Washington, D.C. – July 10, 2018 – Mazda (OTCMKTS:MZDAY) has recalled almost 270,000 vehicles potentially equipped with defective Takata air bag assemblies, according to documentation given to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign includes the following models:

• 2003-2008 Mazda Mazda6 sedans
• 2006-2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed6 performance sedans
• 2004-2006 Mazda MPV station wagons

Recall summary

Affected vehicles contain air bag assemblies featuring Takata air bag inflators with ammonium nitrate-based propellant that is susceptible to degradation when exposed to high heat or humidity. In the event that propellant breakdown does occur, the inflator may explode upon air bag deployment, sending metal shards flying throughout the vehicle cabin. This defect therefore poses great danger to occupants.

The Takata air bag assemblies involved in this action are part of a larger recall campaign stretching back more than five years and involving 37 million vehicles across a dozen or so brands, according to the NHTSA. The agency has linked 23 deaths and more than 300 injuries to these components.

The NHTSA and Takata met May 4, 2016, to discuss the possibility of recalling vehicles with non-desiccated phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate front air bag inflators. These models had not been included previous recall campaigns. The two parties ultimately decided to recall these vehicles. Almost two weeks later, the air bag vendor submitted an official defect information report to the NHTSA.

On May 17, 2018, Takata informed Mazda of the forthcoming action. Members of the Mazda Quality Audit Committee convened a day after this communication and chose to conduct a recall campaign that included a number of models equipped with PSAN inflators. Dealers managed to install temporary replacements in all of these vehicles.

On June 15, 2018, permanent replacement air bag inflators became available, prompting the automaker to issue another recall.

The car company informed dealers of the recall July 3, 2018, according to a notification email submitted to the NHTSA.

The repair

Mazda has directed dealers to replace the air bag inflators in affected vehicles free of charge, according to a NHTSA recall acknowledgment document. The vehicle manufacturer plans to reach out to owners via first-class mail by July 6, 2018.

Is your vehicle part of the recall?

Over 270,000 vehicles were originally part of this recall. As of April 9, 2021 – the last date information was available – 43,238 airbags had been replaced. To see if your car still needs to be repaired, use MotorSafety’s free lookup tool.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – July 10, 2018 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 800 vehicles potentially equipped with defective air bag assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects 2018 Volkswagen Atlas sport utility vehicles produced between April 18, 2018, and May 3, 2018, along with 2018 Volkswagen Tiguan SUVs manufactured between March 10, 2018, and May 19, 2018.

The German automaker is unsure just how many of the vehicles actually contain the defective components.

The Defect

Affected models feature frontal air bag assemblies that may unfold improperly or tear during deployment. This defect drastically increases the likelihood of injury in the event of an accident and therefore poses a serious hazard to occupants. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive reports connecting the problematic components to any collisions or injuries.

Timeline of Events

On April 17, 2018, Key Safety Systems of Mexico, an air bag supplier, informed Volkswagen of Mexico that some of its shipped assemblies failed to pass conformity of product tests. The vendor initiated root cause internal analysis following this communication.

On May 7, 2018, members of the Volkswagen of Mexico Preproduct Safety Committee convened to evaluate the issue. The group decided that further analysis was required and referred the matter to its global counterpart, the Volkswagen AG Preproduct Safety Committee.

Nine days later, the Volkswagen AG PPSC received a report that revealed vehicles assembled at the company’s plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee had been equipped with seemingly defective air bags. This prompted the Volkswagen of Mexico Product Safety Group to intervene on May 17, 2018. This group, in conjunction its global peer, decided on May 30, 2018, that the defect posed a serious hazard to occupants and therefore warranted a voluntary safety recall.

The Solution

Volkswagen will direct dealers to replace the frontal air bags in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The automaker intends to inform dealers of the forthcoming action Aug. 2, 2018, and reach out to owners via first-class mail Aug. 3, 2018. Owners in need of assistance prior to the start of the recall can reach Volkswagen customer service by calling (800) 893-5298. Callers should use the internal recall reference codes 69W8 and 69W9. Owners can also connect with the NHTSA through its Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.

Auburn Hills, Mich. – July 5, 2018 – Volkswagen Group of America has recalled more than 2,500 vehicles potentially equipped with defective air bag assemblies, according to documentation submitted to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration. The campaign affects multiple models, including:

• 2003 Volkswagen EuroVan and EuroVan Camper minivans produced between July 15, 2002, and Aug. 21, 2002.
• 2003 Volkswagen EuroVan Chassis produced between July 22, 2002, and Aug. 13, 2002.
• 2003 Volkswagen Golf hatchbacks produced between Oct. 29, 20002, and Dec. 18, 2002.
• 2003 Volkswagen Jetta sedans produced between Aug. 14, 2002, and Sept. 28, 2002.
• 2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wagons produced between July 25, 2002, and Aug. 10, 2002.
• 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedans produced between June 27, 2002, and Sept. 5, 2002.

The German automaker suspects all of the models named in the recall contain the defective safety features.

The Defect

Affected vehicles contain front air bag assemblies with inflators prone to humidity-driven propellant deterioration. In the event that this phenomenon occurs, the metal inflator my explode during air bag deployment, sending shrapnel flying throughout the vehicle cabin. The defect therefore poses a serious hazard to occupants. However, Volkswagen has yet to receive field reports connecting the defective air bag components to any accidents or injuries.

Timeline of Events

In November 2017, Volkswagen, in partnership with its air bag supplier, the ZF Group, launched an investigation following an apparent inflator rupture in the Chinese market. The inquiry revealed that such an event had not unfolded. However, the two companies decided to conduct further tests in house to assess the potential for inflator rupture. These analyses, which began in January 2018 and concluded in March 2018, revealed that humidity-related propellant deterioration was possible. This prompted the ZF Group to launch its own series of tests.

Soon after the vendor initiated its internal inquiry, it received word of another possible inflator rupture. The parts installed in the vehicles were from a suspect lot produced in 2002. This allowed Volkswagen and the ZF Group to narrow down the population of affected vehicles.

The Volkswagen Pre Product Safety Committee reviewed the matter May 14, 2018, and requested additional information. Following the delivery of this data, the issue was passed to the Product Safety Committee, whose members determined on June 6, 2018, that a voluntary recall campaign was necessary.

The Solution

Volkswagen will direct dealers to replace the frontal air bag inflators in affected vehicles free of charge, according to an NHTSA recall acknowledgement document. The automaker intends to notify both dealers and owners of the forthcoming Aug. 12, 2018. Owners in need of assistance prior to the start of the recall can reach out to Volkswagen customer service personnel by calling (800) 893-5298. They can also connect with the NHTSA directly using the agency’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236.