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 2006 Mazda Mazda6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mazda 6. While driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side and caused significant damage to the front end of the contact's vehicle. During the crash, the seat belts did not secure the driver. The air bag deployment was delayed and caused the driver's head to impact the steering wheel. The driver sustained severe lacerations to the upper lip, damaged teeth, and facial contusions that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver swerved to avoid another vehicle and crashed into a concrete divider. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was called, but there was no response. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mazda 6. While driving at various speeds, another motorist attempted to pass the contact in a 'do not pass' zone and crashed into the driver side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained broken ribs, which required medical attention. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was later deemed destroyed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.
I was driving on northbound 71 near louisville, ky when a vehicle entered the freeway and cut me off. I avoided a collision with him but the vehicle behind me hit me multiple times in multiple locations, spinning me across the freeway. One was a side impact hit which forced my head into the driver's side window, breaking it. I had six airbags in my 2006 Mazda 6 and none of them deployed. The rates of speed being traveled were at approximately 55 miles per hour. I was harmed but not enough to warrant a lawsuit according to lawyers, yet my equipment failed to protect me in my vehicle. My vehicle is now totaled as well.
- vehicle is subject to Takata airbag recall. Located in zone a - received multiple notices in mail since 2016. - Mazda website does not acknowledge a recall exists when trying to schedule an appointment - they acknowledge it when phoned in - recall always quoted to take a day, with no alternate transport available. Despite mailer saying free alternative transport available. I've tried multiple times. - I need a vehicle - always. Right now my choice is to continue driving my car (at risk of 'serious injury or death') or lose my livelihood.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the air bag light would remain illuminated occasionally. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V345000, 15V382000, 15V869000 (air bags) and stated that the parts needed for the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Had recall for defective airbags. Took vehicle to dealer and they replaced both drivers side and passenger side air bags. I have received second recall notice to have the passenger side replaced again as the one they originally replaced it with is defective to. If the passenger side is defective then so the drivers side is to. Want to know why drivers side isn't going to be replaced.
I was driving to work at 733 am and my brakes locked front wheel slid card did not stop and hit front vehicle and air bags did not deploy and cause me an accident which car was completely a loss and im still scare that the airbags did not work. Im still scare I did not cause myself a worse accident but im emotionally still shaken by the air bags.
My husband was making a left-hand turn and didn't see any oncoming vehicle. The vehicle smashed into him making the car spin 180 degrees. The passenger's side airbag went off instantly, the driver's side airbag did not deploy until after the car had stopped spinning.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16V354000 (air bags), 16V345000 (air bags), 15V869000 (air bags), and 15V382000 (air bags). 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. 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. Parts distribution disconnect. Updated 08/03/16 the consumer stated the vehicle was repaired on July 5, 2016. Updated 08/09/16.
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 2006 Mazda Mazda6?
NHTSA has 93 complaints about the air bags of the 2006 Mazda Mazda6, 54% of the model year's 173 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 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 2006 Mazda Mazda6 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 90,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 0 fires and 7 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.