Nissan has advised approximately 84,000 owners of older vehicles to refrain from driving them due to the heightened potential for their Takata airbag inflators to rupture during a collision, potentially ejecting hazardous metal shards.

Nissan Warns Do Not Drive Warning

Nissan advises that around 84,000 of its older vehicles must not be operated until the airbag inflators are swapped out. As reported by mlive Michigan, the issuance of the "do not drive" alert stems from the presence of Takata airbag inflators in the impacted vehicles. These inflators are known to potentially burst after collisions, projecting potentially dangerous metal fragments and shrapnel within the car's cabin.

Furthermore, the cited the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Takata airbags have the potential to activate in even small collisions, perhaps resulting in fatalities or seriously injured people. The age of the airbag plays a major role in the increased risk that older car models present to their occupants.

USA Today also covered the details of this "Do not drive" advisory. The car company issued the statement on Wednesday, revealing that one fatality and 58 injuries have occurred due to airbag inflator-related ruptures, as communicated by Nissan's Director of Product Communications, Dominic Vizor.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Vizor mentioned that Nissan's "do not drive" advisory represents the latest initiative in a comprehensive, multi-year campaign aimed at informing about the dangers of operating vehicles equipped with faulty Takata inflators and encouraging drivers to promptly undertake the free recall repair.

Nissan has proposed remedies for this issue. Vizor stated that if a vehicle owner possesses one of the affected vehicles, they are advised to cease driving the vehicle at once and reach out to their nearby Nissan dealer or Infiniti retailer to arrange a complimentary repair. To assist drivers, Nissan will provide no-cost towing alternatives, mobile repair services, or loaner vehicles at designated locations.

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Affected Nissan Models

According to ABC News, certain Nissan Sentras from model years 2002 to 2006, Nissan Pathfinders from 2002 to 2004, and Infiniti QX4s from 2002 to 2003 are included in the alert. These cars were already the subject of ongoing Takata airbag recalls since 2020.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released recall notifications stating that the propellant degradation brought on by extended exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and frequent temperature fluctuations may cause the frontal passenger airbag inflators in these vehicles to burst.

According to information on Nissan's website, there is an increased risk of the Takata airbag inflator rupturing when the airbag is activated, releasing jagged metal pieces that could cause serious harm or even death. This is because the vehicles are older and include Takata airbags.

The NHSTA also identified about 67 million Takata airbags-which are installed in cars made by different manufacturers-have been recalled because of the possibility that metal parts could explode and hurt drivers or passengers when they deploy as a result of extended exposure to heat and humidity.

ABC News reported on this development. The NHSTA revealed that over 400 people had been injured and 27 deaths were connected to defective Takata airbags.

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