Recall 18V717 affects 155,436 2010-2015 Mazda CX-7, CX-9, and MAZDA6 for passenger air bag inflators. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Mazda dealer.
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. If it must move, arrange a tow and tell the dealer this is recall 18V717. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 155,436 2010-2015 CX-7, CX-9, and MAZDA6 vehicles under recall 18V717 because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. Do not drive an included vehicle until a Mazda dealer replaces the inflator free of charge, because metal fragments from an explosion can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in the 2010-2015 Mazda CX-7, CX-9, and MAZDA6 is the metal canister inside the passenger air bag module. In a crash, it burns a chemical propellant to create gas, which fills the air bag fast enough to help protect the front passenger.
On affected Mazda vehicles, the Takata inflator uses propellant wafers that degrade after long exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature cycling. When that degraded propellant burns during air bag deployment, combustion becomes too aggressive and builds excessive pressure inside the inflator. The metal inflator body can rupture instead of staying contained.
There is no warning sign before failure. The inflator sits hidden inside the passenger air bag module, so the vehicle can look and drive normally until a crash triggers the air bag.
Who's affected?
Spans three Mazda nameplates across six model years, all involving the passenger-side front air bag inflator.
| 2010 Mazda CX-7 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2010 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| 2010 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2011 Mazda CX-7 | front air bag |
| 2011 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mazda CX-7 | front air bag |
| 2012 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| 2013 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| 2013 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2014 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| 2015 Mazda CX-9 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 155,436 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. If it must move, arrange a tow and tell the dealer this is recall 18V717. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2015 Mazda CX-7, CX-9, or MAZDA6 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the passenger front air bag inflator replacement is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the vehicle has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Mazda dealer to schedule the free passenger front air bag inflator replacement that removes the inflator at risk of exploding during deployment.
- Bring the recall notice if Mazda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V717 when you call.
- Call Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4, with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Mazda technician replaces the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. This repair addresses the passenger frontal air bag module on the affected Mazda vehicles. If you've already paid out of pocket for this inflator repair, Mazda has a general reimbursement plan on file. Bring receipts or repair paperwork to the service desk, or contact Mazda customer service to ask how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 12, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| October 12, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 9, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 12, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| November 12, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V717?
Recall 18V717 covers 155,436 2010-2015 Mazda CX-7, CX-9, and MAZDA6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode during deployment. Metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Mazda dealers replace the inflator for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2015 Mazda CX-7, CX-9, or MAZDA6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V717. If it is included, do not drive it. Call a franchised Mazda dealer and ask about towing or other safe transport for the free passenger 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 dealers replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge. Mazda lists customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4, and its recall number is 1317F.
What does 'do not drive' mean for this Mazda recall?
Do not drive the vehicle until a franchised Mazda dealer completes the recall repair. The passenger air bag inflator can explode during a crash deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Ask the dealer about towing if the vehicle has to move.
What if I bought this Mazda used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your CX-7, CX-9, or MAZDA6 is included, then contact a franchised Mazda dealer and reference recall 18V717 when you schedule the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V717000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V717 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V717000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →