Five problems related to air bag light on have been reported for the 1998 Nissan Maxima. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
After reclining my seat, the supplemental restraint system warning lamp started to blink and has remained blinking ever since. After diagnosing the side airbag module in the seat to be causing the problem. I found a Nissan technical service bulletin, ntb00-043, applying to all 1998-1999 Nissan Maxima vehicles, which states that the side airbag modules for the driver and passenger front seats are to be replaced with new updated ones that replace the side airbag modules and the seat-sub harness that the modules connect to. This is a manufacturing safety defect in the side airbag module's harness. The technical service bulletin states to route the new harness exactly as the old harness was routed, therefore eliminating the possibility of the harness routing in the seat being the cause of the problem. The technical service bulletin states that the side airbag module installed originally in the vehicle consists of a two piece harness; the airbag control module with a short section of wire that connects into a sub harness that is routed through the seat, where it is connected to the supplemental restraint system circuit. The updated side airbag module eliminates the two-piece harness system, repairing the supplemental restraint system fault and therefore eliminating the warning indicator constantly flashing. This requires the replacement of the side airbag modules, which is very costly and this issue creates a major safety issue regarding the functionality of the supplemental restrain system if ever required to be used. In addition, Nissan does not offer the side airbag modules for purchase to my extent of knowledge. After conducting my own research on websites for Nissan Maxima owners, this appears to be an extremely common issue that occurs on the 1998-1999 Nissan Maxima vehicles.
1998 Nissan Maxima se airbag light is flashing. Compuer tells me it is the rt front airbag.
Airbag light starting flashing on my 1998 Nissan Maxima gle. Don't know if this is serious, dealer was about $500 for a chip to replace. This is the second 1998 Nissan Maxima that this is happening to.
1) air bag light went on for no apparent reason on 2/26/1999. Dealer fixed problem. Same problem occurred on 7/21/2001. Still needs to be fixed. 2) fuel gauge more that 25-50% inaccurate, has randomly occured 6 times since 1999.
The car was sold new with a defective airbag light-we didn't notice it until after we signed the purchase papers. We were told to return it the next day for repair! since then we have tried to have it repaired four additional times, but the light comes on within an hour or two after we leave the shop. It is not clear to me if the airbag system is truly functional.