The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side seat wobbled and was unsecured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that the front driver’s side seat lifter link was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 17V082000 (SEATS). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the dashboard was melted and warped. The contact was concerned that the front air bags would not properly deploy due to the warped dashboard housing in the front driver and passenger side air bags. The failure mileage was 167,850.
2011 Mazda MAZDA3 airbags problems
29 complaints (22% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 70,421. 8 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 29
- of this car's complaints
- 22%
- typical mileage
- 70,421
- crashes
- 8
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Sensor: occupant classification1
- Frontal1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Mazda MAZDA3 airbags problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 airbags
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
What 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the insurance company and can be made available for inspection upon request. During the crash, no airbags deployed, which significantly increased the risk of serious injury or death. The lack of airbag deployment left my partner and me completely unprotected at the moment of impact, including the number of times we rolled, seriously putting our safety at severe risk The vehicle is no longer drivable. The police report notes that the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is in the process of inspection by my insurance adjusters as part of the total‑loss evaluation. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the airbag system, but the vehicle can be made available if Mazda requests an inspection. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms indicating an airbag or safety system issue before the crash. The airbag system gave no indication of malfunction before the failure occurred.
When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn’t show these malfunctions. It literally randomly occurs. Therefore, they told me that I need to bring the car when it start happening in regular basis to understand the exact cause for the issue. I don’t know when it becomes a regular issue. 4-5 days ago, when I was turning right on a small street, the wheel locked again. I was about to crash. It’s a deadly malfunction, so I don’t want to wait until then.
The dashboard is lifting up possibly affecting the drivers side and passengers side airbags deployment. I am very concerned I dont know when it happened
The airbag light keeps coming on flickering periodically as I'm driving. I'm very concerned about this airbag if it's going to deploy while I'm driving or if it's going to even deploy if I do get into an accident and if it's going to work or am I going to be killed if it doesn't deploy I'm very concern it's is safety issue.
Passenger airbag light will go on and off with nobody in the seat. This happens randomly and not consistently. Sometimes while stationary, sometimes while driving. The dashboard has come apart from the center piece on the dash with the digital display. Car was purchased in texas in 2013, drove to maine in 2015 and driven to virginia since 2018. Progressively gotten worse rear view mirror has strange brown marks inside the mirror making it difficult to see. Owner does not smoke. Strange clunky noise from rear suspension, not consistent very random. Smooth road, bumpy road, fast or slow, the sound just randomly happens from time to time. Headlights form moisture, owner bought new headlights with mechanic install and they started to collect moisture about a year after installation. Owner of vehicle since 2013 to present. Vehicle purchased at approx 60k miles, currently approx 130k miles.
Airbags: did not deploy upon impact of a streetlamp pole on the front driverside quarter. Front farring damaged and replaced. I was turning left, it was raining, the glare of the light blinded me enough to go up on the curb and impact the streetlamp pole. I replaced the farring and had my mazda3 fully aligned. Electrical: purchased vehicle in october 2016. Replaced battery 4 times, alternator 3 times since purchase. Seat heaters haven't worked ever. Driverside seat started wiggling after contact with streetlamp pole.
Tl* the contact owned a 2011 mazda 3. The contact stated that while driving at 71 MPH, the vehicle hit a deer causing the hood to open with force cracking the windshield. The air bags also failed to deploy. A deer hit the front driver's side of the vehicle. The contact hit her head and knee on the steering wheel. The contact also sustained a whiplash. The vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 17v082000 (seats). The contact stated that after the impact smoke was seen coming from the front of the vehicle. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss. A dealer or independent mechanic was not contacted for diagnoses or repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000.
I purchased a used 2011 mazda 3 in march 2019. I didn't notice it at the time but the air bag light was flashing a code 16 on the dash. I took it to my local dealership and had to pay $100 diagnostic fee. They told me it was the passenger seat weight sensor and the two parts would need to be replaced. The cost was around $800. I understand that components on a car may go bad over time but should something as important as an air bag sensor go bad in less than 9 years? And if it does, should I have to pay $800 for my safety when it should be the company that covers that. I've read that this is a common problem and there are no recalls. If I am in an accident and I have a passenger in the front seat, their airbag will not go off and that person could be seriously hurt or killed.
Mazda oem 11-13 3 seat track-occupant sensor right bcn167sw0a is faulty . There are thousands of cases of this ! The price of this items is 350.00 ! There should be a class action lawsuit or a recall ! This causes the passenger side airbags to be disabled . If you want it to work 350.00 ! Less then 3 years of owning this car
Questions about the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 airbags
Does the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the airbags of the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3, 22% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 70,421 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 airbags?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Mazda MAZDA3 have bad airbags?
The Mazda MAZDA3 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2007 (36 complaints), 2011 (29 complaints) and 2006 (27 complaints).
Other 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 problems
Seats 20Electrical 15Body 13Steering 13Transmission 12Lights 10Visibility 8Suspension 7Tires 7Driver assistance 5Engine 5Seat belts 5Brakes 4Acceleration 3Fuel system 3Wheels 3
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