YearToAvoid

2008 Mazda Mazda6 Airbags Problems

NHTSA has 77 owner complaints about airbag problems in the 2008 Mazda Mazda6, 69% of all 111 complaints for this model year. That is #3 highest airbag complaint count among 17 Mazda6 model years. These complaints report 11 crashes and 4 injuries. Median mileage at failure: 91,500 miles.

Airbags complaints
77
69% of 111
Crashes reported
11
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
4
Median mileage
91,500 mi
Related recalls
3

When 2008 Mazda Mazda6 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 10, 2010, latest Jun 28, 2018.

2008 Mazda Mazda6 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month7Jun 2010Mar 2015Jul 2015Nov 2015Mar 2016Aug 2016Aug 2017
77 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2010 to Jun 2018; peak Jan 2016 (7).

Airbags recalls for the 2008 Mazda Mazda6

  1. NHTSA 19V781000Oct 31, 2019Airbags47,006 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V402000Jun 15, 2018Airbags308,591 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

  3. NHTSA 17V474000Jul 26, 2017Airbags308,992 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    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.

    Remedy: 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.

Airbags complaints by Mazda6 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200576 (52%)
  2. 200693 (54%)
  3. 200795 (61%)
  4. 200877 (69%)
  5. 200975 (19%)
  6. 201054 (24%)
  7. 201128 (21%)
  8. 201230 (30%)
  9. 20134 (17%)
  10. 20144 (3%)
  11. 20156 (10%)
  12. 20166 (8%)
  13. 20171 (2%)
  14. 20180 (0%)
  15. 20190 (0%)
  16. 20200 (0%)
  17. 20210 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Mazda Mazda6 have airbag problems?
NHTSA has 77 owner complaints about the airbag in the 2008 Mazda Mazda6, 69% of all complaints for this model year, including 11 that report a crash. Median mileage at failure is 91,500 miles.
Which Mazda Mazda6 year has the most airbag complaints?
The 2007 Mazda Mazda6 has the most airbag complaints (95), compared with 77 for the 2008.
Is there a airbag recall for the 2008 Mazda Mazda6?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns for the 2008 Mazda Mazda6 concern the airbag: 19V781000, 18V402000, and 17V474000.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.