Investigation EA97012: 1995–1996 Mazda 626

Status

CLOSED

Opened

May 23, 1997

Closed

Oct 9, 1998

Model years

1995–1996

Subject

Oversensitive air bag deployment

Component: Air bags

Summary

In may of 1997, odi upgraded to an engineering analysis with 51 complaints.odi is now aware of 88 complaints of alleged inappropriate airbag deployments.typical complaints allege that the airbags deployed after the vehicle hit a pot hole at between 20 and 45 mph, or that the airbags deployed while driving at between 20 or 60 mph for no apparent reason.approximately 25 drivers alleged that they did not hit anything in the roadway.mazda will conduct a safety recall ofall 1995 and 1996 models of the mazda 626 and mx-6, as well as a small number of 1997 mazda 626 models, equipped with the same sas unit.the sas unit controls the airbag systemit contains a built-in crash sensor to detect vehicle deceleration during a collision.affected models were assembled from june 1, 1994 through september 10, 1996 and have a vin within the following ranges: mazda 626:1yvge22**s5300001 through 1yvge22**v5599030 mazda mx-6: 1yvge31**s5300001 through 1yvge31**t5589965all owners will be notified of the possibility that their vehicle may experience an unnecessary airbag depoyment in certain situations.they will be instructed to bring their vehicle to a mazda dealer to reprogram the sas unit to reduce the frequency of unnecessary deployments.

An NHTSA investigation looks into whether a safety defect exists. Opening one is not a finding. Outcomes can include a recall, closure without action, or further inquiry.

Model years covered

• 1996 Mazda 626359 complaints
• 1995 Mazda 626488 complaints