To date it has been ascertained that an estimated 28 000 Mazda's are affected in South Africa. These include Mazda2, Mazda6 and RX-8 vehicles produced between 2002 and 2014. Since the first recall announcement, MSA has sent out a press release, loaded information on our Mazda website and placed print ads in several national and regional newspapers. This was done to urge all Mazda customers with possibly affected vehicles to take their vehicles to their nearest Mazda dealer for airbag inflator replacement.
With a response rate at about 9%; Mazda is concerned that majority of customers haven't come in for replacement fittings. These Mazda customers are still driving around with possibly defective airbags. For this reason Mazda is embarking on a recall awareness campaign and reaching out to Mazda drivers with possibly affected vehicles via the radio and digital platforms, encouraging them to establish if their vehicle is affected. Customers can then visit their nearest dealership to have their vehicle airbag(s) inflator replaced.
Mazda customers have three options to check if their vehicle is affected:
- Mazda website - www.mazda.co.za/recall and enter the unique VIN number
- Mazda SA Customer Care Centre - 0860 983 000 / recall@mazda.co.za
- Or simply visit the nearest Mazda dealership.
The Takata airbag recall is a massive recall affecting a number of manufacturers and millions of vehicles globally. Mazda is not the only brand affected. The recall is due to an inappropriate production condition and storage of the propellant in the inflator. The density of the propellant may be insufficient in the inflator. This might cause the propellant to ignite abnormally at the time of airbag deployment and potentially result in extremely high inner pressure of the inflator causing a rupture of the inflator case. In a case of a rupture, the airbag might not deploy as designed and may lead to injury. We have not had an incident in South Africa and are conducting this recall as a precautionary measure.
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FAQ
Q: Which Mazda models are affected by the airbag recall in South Africa?
The recall affects approximately 28,000 Mazda vehicles in South Africa, specifically Mazda2, Mazda6 and RX-8 models produced between 2002 and 2014.
Q: How do I check if my Mazda is part of the airbag recall?
You can check three ways: visit www.mazda.co.za/recall and enter your VIN number, call Mazda SA Customer Care on 0860 983 000 or email recall@mazda.co.za, or simply pop into your nearest Mazda dealership.
Q: What happens if the defective airbag deploys in my Mazda?
The faulty Takata airbag inflator can rupture due to abnormal propellant ignition, potentially causing the airbag to not deploy properly and leading to serious injury from metal fragments.
Q: Is the airbag replacement free for affected Mazda owners?
Yes, Mazda is replacing the defective airbag inflators at no cost to customers as part of this safety recall campaign.
Q: Why is Mazda launching this awareness campaign now?
Only about 9% of affected Mazda owners have brought their vehicles in for airbag replacement, meaning thousands of drivers are still on South African roads with potentially dangerous airbags.
Should You Buy It?
If you're eyeing a used Mazda2, Mazda6, or RX-8 from 2002 to 2014, proceed with serious caution. With 28,000 affected vehicles in South Africa and only a 9% response rate to the recall campaign, there's a massive chance you could be buying a car with a potentially deadly Takata airbag. Before you even think about handing over cash for that R180,000 Mazda6 or R250,000 RX-8, get the VIN number and check it against Mazda's recall database at mazda.co.za/recall. If it's affected and the recall work hasn't been done, either negotiate a serious discount to cover the repair costs or walk away entirely. The best move? Buy a post-2014 Mazda that's completely clear of this mess, or ensure any affected vehicle has documented proof of completed airbag replacement work before you sign anything.
