Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Mazda 626 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Mazda 626. The contact stated that while the shifter was in the park position and powered on, the vehicle suddenly experienced an unintended acceleration and crashed into a brick pillar. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained an injured back that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 213,365.
June 28, 2002 -- wellings Mazda, richmond, in "performed recall ssp-34 air bag campaign. March 2004, matt castrucci's auto mall, "body electrical: customer states air bag light is on please check out and adv," and "custormer states car is running rough, was told valve cover gaskets are leaking and on the spark plugs please check out." results were: "checked out light is not on, no correction at this time." and "checked out replaced valave {sic} cover gaskets and intake gaskets cleaned spark plug wires and plugs. Rechecked OK" sept. 19, 2004 -- while motionless at a traffic light, both front air bags deployed. We do have reliable witnesses. The driver (me) is a physics professor, the right front passenger is a ph.d. Candidate, the left rear passenger is a psychology professor, and the right rear passenger just finished law school. …
Reported to Mazda that in two front-end collisions no airbags deployed. And they said "too bad." car was almost totalled in June 96 wreck, and we were both injured. The car was repaired, and in December 96, we hit two deers/an embankment and rolled 175 feet and the airbags still did not deploy, so what exactly does it take for them to go off. Needless to say, the car was demolished in the second accident and we no longer have it.
I was driving on 131 north about 75-80 MPH and my airbags (both sides) deployed. There is no damage and I did not hit anything. I received burns on my nose, on my lips, sprained jaw, bloody nose, burns on my wrist, and facial scrapes and contusions. The passenger side started to smoke, and wouldn't stop until the airbag was removed.
Consumer friend was driving at approx 35 MPH suddenly another vehicle jumped out, in order to avoid hitting this vehicle, consumer hit parked car head-on. Both airbags did not deploy, due to this defect, driver sustained extensive head injuries, hit steering wheel . Seat belt was also worn at the time.
Recall 98V249 000/air bag deployment: while traveling at 40 MPH vehicle ran over something which caused both air bags to deploy. Vehicle went out of control and landed in a ditch. Also, there was damage to windshield/ hood and bumper. Manufacturer was not notified at this time.
Vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle, traveling about 25 MPH and there was no deployment of the driver's side or the passenger's side air bags. Front end damage totalled $3,000.00. Vehicle is being repaired. Please provide any further information.
While driving at 35 MPH struck another vehicle that was backing out of a driveway.front end of car hit right rear side of the other vehicle. Upon impact, none of the airbags deployed. Maxda has been contacted. Consumer felt airbags should have deployed.
As a result of a crash while traveling at 60 MPH air bags did not deploy. Consumer also states transmission went out and had to be rebuilt, the engine light stays on , cv joints are also faulty, also vehicle was in an accident consumer hit a deer.
Consumer was involved in a frontal collision in which the drivers and passengers air bags did not deploy. Consumer stated was hit at an 90 degree angle demolishing the entire left side of vehicle, causing injury to passenger and driver.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the sas unit to reduce the probability of unnecessary deployments in low speed undercarriage impacts.
NHTSA investigations
Inappropriate air bag deployment
In January of 1997, odi opened a pe based on 9 odi complaints.odi is now aware of 51 complaints of alleged inappropriate air bag deployments.typical complaints include air bag deployments after the vehicle hit a pot hole while driving between 20 and 45 MPH and air bag deployments while driving at speeds between 20 and 60 MPH for no apparent reason.approximately 21 drivers alleged that they did not hit anything prior…
Oversensitive air bag deployment
In May of 1997, odi upgraded to an engineering analysis with 51 complaints.odi is now aware of 88 complaints of alleged inappropriate airbag deployments.typical complaints allege that the airbags deployed after the vehicle hit a pot hole at between 20 and 45 MPH, or that the airbags deployed while driving at between 20 or 60 MPH for no apparent reason.approximately 25 drivers alleged that they did not hit anything…
Airbag complaints in other 626 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1996 Mazda 626?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the air bags of the 1996 Mazda 626, 14% of the model year's 359 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Mazda 626 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-249 (sensor/control module-inactive, Oct 8, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Mazda 626 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 126,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 26 crashes, 0 fires and 30 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.