Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2011 Nissan Leaf

2011 Nissan Leaf has code b1018 occupant sens(unit fail) following a cup of water spilled on front seat. Vehicle was stationary at time. Only proposed remedy is to replace front seat and sensor for ~$2,624. 2013-2016 Leaf were recalled NHTSA campaign number 16v244000; please expand recall to 2011 & 2012 Nissan Leaf.

The light for my sensor for my passenger airbag (OCS sensor) is on all the time and flashing red with or without a passenger in the passenger seat. Seems a big safety issue as I was told all air bags are disabled when the light is flashing. Cost involves replacing passenger seat too and total would be $4,800. This is a 2011 Nissan Leaf with 78,000 miles and all 12 bars of range still remaining (one replacement battery two years ago). I have not had it repaired due to cost and it is not part of a recall of the same problem in 2013+ Leafs. No 2011 recall for this safety problem!.

Passenger seat airbag sensor failed. Same issue as other complaintants. Vehicle stationary. This is the same issue as an existing recall for later year models. When is this recall going to be extended to earlier years? this is a safety issue and Nissan is trying to charge over $2k to fix.

The light for my sensor for my passenger airbag (occupant classification system OCS sensor) is on all the time and flashing, even when there is an adult passenger sitting in the car. After a search online, I found that Nissan Leafs from 2013 to 2018 have been recalled for that OCS part, but my 2011 Nissan Leaf has not. Online, many other owners of my same year Nissan have had the same problem. My dealer told me, in order to replace the sensor, since it is outside the warranty, it will require replacing the entire passenger seat, which is upwards of $2700, not including labor. I called Nissan, who told me that it is too far out of the warranty, and they cannot help me. The customer service agent tried to get me a courtesy reimbursement, but he was unable to convince the higher-ups, and also couldn't even convince them to reimburse the amount I had to pay to have the dealer confirm what I already knew about the defective part (another $145). I am now forced to ride without airbags for my front passenger. It seems unconscionable for Nissan to allow a sensor (a part integral to the safety of the vehicle and not affected by normal wear and tear of the car) to not be part of a recall, especially when so many other vehicles (Nissan and otherwise) have the exact same issue. I can only assume it's because the sensor is too difficult to replace cheaply. They likely figured out the problem within the first few years of the car's manufacture and changed the location of the sensor - hence the reason they would agree to replace those in later models and not their earliest models.

Passenger airbag system disabled by occupant sensor failure. This happened on startup. Dtc b1018 air bag occupant sens [unit fail] I want model year 2011 Nissan Leaf to be added to the existing recall for models 2013 Nissan Leaf.

2011 Nissan Leaf. Consumer writes in regards to defective occupant seat sensor.

Occupant sensor failure is preventing the passenger air bag from deploying. The code is reported as a b1013. As this model was designed with a sensor within the seat, the official action is to replace the entire seat, for an estimate of $3133. 51. This is highly cost prohibitive for a safety feature that should not prevent an air bag deployment.

So, apparently the 2012 - 2014 Nissan Leaf had an issue with the passenger airbag sensor and is covered by recall, but not the first year models, 2011. Is this to assume that the sensor is different from the first to these subsequent years.

2011 Nissan Leaf passenger seat occupant sensor off when passenger is in seat. I took it to dealer who inspected harness and connections under front seat for wear or damage. No findings. Followed inspection procedures in esm. I was told that vehicle will require a seat cushion replacement with occupant detection control unit. Cost approximately $2,900 and no guarantee of fix. May need air bag control unit replacement. Seems to be the same problem as the 2013 - 2016 recall, but 2011 did not get recalled.