Recall 21V162 affects 5,847 2007-2009 Mazda B-Series Truck pickups for driver-side air bag inflator explosions. Repair will be free at franchised Mazda dealers once available.
Mazda is recalling 5,847 2007-2009 B-Series Truck pickups because the driver's side air bag inflator can explode after long-term heat and humidity exposure. Sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants and cause serious injury or death, and the Mazda dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's frontal air bag inflator in a 2007-2009 Mazda B-Series Truck is the metal canister inside the steering-wheel air bag module. In a crash, the inflator is supposed to create gas quickly so the air bag opens between the driver and the steering wheel.
On affected trucks, the Takata driver inflator uses propellant with a drying material called calcium sulfate. After years of exposure to high humidity, heat, and repeated temperature changes, that propellant can degrade. If the air bag deploys with degraded propellant inside, the inflator can explode instead of opening the air bag in a controlled way. Metal fragments can then enter the cabin.
There is no warning sign before failure. The truck will not give a light, sound, smell, or change in driving feel that tells you the inflator is about to rupture.
Who's affected?
All listed model years share the same front air bag inflator module.
| 2009 Mazda B-Series Truck | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2008 Mazda B-Series Truck | front air bag |
| 2007 Mazda B-Series Truck | front air bag |
| Units affected | 5,847 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck 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. There is no warning sign before failure, so treat an open VIN match as a safety issue to handle promptly. Confirm your VIN and ask the dealer about next steps while the repair is being prepared. Repair will be free at any franchised Mazda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2009 Mazda B-Series Truck is included in this recall.
- Call Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 option 4 before scheduling, because this recall is not marked with an available remedy.
- Reference recall number 21V162 and Mazda recall 4821C when you call.
- Ask Mazda when the free driver-side air bag inflator replacement is open, because the old inflator can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin.
- Bring the owner letter if Mazda mailed one to you.
What happens at the repair
Because the final remedy is still under development, do not assume the dealer can complete the repair right now. Once Mazda opens the repair, a Mazda technician will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator. Parts and labor will be covered under the recall. Mazda is not offering reimbursement for this campaign because replacement parts were not available before the recall remedy process began, and every included vehicle still needs the recall repair.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| March 10, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| March 15, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 9, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 29, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V162?
Recall 21V162 covers 5,847 2007-2009 Mazda B-Series Truck pickups with a driver-side air bag inflator that can explode after long exposure to humidity and heat. The repair path is replacement of the driver-side inflator with an alternate inflator at a franchised Mazda dealer for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2009 Mazda B-Series Truck is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 21V162. If it is, call a franchised Mazda dealer and ask about the driver-side air bag inflator replacement. Reference recall number 21V162 and Mazda recall number 4821C when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Mazda says dealers will replace the driver-side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an air bag inflator explosion. If the driver-side inflator ruptures, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death. Ask the dealer whether your VIN has an open inflator replacement before you keep using the truck.
What if I bought my Mazda B-Series Truck used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received Mazda's April 26, 2021 interim letter or the December 2021 follow-up letter, check your VIN and call a Mazda dealer with recall number 21V162.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V162000 |
|---|---|
| Mazda customer service | 1-800-222-5500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V162 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V162000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →