2008 Mazda MAZDA6 Air Bags Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 20, 2024 · 77 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 77 complaints with NHTSA about air bags problems on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6, 69% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 91,500 miles. The words owners use most often: “numbers air” (32% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Numbers air: mentioned in 25 of 77 complaints (32%)
  • Bags updated: mentioned in 6 of 77 complaints (8%)

At what mileage do air bags problems happen?

Based on 18 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles1 · 6%
25k–50k miles2 · 11%
50k–75k miles3 · 17%
75k–100k miles5 · 28%
100k–150k miles5 · 28%
150k+ miles2 · 11%

How serious are the reports?

Of 77 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 4 an injury.

Mazda MAZDA6 air bags complaints by model year

Peak: 2007, with 95 complaints
2002: 2200222003: 30302004: 552004552005: 76762006: 932006932007: 95952008: 772008772009: 75752010: 542010542011: 28282012: 302012302013: 442014: 4201442015: 662016: 6201662017: 11

n = 636 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearAir Bags complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2017 MAZDA612%12,000
2016 MAZDA668%52,450
2015 MAZDA6610%40,500
2014 MAZDA643%46,000
2013 MAZDA6417%92,725
2012 MAZDA63030%80,000
2011 MAZDA62821%109,000
2010 MAZDA65424%80,000
2009 MAZDA67519%74,576
2008 MAZDA67769%91,500
2007 MAZDA69561%83,000
2006 MAZDA69354%90,000
2005 MAZDA67652%88,000
2004 MAZDA65534%110,500
2003 MAZDA63017%39,500
2002 MAZDA627%49,222

When owners reported it

Peak: 2015, with 39 complaints
2010: 3201032015: 392015392016: 282016282017: 6201762018: 120181

n = 77 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (3)

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveOct 31, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V781000 · 47,006 vehicles

Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveJun 15, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V402000 · 308,591 vehicles

Problem: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not driveJul 26, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V474000 · 308,992 vehicles

Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

Takata recall: i received a letter in 7/2015 stating my car's air bags had been recalled and to wait for a second letter to schedule a replacement appointment. Never recieved 2nd letter and now car is not on recall. I suspect it (my car) was reported as having air bags replaced which has not…

Received Jun 28, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11104570

I called dealer 3 times to have my airbags replaced (final recall 1317f). This was over the course of 6 months. They never call me back. The third time i called (on 8/24/2017) i was told they would call me back (again) in one month. They still have never called me back.

Received Nov 10, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11045116

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 mazda mazda6. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at approximately 70 mph, another vehicle crashed into the passenger side of the vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a cement barrier. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver did not sustained…

Received Sep 6, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11021753

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2008 Mazda MAZDA6s have air bags problems?

No. NHTSA has 77 owner complaints about air bags for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 (69% of the 111 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 air bags?

Yes: 3 safety recalls list air bags. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do air bags problems start?

The median reported mileage is 91,500 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about air bags problems on the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6?

The most frequent phrase is “numbers air”, in 25 of 77 complaints, followed by “bags updated” (6).

See all 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 problems or air bags problems across all MAZDA6 years.