Recall 17V474 affects 308,992 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles for air bag inflators. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Do not drive this vehicle until the air bag inflator is replaced. In a crash that deploys the driver frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Arrange towing if the vehicle must move. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 308,992 2003-2008 MAZDA6, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles because the driver frontal air bag inflator can rupture in a crash, sending metal fragments toward occupants and causing serious injury or death. Do not drive an included vehicle until a Mazda dealer completes the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag inflator in the 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 is the metal canister that fills the driver's air bag in a crash. It is dual-stage, which means it controls the force of inflation based on crash conditions. The inflator has to stay sealed and contained while it creates gas for the air bag.
These vehicles were built with Takata PSDI-4 driver inflators that use phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate without a drying agent. After years in high absolute humidity, moisture and manufacturing variation can make the inflator unstable. If the air bag deploys, the inflator can rupture instead of venting gas in a controlled way. The remedy uses a different supplier's inflator that does not use that propellant.
There is no warning sign before failure. The defect is inside the inflator, so a dashboard light, noise, or change in how the car drives is not expected before the air bag deploys.
Who's affected?
Spans 3 Mazda models across the 2003-2008 model years, all tied to the driver-side front air bag inflator module.
| 2005 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2005 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2004 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2004 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| 2006 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2006 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| 2006 Mazda MAZDASPEED6 | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED6 | front air bag |
| 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2008 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 308,992 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
Do not drive this vehicle until the air bag inflator is replaced. In a crash that deploys the driver frontal air bag, the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Arrange towing if the vehicle must move. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, RX-8, or MAZDASPEED6 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement is complete.
- Arrange a tow to the Mazda dealer if the vehicle must be moved; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mazda dealer to schedule the free driver's frontal air bag inflator replacement that addresses rupture and metal-fragment risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Mazda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V474 when you call.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the vehicle until the inflator replacement is complete. At the dealer, a Mazda technician replaces the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are covered. If you already paid out of pocket for this air bag inflator repair before the owner notice, Mazda provides reimbursement through its plan on file. Bring repair documentation and ask the service desk how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 26, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 12, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 13, 2024 | Dealer notification began |
| August 14, 2024 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 8, 2024 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 8, 2024 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V474?
Recall 17V474 covers 308,992 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles with a driver frontal air bag inflator that can rupture during deployment. Mazda dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, RX-8, or MAZDASPEED6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 17V474. Do not drive the vehicle until a Mazda dealer completes the inflator replacement. Call Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 or a franchised Mazda dealer and reference recall 1417G.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Mazda will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator free of charge at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What does do not drive mean for recall 17V474?
Do not drive the vehicle until the remedy is performed. The driver frontal air bag inflator can rupture during a crash deployment and send metal fragments toward occupants, causing serious injury or death. Ask the Mazda dealer about moving the vehicle safely for repair.
What if I bought my Mazda used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific MAZDA6, RX-8, or MAZDASPEED6 is included, then contact a franchised Mazda dealer and reference recall 17V474 or Mazda recall 1417G.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V474000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V474 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V474000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →