Mazda recalls 374,500 vehicles because of Takata inflators
Sun, Jan 10 2016
The Problem: These vehicles contain front passenger airbag inflators from Takata that could rupture in a crash. If this happens, it could spray metal shrapnel at an occupant, which could seriously injure or even kill the person.
Injuries/Deaths: The report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration didn't mention injuries or deaths, but Autoblog reached out to Mazda for confirmation. Takata's rupturing inflators allegedly have links to nine deaths globally and around 100 injuries.
The Fix: Mazda dealers will replace the passenger side airbag with a new one.
If You Own One: Mazda has not said when the replacements for these vehicles will begin. Experts believe that prolonged exposure to high humidity can cause the inflators' ammonium nitrate propellant to ignite too quickly in an accident.
More Information: This recall is a nationwide expansion of Mazda's passenger's side airbag recall, which was previously limited to high-humidity regions. The population now includes 310,592 additional examples of the Mazda6, Mazda spokesperson Tamara Mlynarczyk tells Autoblog. The company discovered this new issue after Takata tested an inflator taken from a Mazda6, and it ruptured, according to NHTSA documents (PDF). The company already had a national safety campaign to fix the driver's side airbags in these vehicles.
Related Video:
RECALL Subject : Passenger Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
Report Receipt Date: DEC 23, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V869000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 374,519
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
MAZDA MAZDA6 2003-2008
MAZDA MAZDASPEED6 2006-2007
MAZDA RX-8 2004
Details close
Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations
SUMMARY:
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2002, to May 5, 2008, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to June 29, 2007, and a limited production of model year 2004 RX-8 vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, to June 30, 2003. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.
CONSEQUENCE:
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
REMEDY:
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag with a new one, free of charge. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9015L. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-130 and 14V-362 in their entirety. This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-773 in that model year 2003-2006 Mazda6 vehicles covered by that recall are now covered by this campaign.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Report Receipt Date: DEC 23, 2015
NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V869000
Component(s): AIR BAGS
Potential Number of Units Affected: 374,519
All Products Associated with this Recall
Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s)
MAZDA MAZDA6 2003-2008
MAZDA MAZDASPEED6 2006-2007
MAZDA RX-8 2004
Details close
Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations
SUMMARY:
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2002, to May 5, 2008, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles manufactured July 1, 2005, to June 29, 2007, and a limited production of model year 2004 RX-8 vehicles manufactured June 25, 2003, to June 30, 2003. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.
CONSEQUENCE:
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
REMEDY:
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger's frontal air bag with a new one, free of charge. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9015L. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-130 and 14V-362 in their entirety. This recall partially supersedes recall 14V-773 in that model year 2003-2006 Mazda6 vehicles covered by that recall are now covered by this campaign.
NOTES:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
By Chris Bruce
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