Problems · by component

1996 Mazda 6 Series air bags problems

48 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda 6 Series cite air bags, 13% of all 362 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
48
13% of all complaints
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
30
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION AND POWERED ON, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO A BRICK PILLAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED AN INJURED BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 213,365.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2015Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10690214
“I WAS DRIVING ON 131 NORTH ABOUT 75-80 MPH AND MY AIRBAGS (BOTH SIDES) DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO DAMAGE AND I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. I RECEIVED BURNS ON MY NOSE, ON MY LIPS, SPRAINED JAW, BLOODY NOSE, BURNS ON MY WRIST, AND FACIAL SCRAPES AND CONTUSIONS. THE PASSENGER SIDE STARTED TO SMOKE, AND WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL THE AIRBAG WAS REMOVED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2007Air bagsODI 10184137
“JUNE 28, 2002 -- WELLINGS MAZDA, RICHMOND, IN "PERFORMED RECALL SSP-34 AIR BAG CAMPAIGN. MARCH 2004, MATT CASTRUCCI'S AUTO MALL, "BODY ELECTRICAL: CUSTOMER STATES AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON PLEASE CHECK OUT AND ADV," AND "CUSTORMER STATES CAR IS RUNNING ROUGH, WAS TOLD VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE LEAKING AND ON THE SPARK PLUGS PLEASE CHECK OUT." RESULTS WERE: "CHECKED OUT LIGHT IS NOT ON, NO CORRECTION AT THIS TIME." AND "CHECKED OUT REPLACED VALAVE {SIC} COVER GASKETS AND INTAKE GASKETS CLEANED SPARK PLUG WIRES AND PLUGS. RECHECKED OK" SEPT. 19, 2004 -- WHILE MOTIONLESS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. WE DO HAVE RELIABLE WITNESSES. THE DRIVER (ME) IS A PHYSICS PROFESSOR, THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER IS A PH.D. CANDIDATE, THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER IS A PSYCHOLOGY PROFESSOR, AND THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER JUST FINISHED LAW SCHOOL. THERE WAS ALSO A PEDESTRIAN STANDING 3 FEET AWAY AND A HELPFUL DRIVER IN THE ADJACENT (ALSO MOTIONLESS) CAR.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 20, 2004Air bagsODI 10091346
“WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY THE CONSUMER APPLY HIS BRAKES TO AVOID ANOTHER MOTORIST. AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2002Air bagsCrash reportedODI 8022599
“WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY.FRONT END OF CAR HIT RIGHT REAR SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. MAXDA HAS BEEN CONTACTED. CONSUMER FELT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 27, 2002Air bagsCrash reportedODI 8017270
“AS A RESULT OF A CRASH WHILE TRAVELING AT 60 MPH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REBUILT, THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON , CV JOINTS ARE ALSO FAULTY, ALSO VEHICLE WAS IN AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER HIT A DEER.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2001Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 889065

Showing 6 of 48 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: sensor

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Air bagsReported Oct 8, 1998NHTSA 98V249000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1996 6 Series problem areas