If your VIN is in recall 19V781, do not drive. Mazda replaces exploding passenger air bag inflators free at a franchised Mazda dealer.
An air bag inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning before the air bag ruptures. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. Ask Mazda about towing if it must move. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
Mazda is recalling 47,006 2003-2008 MAZDA6, Mpv, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles because replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators used in a prior recall can explode after long-term exposure to humidity and temperature cycling. Do not drive an included vehicle; sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death, and a Mazda dealer will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal air bag inflator is the metal canister inside the dashboard air bag module. In a crash that deploys the passenger air bag, the inflator burns propellant to create gas and fill the bag fast enough to cushion the occupant.
On affected 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, Mpv, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles, the passenger inflator was replaced in an earlier recall with an inflator of the same basic design. The propellant inside that inflator degrades over years of exposure to high humidity, heat, and repeated temperature changes. When the air bag deploys, degraded propellant burns too aggressively and creates excessive pressure inside the inflator. That pressure can rupture the inflator body instead of sending gas cleanly into the air bag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The air bag warning light, normal driving feel, and visible dashboard condition do not tell you whether this inflator is safe.
Who's affected?
Spans four Mazda nameplates across the 2003-2008 model years, all involving the passenger-side front air bag inflator.
| 2005 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2005 Mazda Mpv | front air bag |
| 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2004 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2004 Mazda RX-8 | front air bag |
| 2004 Mazda Mpv | front air bag |
| 2006 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| 2006 Mazda MAZDASPEED6 | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDASPEED6 | front air bag |
| 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 47,006 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An air bag inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning before the air bag ruptures. Do not drive the vehicle, even for short trips, until the repair is complete. Ask Mazda about towing if it must move. Repair is free at any franchised Mazda dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, Mpv, RX-8, or MAZDASPEED6 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive the vehicle until the front passenger air bag inflator replacement is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the vehicle has to move 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 prior-design inflator.
- Bring the recall notice if Mazda mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V781 when you call.
- Call Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 with questions about scheduling or the superseded prior recalls.
What happens at the repair
Do not drive the vehicle 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, and the remedy is available now. Mazda is not offering reimbursement for this campaign, since the source record says Mazda does not intend to issue a reimbursement plan for this Takata related recall.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| October 31, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 5, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| November 5, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 3, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V781?
Recall 19V781 covers 47,006 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, Mpv, RX-8, and MAZDASPEED6 vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that were replaced under prior recalls using the same design. The inflator can explode after long-term propellant degradation. Do not drive until Mazda completes the free repair.
What should I do if my 2003-2008 Mazda MAZDA6, Mpv, RX-8, or MAZDASPEED6 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V781. If it is, do not drive it. Contact a franchised Mazda dealer or Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 to arrange the free passenger air bag inflator replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Mazda dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Mazda dealer.
What does do not drive mean for recall 19V781?
Do not drive means keep the vehicle parked until the passenger air bag inflator is replaced. The official remedy tells owners not to drive before the repair is performed. If the vehicle has to move, ask Mazda or the dealer about the safest way to get it to service.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a passenger frontal air bag inflator explosion. Sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. That is why Mazda tells owners not to drive until the inflator replacement is complete.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V781000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V781 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V781000 |
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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →