Recall 19V488 affects 211 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles for passenger air bag inflator explosion risk. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Mazda dealer.
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. Arrange towing if it needs to move before the air bag inflator is replaced. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 211 2010-2011 RX-8 vehicles that still need the passenger frontal air bag inflator repair because the inflator can explode in a crash and send sharp metal fragments into occupants. Do not drive the vehicle until a Mazda dealer completes the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator in a 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 is the device inside the passenger air bag module that fills the air bag during a crash. When the crash sensors call for deployment, the inflator burns a propellant charge and sends gas into the air bag so it can cushion the passenger.
These RX-8 vehicles still have Takata passenger inflators from the earlier 18V716 recall. The original inflator uses PSAN propellant, and years of high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and temperature cycling break that propellant down. If the passenger air bag deploys in a crash after that degradation, the inflator can explode instead of opening the air bag normally.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle does not give a dashboard light, sound, or change in driving feel that tells you the inflator has degraded.
Who's affected?
The scope is limited to the 2010 and 2011 RX-8, with the same passenger-side front air bag inflator module listed for both years.
| 2010 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2011 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 211 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific coupe is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips. Arrange towing if it needs to move before the air bag inflator is replaced. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the passenger air bag inflator repair 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 front passenger air bag inflator replacement that removes the explosion risk from the unrepaired inflator.
- Bring the recall notice if Mazda sent one, and reference recall number 19V488 and Mazda recall 2618F when you call.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive this RX-8 until the recall repair is complete. At the dealer, a Mazda technician replaces the front passenger 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 eligible out-of-pocket repairs already paid before the recall repair. Ask the service desk how to submit prior repair documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 24, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 25, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| June 25, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 9, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 9, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V488?
Recall 19V488 covers 211 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 18V-716 and still need the passenger frontal air bag inflator repair. The inflator can explode during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
What should I do if my 2010-2011 Mazda RX-8 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific RX-8 is included in recall 19V488. If it is, do not drive the vehicle. Call a franchised Mazda dealer and ask how to get the free passenger air bag inflator replacement completed without driving the car in.
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 air bag inflator with an alternate one free of charge.
What does do not drive mean for this Mazda RX-8 recall?
Do not drive the vehicle until the dealer completes the repair. The risk is tied to passenger air bag deployment in a crash, where the inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Ask the Mazda dealer about towing or another no-drive repair path.
What if I bought this Mazda RX-8 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether this specific RX-8 still has the open 19V488 repair, then reference recall 19V488 when you call a Mazda dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V488000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V488 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V488000 |
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 →