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 2004 Mazda Mazda6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Have contacted Sport Durst Mazda in [redacted] about recall on air bags. Told me I had to drive vehicle to their shop. Told them the letter said Do Not Drive. They said they'd do the recall if I bring it to them. I live in [redacted]. I don't understand why I can not get repair done unless I drive my 2004 Mazda 6 station wagon with over 300 thousand miles on it to them. What do I need to do. This is my only vehicle since my 2017 Hyundai sonata was stolen and motor locked up with only 70 thousand miles on it 7-28-2025
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2004 Mazda 6. The contact's vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V345000 (air bags), but had not been able to determine when the parts would become available for the recall repair for months. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but they did not confirm if the parts were available. While driving at an unknown speed, the contact's vehicle was crashed into by another vehicle. The driver's and front passenger side air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the other vehicle's air bags May have deployed. The driver sustained whiplash and bruising of the hands due to the force of the impact. Medical attention was not needed. A passenger sustained minor whiplash, but no other injuries or medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a yard. …
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision while traveling approximately 30mph. The airbags deployed and the driver was wearing safety belt. After exiting vehicle, a fire was discovered near the bottom of the b-post. Fire burned and melted the interior trim and seatbelt, as well as causing heat damage to the driver's interior door and window. Fire was extinguished with a dry chemical extinguisher. Fire department investigation also found heavy fire damage to the seatbelt pretensioner, which was located in the area of fire origin.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Mazda 6. After the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V382000 (air bags) and 16V354000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that air bag warning indicator had illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V382000 (air bags) however the parts to do the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 121,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata inflaors. I received a recall notice over 6 months ago, but the part isn't yet available for replacement. This is unacceptable. While I understand that the defect is mainly for vehicles in hot humid climates how can they assume just because I'm in wi I don't drive the vehicle in other states. Also it gets hot and humid here in the summer too. Please force them to comply quicker.
On the 2004 mazda3 after about 3000 miles the main airbag light illuminates, indicating a failure of some kind in the SRS system. The testing system returns 2 or 3 error codes having to do with the front crash sensor. And the air bag will not deploy, from what I can gather from internet message boards. Mazda is handling this on a case by case basis, rather than making a blanket repair. It seems the front crash sensors are tightened too much and crack, then once they get wet they are tripped and disable the system. Local dealers are saying you can not drive your vehicle like this and are holding customers cars for weeks at a time till parts come in. Which in most cases have been back ordered, some have had the sensors replaced 2 or more times. …
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15V345000 (air bags), 16V354000 (air bags), and 15V869000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. The dealer did not give a specific date for when the part would become available. The contact was unable to determine when the vehicle would be repaired for longer than two years. The dealer indicated that they installed an interim replacement part years ago, but the contact was still unable to determine when the replacement part would become available. The manufacturer could not provide an estimated date for when the contact's vehicle would receive the recall repair. The contact was not experiencing a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. VIN tool confirms parts not available. …
Driver air bag inflator final repair notice - safety recall 8215f. I took my vehicle when I received the first notice and went to jim falk Mazda in kahului,maui,hawaii and they told me sorry we don't have the part to replace yet but will call me when it comes in and that was about a year ago.now I received the 2nd and final notice and I called two days ago to the same place and again they told me they were going to look into it and call me back. Well no call back yet and I am getting very upset that they don't feel that this is important to call people back to fix this important problem. Being that the airbag is important you would think that they would order the part asap and call you to come in and have it replaced.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V354000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer (shortline Mazda, 90 havana st, aurora, co 80010 [phone]) was contacted and informed the contact that the parts were not available for the recall remedy and they would call the contact when parts become available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 10/26/17 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
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.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Mazda6 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2004 Mazda Mazda6?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the air bags of the 2004 Mazda Mazda6, 34% of the model year's 160 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Mazda Mazda6 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-781 (inflator module, Oct 31, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-402 (inflator module, Jun 15, 2018); NHTSA recall 17V-474 (inflator module, Jul 26, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Mazda Mazda6 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 121,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 1 fire and 6 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.