Recall 18V038 affects 2,205 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck vehicles for driver air bag inflator rupture. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Mazda dealer.
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator is at risk of exploding and sending sharp metal fragments toward occupants, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck, even for short trips. Ask the dealer about towing. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 2,205 2006 B-Series Truck vehicles under recall 18V038 because the driver-side frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment. Do not drive these vehicles until a Mazda dealer completes the free repair; sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag inflator in the 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck is the metal device inside the steering wheel air bag that creates gas during a frontal crash. That gas fills the air bag in a fraction of a second so the bag can cushion the driver.
On affected trucks, the Takata inflator uses phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a propellant that can degrade when it is not protected by a drying agent. If the driver frontal air bag deploys in a crash, degraded propellant can create excessive pressure inside the inflator. The inflator can rupture instead of venting gas in the designed way.
Mazda says owners should not drive these trucks until the remedy is complete. Do not drive the vehicle, even for a short trip to the dealer. There is no warning sign before failure.
Who's affected?
| 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2,205 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator is at risk of exploding and sending sharp metal fragments toward occupants, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck, even for short trips. Ask the dealer about towing. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the truck until the driver-side frontal air bag inflator is replaced.
- Arrange a tow if the truck has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact your nearest franchised Mazda dealer to schedule the free driver-side frontal air bag inflator replacement that fixes the inflator explosion risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Mazda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V038 and Mazda recall 2218A when you call.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the truck until the recall repair is complete. At the dealer, a Mazda technician replaces the front driver side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Mazda has a general reimbursement plan on file for qualifying out-of-pocket repairs tied to this recall. Bring receipts and repair paperwork to the service desk, or contact Mazda customer service to ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 16, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 16, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 16, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 18, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 19, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V038?
Recall 18V038 covers 2,205 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck vehicles with driver-side frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into occupants. Mazda says: Do not drive until the dealer repair is complete.
What should I do if my 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 18V038. If it is, do not drive the vehicle. Contact a franchised Mazda dealer or Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 to arrange the free driver-side air bag inflator replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Mazda dealers will replace the front driver-side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge under recall 18V038.
What does "do not drive" mean for my 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck?
Do not drive the truck until the dealer completes the recall repair. This includes short trips, errands, or driving it to the dealer. Ask the Mazda dealer or Mazda customer service how to move the truck for service.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is sharp metal fragments striking people inside the vehicle if the driver frontal air bag deploys in a crash. That can cause serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck until Mazda replaces the affected inflator.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V038000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V038 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V038000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →