The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·19V488000·Announced 2019-06-24

Mazda Recalls 2010-2011 RX-8 Vehicles for Air Bag Inflator Defect

Mazda is recalling 2010-2011 RX-8 vehicles because the passenger air bag inflator may explode during deployment, potentially causing serious injury or death.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the inflator explosion may result in 'serious injury or death,' which aligns with the rubric criterion for a score of 4 (Severe) involving significant injury or death reports/risks.

Plain-English summary

Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under recall 18V-716 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with specific air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, either as original equipment or replacement equipment.

The defect involves propellant degradation in these inflators caused by long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling. In the event of a crash that necessitates the deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, the inflators may explode. This explosion can result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, which may lead to serious injury or death.

Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been 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 on July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4, or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
MAZDA RX-8
Brand
MAZDA
Manufacturer
Mazda North American Operations
Category
Vehicle — Air Bag
Hazard
Affected units
211

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • RX-8

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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