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.
