MAZDA Motor Corporation has extended the airbag recall campaign on certain Mazda2, Mazda6 and Mazda RX-8 vehicles.
Mazda announced its global recall covering a wider manufacturing period in order to place the highest priority on the safety of Mazda customers.
This follows recalls by Mazda in Japan and North America for three different types of Takata Corporation-manufactured inflators. Although no cases of abnormal deployment or dangerous flaws have been found in any Mazda vehicles in the course of investigations, the recall was extended regardless.
This means about 19 000 additional units are affected in South Africa, which include: Mazda2, Mazda6 and RX-8 vehicles produced from 2003 with VIN numbers starting with MM6DE, JM6GG and JMZSE. These vehicles are equipped with the PSDI-4 driver-side airbag inflator, the SDI-160 driver side airbag inflator, or the SPI, SDI-230 and the PSPI passenger-side airbag inflators.
The recall is due to the production and storage of the inflator’s liquid gas propellant. The density of the gas may not be enough and it not be ignited properly at the time of airbag deployment. This could result in a burst inflator case and lead to the airbag not inflating to protect occupants from injury.
Mazda SA is conducting a repair procedure to replace the driver-side airbag and/or passenger-side airbag inflator with an improved unit on the recalled vehicles.
Although the number of affected vehicles will be subject to more review and may change, Mazda SA urged all owners with the possibly-affected Mazda2, Mazda6 and Mazda RX-8 vehicles to contact the Mazda SA dealer network or the Mazda SA customer care centre on 0860 069 700 or email [email protected].
