Recall 18V039 affects 2,205 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck vehicles for exploding passenger air bag inflators. Do not drive. Free repair at a franchised Mazda dealer.
In a crash that deploys the passenger frontal air bag, the inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck, even for short trips. Arrange towing if it must move. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 2,205 2006 B-Series Truck vehicles under recall 18V039 because a frontal air bag inflator can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments toward occupants. Do not drive one of these trucks if your VIN is included; Mazda dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The frontal air bag inflator in the 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck is the metal canister inside the air bag module. In a crash, it is supposed to create gas fast enough to fill the air bag cushion and help protect the occupant. The inflator has to open in a controlled way, because it sits close to the driver or passenger when the air bag deploys.
On affected trucks, the Takata inflator uses phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate without a drying agent. The recalled inflators came from specific production dates and have an elevated rupture risk. During air bag deployment, excessive internal pressure can make the inflator explode instead of venting normally. Mazda's remedy replaces it with an inflator from a different supplier that does not use that propellant.
There is no warning sign before failure. If your VIN is included, do not drive the truck until the remedy is complete.
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. |
Not every 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash that deploys the passenger frontal air bag, the inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the truck, even for short trips. Arrange towing if it must move. 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 air bag inflator replacement is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the truck has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Mazda dealer to schedule the free front passenger air bag inflator replacement that addresses the explosion risk during deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 18V039 and Mazda recall 2318A when you call.
- Call Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 with questions about scheduling or towing.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive this truck until the recall repair is complete. At the dealer, a Mazda technician replaces the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered by Mazda. Mazda has a general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you paid out of pocket for a related air bag inflator repair before the recall notice, ask Mazda customer service or the service desk how to submit documented expenses under that plan.
| 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 18V039?
Recall 18V039 covers 2,205 2006 Mazda B-Series Truck vehicles with a front passenger air bag inflator that can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into occupants. Mazda instructs owners not to drive affected trucks until a dealer replaces the inflator for free.
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 18V039. If it is, do not drive it to the dealer. Call a franchised Mazda dealer or Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 and ask how to arrange the free air bag inflator replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Mazda's remedy says dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Mazda dealer.
What does do not drive mean for this Mazda recall?
Do not drive means the truck should stay parked until the recall repair is complete. The risk comes from the air bag inflator, which can explode during a crash deployment and send sharp metal fragments into people in the vehicle. Ask Mazda or the dealer about moving the truck safely.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V039000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V039 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V039000 |
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 →