Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end accident. The impact was about 25 to 30 MPH yet neither of the air bags deployed nor did the seat belt hold the driver. The air bag warning light did not illuminate prior to the crash. Please provide any additional information. A police report was issued.
Dt: consumer states she had an accident on 7-8-05. She was hit on the front end of her car by someone traveling west. The air bags did not deploy and as a result the consumer was injured. She has not talked to the dealer or the manufacturer. She does not know how fast the person who hit her was going. The consumer was going approx. 55-60 MPH. There had been no previous air bag problems. The air bag warning light had not come on. She did apply her brakes prior to impact. She was wearing her seat belt. There is a police report on the accident.
My husband was driving our 2001 madza 626 with about 59000 miles (can't be accurate because it is still in the shop). He hit a pick-up truck from behind while going approximally 40 miles per hour. A car in front of the truck stopped quickly when the light changed. When the truck stopped, he was not able to stop. The truck had a large iron round bumper guard. My husband head hit the steering wheel along with his body being throw forward. The airbags did not deploy. Because of his head injury and back pain he had to be transported to hospital. He is still having headaches. Because we only have the minum full coverage all of his hospital bills and cost of the transport is on us. We have not received all of the hospital bills, but the transport itself is over $900. He also was not able to go to work for three days. …
Vehicle was hit a 30 MPH in the front center of the vehicle but the air bag did not deploy causing minor injuries to the consumer. The drivers seat belt did not hold and as a result the driver head went through he windshield. The dealer was notified. Ts
My 2000 Mazda 626 began having problems a week after purchasing April 10, 2008! The car started having electrical problems which resulted in 3 batteries, 2 alternators, no ac or defrost could be run. Then the brakes were replaced twice within a 2 month period! All these problems resulted in me almost being killed from an automobile accident! This happened June 8, 2009 which was a Monday approx. 4 pm. The airbags never deployed, and my head hit the steering wheel. Windshield shattered all over my hand resulting in severe lacerations! This car needs looked at asap!!!! Please help
2000 Mazda 626 was involved in a front end accident (30 MPH) which resulted in totaled car. Aig bag deployment was faulty and delayed. A stream of dark fumes sprayed onto drivers arm. Bag deployed in stages ,and was not in full deployment until after driver was out of car!
This is my concern I was riding with someone and we had a crash going 80 MPH. The car hydro plain off the highway hitting the guard rail. I believe at that speed the airbags should have came out but they did not, I myself had major neck and back pains my head hitting the side window. I just want to know why this airbag did not come out and it's bothering me because I could have been severely hurt or killed thank god I walk out. The car was 99 Mazda 626. This car impact with the guard rail 3 times before stopping. I don't understand, can you help with this or should I report this to consumers. Thanks...
In rainy condition and driving 40 MPH, ABS braking system malfunctioned, causing the vehicle to skid about 10-15 feet and have a frontal impact with another vehicle. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's airbags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupants in this crash. Please provide further information.
Related recalls (1)
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…
Oversensitive airbag deployment
There is no summary currently available
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda 626 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (67), 1996 (49), 1997 (36), 1998 (11) and 2001 (11) model years. Airbag complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Mazda 626 airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 98V-249 (sensor/control module-inactive, Oct 8, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda 626 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles; 14% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (135 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (12).
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.