US investigates Nissan vehicles after air bag deployments

By David Shepardson

(Reuters) -U.S. auto safety regulators said Monday they have opened a probe into nearly 75,000 Nissan (OTC:) vehicles over reports of unintended deployments of side airbags.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration probe covers 2015 model year Rogue Select vehicles after reports alleging inadvertent deployments after the door is shut or slammed.

NHTSA said inadvertent deployments could cause occupants to be injured or result in the loss of air bag protection. Nissan did not immediately comment.

Last week, Nissan and NHTSA told owners of nearly 84,000 older vehicles in the United States equipped with recalled, unrepaired Takata air bags to immediately stop driving them due to a safety hazard.

Nissan issued a warning on Wednesday telling vehicle owners not to drive certain vehicles – the 2002-2006 model year Nissan Sentra, 2002-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 – that were recalled in 2020 but have not been fixed.

More than 30 deaths worldwide – including 27 in the United States – and more than 400 injuries have been reported since 2009 in vehicles sold by various automakers due to Takata air bag inflators that can explode, unleashing metal shrapnel inside cars and trucks.