real-world driving conditions.

Proper positioning of the seat, correct usage of the seat belt, and the appropriate deployment of child restraints are absolutely vital for achieving the most effective crash protection. Failure to follow all detailed instructions in this manual regarding the adjustment of seats, securing of seat belts, and alignment of child restraints can drastically increase the risk or overall severity of injury in a sudden deceleration or collision.

Status light

To optimize protection, the front passenger seat in your Nissan Versa is equipped with a highly sensitive occupant classification sensor (weight sensor). This system dynamically controls whether the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag are armed (ON) or disabled (OFF) by continuously measuring the total weight and pressure applied to the front passenger seat cushion frame.

The active deployment status of the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag (ON or OFF) is clearly communicated to the driver and front occupant by the front passenger air bag status indicator light which is prominently positioned on the instrument panel/center stack for easy viewing.

Each time the ignition switch is placed in the "ON" position, the front passenger air bag status light on the dashboard illuminates for approximately 7 seconds as part of a self-diagnostic startup check. Once this initial system check is complete, the light will either turn off or remain illuminated, depending on whether the system detects that the front passenger seat is empty, occupied by a child, or occupied by an adult.

The warning light operates as follows under different passenger conditions:

In addition to passengers, placing certain heavy items such as grocery bags, backpacks, laptop cases, or other heavy objects on the front passenger seat cushion may also cause the status light to change states or remain illuminated depending on the exact weight and surface area pressure they apply to the sensors.

Front passenger air bag

The front passenger air bag is designed to automatically switch to the OFF position when the Nissan Versa is operated under certain physical seating conditions, as outlined below, in accordance with the stringent guidelines of U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

When the occupant classification system switches the front passenger air bag to the OFF position, the inflator module is completely deactivated and will not deploy in a collision. The driver's side air bag and all other supplemental air bags in your Nissan Versa operate independently and are not deactivated by this passenger classification system.

The primary purpose of these safety regulations is to reduce the risk of severe impact injury or death caused by a rapidly inflating front air bag striking vulnerable front passenger seat occupants, such as infants, toddlers, or small children. By requiring the system to automatically turn OFF when these occupants are detected, protection is greatly enhanced. Advanced weight and pressure sensors are integrated into the seat structure to comply with these strict safety requirements.

The occupant classification sensor built into this Nissan Versa utilizes a physical weight sensor array. It is specifically calibrated to determine the presence of occupants and cargo on the passenger seat based on downward force. For example, if a child is seated in the front passenger seat, the NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System is engineered to detect the low weight and turn the front passenger air bag OFF in compliance with safety standards. Similarly, if a certified child restraint of the type specified in safety regulations is installed on the seat, its combined weight with the child is measured, prompting the sensors to disable the air bag automatically.

Adult occupants who are properly seated in the front passenger seat and wearing their three-point seat belt as described in this owner's manual should not cause the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag to turn OFF. However, for smaller-statured adults, the system may occasionally deactivate the air bags. This can happen if the occupant shifts their posture, such as by slouching, leaning, sitting on the very edge of the seat cushion, or otherwise being out of a standard upright position. To ensure you receive the highest level of protection from the vehicle's active seat belt and supplemental air bag safety systems, always sit upright, centered in the seat, with your back flat against the seatback and your seat belt adjusted properly.

NISSAN strongly recommends that pre-teens and children always be properly secured in one of the rear seating positions of the vehicle. NISSAN also highly recommends that all appropriate child safety restraints and booster seats be correctly installed on the rear bench. If circumstances dictate that you must place a child in the front seat, the occupant classification sensor in your Nissan Versa is specifically engineered to detect the occupant and turn the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag OFF under the conditions required by federal safety regulations. However, failing to install child restraints correctly or failing to engage the Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) mode can cause the child seat to tip, shift, or slide during a sudden stop, sharp turn, or collision. This unstable positioning can interfere with the weight sensors, potentially causing the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag to inflate in a crash instead of remaining safely deactivated.

If the front passenger seat remains completely unoccupied, the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag are programmed not to deploy in a collision. However, placing heavy packages, cargo, or other substantial objects on the front passenger seat cushion can trigger the occupant classification sensor, causing the system to mistakenly arm the passenger airbags. Other improper situations can also lead to unintended airbag activation, such as when a child stands upright on the seat cushion, or when two children occupy the front passenger seat simultaneously, in direct violation of the safety guidelines outlined in this owner's manual. To prevent serious injury, always ensure that you and every passenger in your Nissan Versa are seated upright and buckled up correctly in designated seating positions.

By monitoring the front passenger air bag status light on the center of the dashboard, you can visually verify when the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag are automatically turned OFF.

If an adult occupant is sitting in the front passenger seat but the status light remains illuminated (indicating that the front passenger air bag and front passenger supplemental knee air bag are deactivated), it is possible that the passenger is a smaller-statured adult, is slouching, is sitting on the edge of the cushion, or is otherwise not utilizing the vehicle's three-point seat belt properly. In such cases, the occupant should adjust their posture, sit fully upright, and make sure their seat belt is worn correctly to let the sensors register their presence accurately.

In the event that a child safety seat must be installed in the front passenger seat of your Nissan Versa, the front passenger air bag status light may or may not turn on, depending on the weight of the child and the design of the restraint system being used. If the airbag status light is not illuminated (which warns you that the front passenger airbag is active and could deploy in a collision), the child restraint or the vehicle's seat belt might be incorrectly routed or fastened. Double-check that the child seat is secured tightly, the seat belt is used properly, and the child is buckled in correctly. If the airbag status light still fails to illuminate to confirm that the airbag is OFF, immediately move the child and the child safety seat to a secure rear seating position.

If the front passenger air bag status light refuses to illuminate to indicate the airbag is deactivated, even when you are certain the child restraint, the vehicle seat belts, and the occupant are all properly positioned, it is highly recommended that you take your Nissan Versa to an authorized NISSAN dealer. A trained technician can perform a diagnostic scan and check the operational status of the sensor system using a specialized NISSAN diagnostic tool. Until you have had your local dealer verify that the front passenger seat occupant classification system is functioning and calibrating correctly, do not allow any passengers to ride in the front seat; instead, reposition them or the child seat to the rear seat.

The NISSAN Advanced Air Bag System and the front passenger air bag status light require a few seconds to process and register any change in the occupancy status of the front passenger seat. This brief delay is a normal part of the system's filtering logic and does not indicate a malfunction or system error.

If a fault or malfunction is detected within the front passenger air bag system, the supplemental air bag warning light , which is located in the main instrument cluster and gauges area, will turn on (either flashing or glowing steadily). If this warning light illuminates, you must have the safety system inspected and serviced immediately by an authorized NISSAN dealer to ensure proper protection in an accident.

Normal operation

To ensure that the advanced occupant classification sensor system in your Nissan Versa can accurately categorize and classify the front passenger based on weight, please carefully follow the safety precautions and steps outlined below:

Precautions

• Make sure that there are no accessories, shopping bags, or other objects weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) hanging on the front passenger seatback or placed inside the rear seatback pocket (if your Nissan Versa is so equipped).
• Make sure that a rear child restraint system, loose luggage, or any other physical object is not pressing against the rear of the passenger seatback.
• Make sure that a rear-seat passenger is not actively pushing, pulling, or resting their feet on the back of the front passenger seat.
• Make sure that the front passenger seat adjustment is not forced backward against an object stored on the rear seat or on the rear floorboards directly behind it.
• Make sure that there is absolutely no object placed, wedged, or stored under the front passenger seat cushion frame assembly.

Steps

1. Adjust the seat position and seatback angle properly as detailed in the "Seats" section of your manual. Sit completely upright, leaning your back naturally against the seatback, and center your body on the seat cushion with your feet comfortably extended and resting flat on the floorboards of your Nissan Versa.

2. Make sure there are no heavy items, packages, or large personal objects resting on your lap while seated.

3. Fasten the seat belt securely as detailed in the "Seat belts" section. Since the front passenger seat belt buckle status is constantly monitored by the advanced occupant classification system of the Nissan Versa to help determine the passenger seat occupancy status, it is highly recommended and critical that the front passenger always has their seat belt properly fastened.

4. Remain completely still in this correct seating position for at least 30 seconds, allowing the electronic system to register and accurately classify the front passenger before the vehicle is put into motion.

5. Confirm that the system has registered the passenger correctly by verifying the status of the front passenger air bag status indicator light on the dashboard.

NOTE:

The occupant classification sensor system in the Nissan Versa is designed to lock the classification status once the vehicle is in motion to prevent unexpected changes during driving. Therefore, it is extremely important to confirm that the front passenger is correctly classified before you begin driving. However, because the occupant classification sensor can recalculate the weight of the occupant under certain dynamic conditions (both when driving over bumps and when temporarily stopped), front passenger seat occupants must continue to remain seated upright and buckled up as described above.

Troubleshooting

If you suspect that the front passenger air bag status light in your Nissan Versa is displaying an incorrect status:

1. If the status light is ON (indicating the airbag is OFF) while a fully grown adult is occupying the front passenger seat:

• The occupant may be a small-statured adult—in this specific scenario, the air bag status light is functioning exactly as intended by safety regulations. The front passenger air bag and the front passenger supplemental knee air bag are automatically suppressed for safety.

However, if the occupant is a typical adult and not of small stature, this unexpected status may be caused by one of the following conditions interfering with the highly sensitive weight sensors beneath the seat:

• The occupant is not sitting fully upright, is not leaning back against the seatback, is not centered on the seat cushion, or does not have their feet comfortably extended to the floor.
• A child safety seat, cargo, or another object is pressing directly against the rear of the seatback.
• A passenger in the rear seat is pushing, pulling, or applying pressure on the back of the front passenger seat.
• The front seat or seatback is forced too far back against luggage, cargo, or an object placed on the rear seat or the floor behind it.
• An object, device, or cargo has been placed or wedged directly under the front passenger seat.
• An object is wedged between the front passenger seat cushion and the center console, or between the seat cushion and the inner door trim panel.

If the vehicle is currently moving, please pull over and come to a complete stop as soon as you can do so safely. Check the cabin and correct any of the interfering conditions listed above. Turn the vehicle off, restart your Nissan Versa, and wait 1 minute for the system to re-calibrate.

NOTE:

During the system restart, a self-diagnostic check will be performed, during which the front passenger air bag status light will remain illuminated for approximately 7 seconds before showing the updated status.

If the status light remains ON even after checking and correcting these conditions, the adult passenger should be advised to move to a rear seat, and the Nissan Versa should be taken in for a professional system inspection as soon as possible. It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to have this essential safety service performed.

2. If the front passenger air bag status light remains OFF even though a small adult, a child, or a child restraint is currently occupying the front passenger seat of your Nissan Versa.

This unexpected reading may be caused by several external factors or physical obstructions interfering with the highly sensitive weight sensors located in the passenger seat frame. Ensure you check for the following conditions:

• The small adult or child is sitting out of position, such as not sitting fully upright, not leaning completely back against the seatback, or failing to sit centered on the seat cushion with their feet comfortably extended and resting on the floorboards of the Nissan Versa.
• The child safety seat or booster seat is not properly installed or tensioned as detailed in the "Child restraints" section of this manual.
• An object weighing over 9.1 lbs. (4 kg) is hanging from the front passenger seatback or has been placed inside the rear seatback pocket.
• A child restraint system, cargo, or another large object is pressing firmly against the rear of the seatback from the second row.
• A rear-seat passenger is actively pushing on, pulling, or placing their feet against the back of the front passenger seat.
• The front passenger seat or seatback is forced backward against an object placed on the rear seat cushion or on the rear floor behind it.
• Any kind of object has been placed, stored, or wedged directly under the front passenger seat.
• An object, such as a mobile device, wallet, or trash, is wedged tightly between the passenger seat cushion and the center console.

If the vehicle is currently in motion, please pull over and bring your Nissan Versa to a complete stop as soon as you can do so safely. Carefully check and correct any of the interfering conditions listed above. Turn the engine off, restart the vehicle, and wait at least 1 minute for the system to re-evaluate the occupant's weight.

NOTE:

Upon starting the vehicle, a routine system diagnostic check will be performed automatically, during which the front passenger air bag status light will remain lit for approximately 7 seconds initially before reflecting the updated sensor reading.

If the status light remains stubbornly OFF after you have checked and corrected all conditions, the small adult, child, or child restraint should immediately be repositioned to a safer location in the rear seat. You should have your Nissan Versa inspected as soon as possible, and it is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for this safety service.

3. If the front passenger air bag status light is OFF when there is absolutely no front passenger and no objects whatsoever resting on the front passenger seat, this indicates a potential calibration error or system fault. Your Nissan Versa should be evaluated by a professional, and it is recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer as soon as possible.

Other supplemental front-impact air bag precautions

WARNING

• Do not place, tape, or secure any objects on the steering wheel pad, horn cover, or the top surface of the instrument panel. Additionally, do not place any objects between an occupant and the steering wheel or dashboard. Such items can act as dangerous high-velocity projectiles and cause severe bodily injury or death if the supplemental front air bags deploy in a collision.
• Immediately after inflation, several key front air bag system components, including the steering wheel hub, dashboard trim, and the airbag fabric itself, will be extremely hot due to the rapid chemical deployment. Do not touch them; doing so may result in severe burns.
• No unauthorized changes, modifications, or splices should be made to any components or wiring harness of the supplemental restraint system in your Nissan Versa. This strict precaution is designed to prevent the accidental, unexpected inflation of the supplemental air bags or irreparable damage to the system's electronic control sensors.
• Do not make unauthorized changes to your vehicle's electrical system, suspension system, or front-end structural components. Altering these areas can delay, prevent, or prematurely trigger the proper operation and timing of the front air bag system.
• Tampering with any part of the front air bag system may result in serious personal injury or death. Tampering includes modifying the steering wheel, modifying the instrument panel assembly, placing aftermarket materials over the steering wheel center pad, covering the passenger-side airbag deployment zone on the dashboard, or installing non-approved trim materials around the airbag deployment panels.
• Removing, replacing, or modifying the front passenger seat assembly can permanently disrupt the calibrated function of the occupant classification sensor system and lead to catastrophic personal injury during a crash.
• Modifying or tampering with the front passenger seat may result in serious personal injury. For example, do not alter the front seats by placing supplemental cushions on the seat cushion or by installing aftermarket seat covers that are not specifically engineered, tested, and certified by NISSAN to ensure proper airbag deployment. Additionally, do not store, hide, or wedge any objects under the front passenger seat, seat cushion, or seatback, as they will directly interfere with the weight sensors of the occupant classification system.
• No unauthorized modifications or alterations should be made to any components, retractors, or wiring of the seat belt system. The seat belt sensors provide critical buckle-status feedback to the airbag control module; tampering with them may cause the front air bags to deploy improperly or fail to deploy, resulting in severe personal injury.
• It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for any service, repair, or maintenance work performed on or around the front air bag modules. It is also strongly recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the installation of any electrical accessories. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) yellow wiring harnesses must not be spliced, modified, or disconnected under any circumstances. Non-approved electrical testing equipment, multimeters, and probing devices must never be used on the airbag system's circuits.
• A cracked, chipped, or badly damaged windshield must be replaced immediately by a qualified glass repair facility. Because the front passenger airbag relies on the structural integrity of the windshield glass to guide its shape and deployment angle, a damaged windshield can impair the protective function of the supplemental air bag system.

*The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring harness connectors are color-coded in bright yellow and orange for easy, instant identification by service technicians.

When the time comes to sell your vehicle, we highly request that you fully inform the next buyer about the advanced front air bag system integrated into the Nissan Versa and guide them directly to the corresponding safety and maintenance sections in this Owner's Manual to ensure their continued safety.

Front and rear outboard seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag and roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag systems

The supplemental side-impact air bags are built directly into the outer sides of the seatbacks for both the front seats and the rear outboard seats of your Nissan Versa. Complementing these, the supplemental curtain air bags are concealed behind the fabric of the side roof rails running along the ceiling line. To ensure these systems protect you as designed, all safety guidelines, warnings, and operational cautions in this manual must be followed exactly. These side-impact and curtain airbags are engineered to deploy in moderate-to-severe side collisions, though they may also activate if the kinetic forces generated in another type of impact (such as a corner or angled crash) are similar to those of a severe lateral collision. The system is designed to inflate these airbags specifically on the side of the vehicle that sustains the physical impact. Consequently, they may not deploy in low-speed side impacts or minor lateral fender benders where the risk of injury is low.

The roof-mounted curtain side-impact air bags in the Nissan Versa are also programmed to deploy in the event of certain types of vehicle rollover accidents or near-rollover scenarios where the onboard sensors detect an extreme, sudden tilt. Because of this protective calibration, certain severe vehicle maneuvers—such as extreme body roll, driving on highly uneven off-road terrain, or hitting a deep ditch at an angle—might trigger the automatic inflation of the curtain air bags even without direct physical contact from another vehicle.

It is important to understand that visible body damage to your Nissan Versa, or the complete absence of it, is not a reliable gauge of whether the side-impact and curtain airbags deployed correctly or malfunctioned during a collision.

When the side and curtain airbags deploy, a loud booming sound will be heard inside the cabin, followed immediately by the release of a fine, powdery smoke. This dry powder residue is entirely non-toxic and is not an indication of a vehicle fire. However, occupants should avoid inhaling this dust directly, as it can temporarily irritate the nasal passages, throat, or cause mild choking. Anyone with a history of asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions should step out into the fresh air as soon as it is safe to do so.

The seat-mounted side air bags, when combined with properly buckled seat belts, are critical in cushioning and distributing the crash forces directed at the chest and pelvic regions of both front and rear outboard passengers. Simultaneously, the roof-mounted curtain air bags deploy downward to cushion the heads of outboard occupants, preventing them from violently striking the side windows or roof pillars. While these safety systems in the Nissan Versa can save lives and drastically minimize the severity of head and upper-body trauma, the extreme speed of airbag inflation can occasionally cause minor skin abrasions, bruising, or superficial injuries.

Please note that side-impact air bags and curtain air bags are strictly designed to protect the upper body and do not provide restraint, cushioning, or protection for the lower extremities or lower body.

To maximize the protective envelope of this system, all seat belts must be worn correctly at all times. The driver, front passenger, and rear outboard passengers should always sit fully upright, centered in their seats, and positioned as far away from the side airbag modules as practically possible.

Rear-seat passengers must avoid leaning against the doors or resting their heads on the side windows, keeping as much distance as practical from the door trim panels and the side roof rails where the curtain airbags are stored. The side and curtain airbags in the Nissan Versa inflate with immense speed and force to shield occupants within milliseconds of an impact. Because of this rapid deployment, if an occupant is leaning directly against or sitting too close to the airbag modules at the moment of impact, the physical force of the expanding airbag can significantly increase the risk of injury.

The seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bag is designed to deflate rapidly immediately following the completion of a collision to allow for easier exit from the vehicle and to clear the driver's line of sight.

The roof-mounted curtain side-impact and rollover supplemental air bag will remain inflated for a short period of time afterward to provide continued head protection in the event of secondary impacts or vehicle stabilization after a rollover.

The supplemental side-impact and roof-mounted curtain air bags in your Nissan Versa operate only when the ignition switch is placed in the active ON position.

Upon placing the vehicle's ignition switch in the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light on the instrument panel illuminates as a diagnostic system self-check. This supplemental air bag warning light will automatically turn off after approximately 7 seconds if the system is fully operational and no faults are detected.

WARNING

• Do not place, store, or wedge any physical objects near the outer seatback bolsters of the front and rear outboard seats. Also, do not place any loose items (such as an umbrella, cargo bag, purse, or jacket) between the front or rear door interior finishers and the sides of the front and rear seats. Such objects can interfere with the deployment path or become dangerous high-velocity projectiles, causing severe personal injury if a side-impact air bag inflates during a crash.
• Immediately after a collision and subsequent inflation, several side-impact air bag and curtain air bag system components (including the internal inflator modules) will be extremely hot to the touch. Do not touch these components directly, as you may suffer severe thermal burns.
• No unauthorized changes or modifications should ever be made to any components, hardware, or electrical wiring of the supplemental side-impact air bag and roof-mounted curtain air bag systems. This strict rule is designed to prevent physical damage to the safety systems, prevent a failure to deploy during an accident, or prevent the accidental, unexpected inflation of the side and curtain air bags.
• Do not make unauthorized modifications to your vehicle's electrical system, suspension system, or side body panels. Making alterations to these areas of your Nissan Versa could seriously delay, disrupt, or completely prevent the proper operation of the side-impact air bag and curtain air bag sensor systems.
• Tampering with the seat-mounted side-impact air bag system may result in serious personal injury or death. For example, do not modify the front and rear seats by placing heavy protective covers near the seatbacks or by installing non-approved aftermarket trim materials, such as custom seat covers, around the side airbag deployment seams.
• It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for any service, diagnostics, or repairs performed on or near the side-impact air bag and curtain air bag modules. It is also strongly recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the proper installation of any aftermarket electrical accessories. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring harnesses should never be modified, spliced, or disconnected. Unauthorized electrical test equipment, multimeters, and physical probing devices must not be used on the side air bag or curtain air bag electrical circuits.

* The SRS wiring harness connectors are color-coded in bright yellow and orange for easy, instant identification by service personnel.

When the time comes to sell or transfer ownership of your vehicle, we request that you fully inform the new buyer about the active side-impact air bag and curtain air bag systems equipped in the Nissan Versa, and guide them directly to the appropriate safety and maintenance sections found in this Owner's Manual.

Driver and front passenger supplemental knee air bags Nissan Versa third generation

Driver's side

The supplemental knee air bag is located in the lower knee bolster assembly, on both the driver's and front passenger's side of the cabin. All safety guidelines, precautions, and warnings in this owner's manual apply directly to these modules and must be followed meticulously. These supplemental knee air bags are engineered to inflate in moderate-to-severe frontal collisions. However, they may also deploy if the deceleration forces generated in another type of impact (such as an angled frontal crash or severe offset collision) are similar to those of a higher severity frontal impact.

Depending on the direction, angle, and specific deceleration forces of the impact, these airbags may not inflate in certain low-speed or minor structural collisions.

Front passenger's side

Visible exterior or interior vehicle damage—or the complete lack of it—is not always an accurate indicator of whether the supplemental knee air bag systems operated properly or if deployment threshold limits were met.

When a supplemental knee air bag deploys, a loud sound is produced, immediately followed by the release of a fine, smoke-like powder. This powder is completely non-toxic and does not indicate a fire inside the passenger compartment of your Nissan Versa. However, occupants should avoid inhaling it directly, as it may cause temporary throat irritation or mild choking sensations. Individuals with a history of asthma, allergies, or other respiratory conditions should seek fresh air as soon as the vehicle comes to a complete and safe stop.

The supplemental knee air bags are designed to help cushion and distribute the severe impact forces directed at the knees and lower legs of both the driver and the front passenger. By managing these forces, they can greatly reduce the risk of serious lower extremity joint, bone, and soft-tissue injuries.

However, because of the high velocity of deployment, an inflating knee air bag can cause minor friction burns, abrasions, or localized bruising. These specialized supplemental knee air bags are designed specifically to provide crucial physical restraint to the lower body, helping to keep occupants properly positioned in their seats.

To protect the occupants in a fraction of a second, the supplemental knee air bag inflates with extreme speed and force. Because of this rapid inflation, the deployment energy can increase the risk of injury if an occupant is seated too close to, or is resting their legs directly against, the knee airbag module at the moment of impact. The knee air bag will deflate rapidly immediately after the collision is over, or it may remain inflated for a short period of time to assist in occupant containment during secondary impacts.

The supplemental knee air bags operate only when the ignition switch of your Nissan Versa is placed in the ON position.

After placing the ignition switch in the ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light on the instrument cluster illuminates as a diagnostic system check. This warning light will turn off after approximately 7 seconds if the entire SRS system is fully operational and no diagnostic trouble codes are stored.

WARNING

• Do not place, tape, or hang any objects between the lower knee bolsters and the driver's or passenger's seat. Such items can act as dangerous high-velocity projectiles and cause severe personal injury if a supplemental knee air bag inflates.
• Immediately after inflation, the internal metal and plastic components of the supplemental knee air bag system will remain very hot. Do not touch any part of the exposed housing or airbag fabric; you may severely burn yourself.
• No unauthorized changes or aftermarket modifications should be made to any components or electrical wiring of the supplemental knee air bag system. This strict precaution prevents physical damage to the circuit or the accidental, unexpected inflation of the supplemental knee air bags.
• Do not make unauthorized modifications to your vehicle's electrical system or front suspension system. Altering these factory systems can seriously disrupt the sensor timing and prevent the proper, timely deployment of the supplemental knee air bag system.
• Tampering with any component of the supplemental knee air bag system in your Nissan Versa may result in serious personal injury. For example, do not modify the driver or passenger side knee bolster panels, and never install additional trim materials, non-approved covers, or custom accessories around the knee air bag deployment doors.
• It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for any diagnostic or repair work performed on or around the supplemental knee air bag modules. It is also strongly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for the installation of any electrical accessories. The SRS wiring harnesses should not be modified, spliced, or disconnected. Unauthorized electrical diagnostic equipment, test lights, and physical probing devices must not be used on the knee air bag system's circuitry.

*The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) wiring harnesses or connectors are color-coded in bright yellow or orange for easy, instant identification.

When selling or transferring ownership of your Nissan Versa, we request that you fully inform the buyer about the supplemental knee air bag systems and direct them to the appropriate safety and maintenance sections in this Owner's Manual.

Seat belt with pretensioner(s) (front and rear seats) Nissan Versa 2026

WARNING

• The seat belt pretensioner(s) are designed for single-use deployment and cannot be reused or rearmed after they have been activated in a collision. Once triggered, they must be replaced entirely along with the corresponding seat belt retractor and buckle assembly as a complete integrated unit to restore the occupant protection system of your Nissan Versa.
• If your Nissan Versa becomes involved in a physical collision but the seat belt pretensioner(s) do not activate, you must still have the entire pretensioner system thoroughly checked and, if necessary, replaced by a qualified technician. It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to receive this specialized diagnostic and replacement service.
• No unauthorized modifications, splices, or physical changes should be made to any of the components or electrical wiring of the seat belt pretensioner system. This is crucial to prevent structural damage or accidental, unexpected activation of the pretensioner(s). Tampering with any part of the pretensioner system may cause it to fail during a crash, which can result in serious personal injury or death.
• It is strongly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for any maintenance, diagnostic, or repair work performed on or around the seat belt pretensioner system. It is also recommended that you visit a NISSAN dealer for the proper installation of any aftermarket electrical equipment. Unauthorized electrical diagnostic tools, multimeters, test lights, and physical probing devices must never be used on or near the pretensioner system's sensitive circuits.
• If you need to safely dispose of the seat belt pretensioner assemblies or scrap your Nissan Versa, it is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to handle this procedure. Incorrect disposal techniques could lead to accidental deployment of the charges, potentially causing severe personal injury.

The seat belt pretensioner system is engineered to activate in tandem with the supplemental air bag system during certain types of moderate-to-severe front or side-impact collisions. Working in perfect harmony with the seat belt retractor mechanism, the pretensioner(s) immediately tighten and pull back any slack in the seat belt webbing the moment a crash is detected, helping to securely restrain and position the front and rear outboard seat occupants in your Nissan Versa.

The mechanical pretensioner assemblies are safely encased directly within the metal seat belt retractor housings and are securely connected to the heavy-duty seat belt anchors affixed to the floor pan of the vehicle.

These advanced safety belts are worn and operated in exactly the same manner as conventional three-point seat belts during normal daily driving.

When the seat belt pretensioner(s) activate, a small pyrotechnic charge is triggered, releasing a fine, powdery smoke and producing a loud noise inside the cabin. This dry smoke residue is completely non-toxic and does not indicate a vehicle fire. However, occupants should avoid inhaling this dust directly, as it may cause temporary nasal irritation or coughing. Anyone with a history of asthma or similar breathing conditions should immediately seek fresh air once the vehicle is safely stopped.

Following the initial high-speed activation of the pretensioner(s), integrated mechanical load limiters are designed to dynamically release small amounts of seat belt webbing if necessary. This controlled release helps to ease the extreme restraint forces exerted against the occupant's chest, reducing the risk of seat-belt-induced impact injuries.

The supplemental air bag warning light is utilized to actively monitor and display any internal malfunctions or diagnostic faults detected within the seat belt pretensioner system. For additional safety details, please refer to the "Supplemental air bag warning light" section of this manual. If the behavior of the supplemental air bag warning light indicates that a system malfunction exists, have your safety systems inspected immediately. It is highly recommended that you visit your local NISSAN dealer for this essential diagnostic service.

When the time comes to sell or transfer ownership of your Nissan Versa, we request that you fully inform the new buyer about the presence of the integrated seat belt pretensioner system and direct them to the appropriate safety and maintenance chapters in this Owner's Manual.

1. SRS Air Bag Warning Labels (conveniently located on the occupant-facing sides of both sun visors)

Supplemental air bag warning labels Nissan Versa 2020

Explicit safety warning labels detailing the critical precautions for the supplemental front-impact air bag system are prominently positioned inside the cabin of your Nissan Versa, as illustrated in the accompanying diagram, to ensure they remain clearly visible to the driver and front passenger.

WARNING

Never install or use a rear-facing child restraint system on any seat that is protected by an active front air bag directly in front of it. The rapid and powerful deployment of an inflating air bag striking the back of a rear-facing child seat can result in severe, catastrophic injury or death to the infant.

Supplemental air bag warning light

The supplemental air bag warning light, which is displayed as the warning icon on the main instrument cluster of the Nissan Versa, actively monitors the electrical diagnostic circuits, control modules, sensors, seat belt pretensioners, and all associated wiring harnesses of the supplemental restraint systems.

When you place the vehicle ignition switch in the active ON position, the supplemental air bag warning light will illuminate steadily for approximately 7 seconds to complete an automatic system self-check. If the light then turns off, this indicates that the entire diagnostic check passed successfully and the occupant protection system is fully operational.

If any of the following specific conditions or warning behaviors occur, the safety networks—including the front air bags, seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted curtain air bags, supplemental knee air bags, and seat belt pretensioners—have encountered an error and require immediate professional servicing:

• The supplemental air bag warning light remains illuminated and fails to turn off after approximately 7 seconds of turning the ignition to the ON position.
• The supplemental air bag warning light flashes intermittently or blinks repeatedly while driving your Nissan Versa.
• The supplemental air bag warning light fails to illuminate at all, even for the initial 7-second startup diagnostic check, when the ignition switch is placed in the ON position.

Under any of these fault conditions, the critical front air bags, side air bags, roof-mounted curtain air bags, supplemental knee air bags, or seat belt pretensioner systems may fail to deploy or may operate unexpectedly during a collision. To maintain your safety on the road, these vital systems must be scanned, diagnosed, and repaired without delay. It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to have this professional service completed.

WARNING

If the supplemental air bag warning light is active or blinking, it indicates that one or more of the occupant protection systems—such as your front air bags, side air bags, curtain air bags, knee air bags, and/or seat belt pretensioners—may be disabled and fail to protect you during an accident. To help minimize the risk of severe injury to yourself, your passengers, or others, you should have your Nissan Versa inspected immediately. It is recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer as soon as possible for this crucial safety diagnostic service.

Repair and replacement procedure

The supplemental front air bags, seat-mounted side air bags, roof-mounted curtain air bags, knee air bags, and pyrotechnic seat belt pretensioners are highly sophisticated safety components designed to inflate and deploy on a one-time-only basis during a moderate-to-severe collision.

As an important safety reminder, unless the diagnostic cluster itself has suffered physical damage during the collision, the supplemental air bag warning light will remain continuously illuminated on the instrument panel of your Nissan Versa after any of the airbags have inflated.

To restore the comprehensive safety capabilities of your vehicle, these deployed safety systems must be professionally repaired and completely replaced without delay. It is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to have this specialized restoration service performed.

Whenever any routine maintenance, mechanical repair, or bodywork is required on your Nissan Versa, the presence of the front air bags, side air bags, curtain air bags, knee air bags, seat belt pretensioners, and all associated electrical sensors and wiring harnesses should be clearly pointed out to the service technician performing the maintenance.

To prevent accidental deployment or electrical short circuits, the ignition switch must always be placed in the LOCK position and the battery should ideally be disconnected whenever anyone is working under the hood or performing electrical repairs inside the vehicle cabin.

WARNING

• Once a supplemental front air bag, side air bag, curtain air bag, or knee air bag has inflated, the respective air bag module is permanently spent, will not function a second time, and must be completely replaced. Additionally, any activated seat belt pretensioner(s) must also be discarded and replaced as a matching unit. It is important to know that these safety devices are engineered for single-use deployment only and cannot be repaired under any circumstances. It is strongly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to ensure all new modules are installed and calibrated according to factory specifications.
• The front air bag, side-impact air bag, roof-mounted curtain air bag, and knee air bag systems, along with the seat belt pretensioner system, must undergo a thorough professional inspection if your Nissan Versa sustains any structural damage to its front end, side panels, or undercarriage. Even minor parking lot impacts can affect the crash sensors, so it is highly recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer to verify system integrity.
• If you ever need to dispose of the supplemental air bag modules, discard the pyrotechnic pretensioner systems, or ultimately scrap the vehicle, it is vital that you contact an authorized NISSAN dealer first. Non-standard or incorrect disposal procedures run the risk of causing accidental deployments of the inflators, which can result in severe personal injury to scrap yard workers or technicians.
• If your vehicle experiences any collision or sudden impact from any direction, the Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) integrated into the passenger seat frame of your Nissan Versa must be carefully checked to verify that it remains calibrated and is functioning correctly. It is recommended that you visit an authorized NISSAN dealer for this precise diagnostics test.

  The OCS system should be inspected even if the impact was relatively minor and no air bags deployed in the event.

  Failure to verify the continuous, accurate operation of the OCS could result in an improper passenger air bag deployment or deactivation during a future collision, potentially leading to severe injury or death to your passengers.