In these vehicles, the propellant in the driver and/or passenger frontal air bag inflators may degrade after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity and fluctuating high temperatures. A degraded propellant can cause inflator rupture during airbag deployment. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, striking the vehicle occupants, and result in serious injury or death.

Mazda is aware of several individuals who have been injured as a result of this condition in Mazda vehicles.

No. The criterion for the air bag deployment does not change. The air bags are designed to deploy in only certain types of collisions as explained in the Owner’s Manual.

No, the air bag indicator light does not alert you of this condition. If your air bag indicator light comes on, please bring your vehicle to an authorized Mazda Dealer for diagnosis.

Based on independent investigations and the NHTSA’s independent expert, NHTSA has concluded that the non-desiccated frontal Takata airbag inflators do not pose an unreasonable risk to safety until they reach a certain level of propellant degradation. NHTSA and Takata are prioritizing the expanded inflator recalls based on when involved inflators are more likely to pose an unreasonable risk to safety, considering time, temperature and environmental moisture, which depends on a vehicle’s location (see map below).

Only the air bag inflator is under recall, and the replacement part addresses the original safety concerns from the recall.

A Mazda Dealer will replace the affected air bag inflator and remedy the issue free of charge. Please schedule an appointment with your nearest authorized Mazda Dealer for parts reservation and repair.

If you had an interim air bag inflator installed under any Takata safety recall, you will need to bring your vehicle to an authorized Mazda Dealer for the permanent repair, which will be done free of charge. In order to ensure you have the latest air bag inflator installed, it is best to bring your vehicle to an authorized Mazda Dealer.

Autoliv and TRW parts use guanidine nitrate as the air bag inflator propellant material, whereas Takata inflators use phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (“PSAN”). The change to Autoliv and TRW inflator parts is a decision by Mazda to no longer use inflator parts based on phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate.

Mazda made the change to alternate suppliers Autoliv and TRW because Mazda decided that it would be best to stop using air bag inflators made from phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (“PSAN”).

Takata-produced desiccated inflators are currently undergoing testing by various qualified engineering companies to determine whether they pose a risk to safety. Results will be evaluated by NHTSA and a determination made by early 2020. If testing results show there is a safety concern prior to this date, a determination will be made and appropriate actions will be taken in response.

We understand your time is valuable. Scheduling an appointment ahead of time with an authorized Mazda Dealer will allow an opportunity to reserve the necessary replacement part for your vehicle and help minimize your wait time and inconvenience. A new air bag inflator will take approximately one hour to install.

Mazda is continuously working with the supplier to ensure that sufficient replacement parts are available for affected vehicles. Please use the VIN search function to check your recall status:

• A “Recall Incomplete” status means a replacement part is available for your vehicle. Please schedule an appointment with an authorized Mazda Dealer for parts reservation and repair.
• A “Recall Incomplete Remedy Not Yet Available” status means a replacement part is not yet available for your vehicle. Please continue to check back as well as look for further communications from Mazda concerning parts availability.
• A “Repair Completed” status means your recall has been completed. However, please continue to utilize the VIN search function to keep current on recalls for your vehicle.

Dealers will install a new frontal air bag inflator containing a desiccant material that helps limit moisture absorption by the inflator’s propellant material.

If you had an interim air bag inflator repair performed, the new inflator will not experience propellant degradation for at least six years (see propellant degradation time by Zone, below). Before that time, you will receive another notice by First-Class Mail from Mazda to bring in your vehicle for the permanent remedy inflator. In order to ensure you have the latest air bag inflator installed, please contact an authorized Mazda Dealer.

No. The criterion for air bag deployment does not change. As explained in the Owner’s Manual, the air bags are designed to deploy in only certain types of collisions.

This recall applies only to certain driver and/or passenger frontal air bags on the affected vehicles.

Since this concern is only present in the event of an air bag deployment, reimbursement for air bag replacement repairs will not be offered.

If you have any questions regarding this recall, our Customer Experience Center Representatives are here to help Monday-Friday, 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Pacific Time; and Saturday 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Pacific Time. Start chat now.

If chat is currently unavailable, you may also contact us by e-mail or call (800) 222-5500, option #6.

More information regarding the recall can be obtained from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) by visiting http://www.safercar.gov. If Mazda or its dealers do not repair the defect free of charge and within a reasonable amount of time, you may notify NHTSA at 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE., Washington, DC 20590; or, call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153).

Your safety is very important to us and it is our mission to actively communicate all information related to the recall to our customers. If your vehicle is involved in any safety recall, a letter detailing the recall will be sent to you from Mazda by USPS First-Class Mail.

Owner notification for Phase 1 began in July 2016. Replacement parts will be available according to the following schedule:
1) 2011 MY and older vehicles in Zone A
2) 2008 MY and older vehicles in Zone B
3) 2004 MY and older vehicles in Zone C
IMPORTANT NOTE: Certain vehicles in Zones B and C are not included in this first phase of the expansion, based on NHTSA’s schedule requirements. They will eventually be included in later phases as follows:
(The map below indicates the states in each Zone.)

Zone A - States with high temperature cycling and humidity (includes Puerto Rico, Guam and Saipan). Time in service until significant propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 6-9 years. 

Zone B - States that have moderate temperature cycling and humidity. Time in service until significant propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 10-15 years.

Zone C - States with lower temperature cycling and humidity. Time in service until significant propellant degradation may occur is projected at between 15-20 years.

NHTSA has structured this expansion with five phases and three geographic zones, based on temperature and absolute humidity factors in each Zone, and analysis of expected rate of inflator degradation. Time, temperature and humidity have been found by NHTSA and independent investigations to contribute to significant propellant degradation, which can lead to high risk of inflator rupture.