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 2005 Mazda Mazda6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Mazda 6. While driving approximately 55 MPH in rainy weather conditions, the contact lost consciousness and struck a light pole. The driver side air bag deployed causing the driver to sustain scratches and cuts to the face and bruises to the right leg. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact received a recall notification regarding the air bag failure from the manufacturer. The NHTSA campaign number was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed and attempted to make a turn, the driver's side curtain air bag deployed without warning or impact. The contact sustained cuts, burns and bruises on the left arm. The contact drove himself to an urgent care medical facility. The contact called the sesi motors dealer: [phone], located at 3990 jackson rd, ann arbor, mi 48103) and was told to bring the vehicle in. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Mazda 6. While driving at approximately 15 MPH, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear passenger side of another vehicle. The contact stated that once the accident was done, the front driver side air bag deployed rendering the driver unconscious. The front passenger side air bag did not deploy. The driver was injured and received medical attention. A police report was filed and the vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000. Updated 4/13/15
Takata recall the lack of information about getting this repaired ("no parts are available" is the only info I have) is unacceptable. On top of that, I just sat on hold for almost a half hour waiting for my call to be answered, and the rep picked up, acted like she couldn't hear me on the phone and hung up on me. I have a letter saying I shouldn't let people ride in the front seat of my car because its unsafe, but then Mazda's site says oh its safe enough, never mind my driver's airbag where I sit to drive the [redacted] car is affected too. Mazda has to get its act together and get these things fixed immediately.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the failure did not occur until it was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V382000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the dealer had reset the sensor and the check engine indicator was turned off. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 119,141.
2006 Mazda 6. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle accident - damages to driver side door, no airbags deployed. Vehicle totaled. The consumer suffered a swollen and bruised right knee, and lump on the head and concussion from impacting the door frame. Due to the concussion the driver experienced violent vomiting and dizziness. The consumer was included in airbag recall (8215 f), which was completed prior to the accident. Updated 08/23/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to new england motors of fitchburg (located at 71 john fitch hwy, fitchburg, ma 01420) where it was diagnosed that unknown wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continued. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 90,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated intermittently. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 15V345000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The dealer stated that the parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 207,000.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 70 MPH on rural roads, control of the vehicle was lost and crashed into two trees. The air bags did not deploy however, seatbelts were worn. No injuries were sustained, and a police report was taken. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who determined the airbag sensors were not triggered. The vehicle was a 2005 Mazda 6.
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Mazda 6. While driving 45 MPH, the contact struck a deer on the front driver side of the vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and deemed destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.
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 2005 Mazda Mazda6?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Mazda Mazda6, 52% of the model year's 147 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 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 2005 Mazda Mazda6 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 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.