Nissan Recalls Five 2013 Models Altima, Sentra, Pathfinder, Infiniti and Leaf for Air Bag Concerns

Nissan is recalling five 2013 models including top sellers Altima and Sentra as a faulty sensor malfunction to permanently turn off the passenger airbag.

The recall covers Altima midsize car, Sentra compact, Pathfinder SUV and Leaf electric car as well as Infiniti JX35 SUV. A specific number of vehicles involved in the recall have not been determined. Also didn't say when they were manufactured.

Nissan said the reported recall affects only models sold in the United States. Passenger seats have sensors that determine whether a passenger is sitting in a seat and these may not have met specifications and do not detect a rider, at which if the vehicle is involved in a crash then air bag may not deploy.

Dan Passe, a Nissan spokesman at its U.S. headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee, said there have been no reports of injuries or crashes related to this problem.

Nissan determined a recall should be conducted on February 21, two months after the automaker noticed an increasing number of warranty claims from owners who said their airbag detection dashboard warning was lit, according to documents filed with the NHTSA.

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the sensors and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early April 2013.