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 2011 Mazda Mazda3 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the insurance company and can be made available for inspection upon request. During the crash, no airbags deployed, which significantly increased the risk of serious injury or death. The lack of airbag deployment left my partner and me completely unprotected at the moment of impact, including the number of times we rolled, seriously putting our safety at severe risk The vehicle is no longer drivable. The police report notes that the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is in the process of inspection by my insurance adjusters as part of the total loss evaluation. …
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver's side seat wobbled and was unsecured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that the front driver's side seat lifter link was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V082000 (SEATS). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the dashboard was melted and warped. The contact was concerned that the front air bags would not properly deploy due to the warped dashboard housing in the front driver and passenger side air bags. The failure mileage was 167,850.
When I'm driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn't do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn't show these malfunctions. It literally randomly occurs. Therefore, they told me that I need to bring the car when it start happening in regular basis to understand the exact cause for the issue. I don't know when it becomes a regular issue. …
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 Mazda 3. The contact stated that while driving at 71 MPH, the vehicle hit a deer causing the hood to open with force cracking the windshield. The air bags also failed to deploy. A deer hit the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact hit her head and knee on the steering wheel. The contact also sustained a whiplash. The vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 17V082000 (seats). The contact stated that after the impact smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss. A dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted for diagnoses or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
Takata recall: I bought my first car Mazda3 in jan 2011. On the passenger side, the airbag light does not turn off even though a over 100 pounds person is sitting on the chair. I noticed it on the first year when I was back to the Mazda dealer in newark california for the maintenance, but the dealer told me it is normal because the person is sitting on the passenger chair is so light. I got a car accident on 2012, but the airbag did not pop up. I did not file a complaint because I do not know this website until I receive the dashboard recall. My Mazda got some recalls. The current recall is the dashboard, and I am waiting for fixing it the end of this month January 2018. I wonder why the airbag is not recall yet. It is more important than the dashboard.
Takata airbag: on 12/25/16 Sunday my vehicle sustained major damage in a hit and run, my airbag (driver side) did not deploy. My vehicle was hit so hard I was knock into a 360 spin. (insurance provider: progressive policy #[redacted], detroit police report #[redacted]) I was in motion entering the intersection on a city street, dry road condition. I did not go to the hospital I used work sick day since I was on my way to work (police officer) (email: [redacted].
Airbags: did not deploy upon impact of a streetlamp pole on the front driverside quarter. Front farring damaged and replaced. I was turning left, it was raining, the glare of the light blinded me enough to go up on the curb and impact the streetlamp pole. I replaced the farring and had my Mazda3 fully aligned. Electrical: purchased vehicle in October 2016. Replaced battery 4 times, alternator 3 times since purchase. Seat heaters haven't worked ever. Driverside seat started wiggling after contact with streetlamp pole.
My wife was involved in a serious accident were the automobile was declared a total loss. The air bags never deploy. The car was in motion and she was severely rear ended. The approximate travel speed was 65 miles per hr on there freeway.
The drivers seat will sometimes come out of its track, and not lock in securely. When the seat is locked, it seems to be OK, but if I should move the seat forward to accommodate for a rear passenger its like the seat will not sit squarely in the track, and it will either sink, or elevate at one corner and slide forwards or backwards. Its dangerous if I were to hit my brakes, the seat would move forward inadvertently causing me to slam on my brakes. Also, there appears to be an air bag indicator light that will flash on my dashboard. This seems occur at random times, the red light will flash indicating some sort of error with the airbag. I'm not sure if its a loose connection, or an actual problem with the air bag. When I alerted the dealer they told me I was out of warranty, and they would not do anything for either of these issues. …
"Takata recall" my airbag light is still on time by time for unknown reason . I bring this to attention on time in my bumper to bumper guarantee in my dealer on 2011, dealer said that is not a problem at that time. I received a letter by mail on oct 2017 that a possible settlement is related to air bag , I am worried that something is wrong in my airbag ,so I advised my dealer they refused to check by free and asking me to paid for a review because there is not recall register in my vehicle. Well I previously advised on time on 2011 about this situation, that is the ligt is on time by time that means something is wrong is not fair, that I need to paid for a review work . The vehicle is in motion when this happened again and again with unknown reason when I informed on time. Now that I know about this settlement , I just asking for a review of my vehicle due to this circumstances.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Mazda3 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, 22% of the model year's 132 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2011 Mazda Mazda3 airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2011 Mazda Mazda3 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 10 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.