As of this moment, every automaker is trying to wrap their arms around the now world famous Takata airbag recall. Mazda is one of the latest manufacturers expanding the breadth of the vehicles being called back.
Though I've rehashed it countless times in previous threads, this is the whole "when the airbag deploys, it will kill you via flying metal bits into your face and/or neck and/or chest region" bit.
According to the company-issued press release, if you own a 2004-2008 Mazda6 or RX-8, Mazda will be starting a nationwide campaign to address the issue.
One statement I find particularly interesting is the following:
The nationwide Safety Improvement Campaign will cover the driver's-side airbag inflator, as Mazda has not made a safety defect determination at this time. This action will support us to gather additional parts for examination and to promote customer satisfaction and safety.
So, is this a recall or what? Seems to be some very cautious language being used. As of now, we're dubbing it a recall until we hear otherwise.
Mazda's press release follows:
UPDATED MAZDA STATEMENT REGARDING TAKATA AIRBAGS
Dec 11, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC (December 11, 2014) – In addition to the actions announced on December 4, 2014, as discussed in a separate document, Mazda today announced the following steps in the Takata recall:
Mazda will institute a nationwide Safety Improvement Campaign of 2004-2008 model-year Mazda6 and RX-8 models equipped with certain Takata airbag inflators.
The nationwide Safety Improvement Campaign will cover the driver's-side airbag inflator, as Mazda has not made a safety defect determination at this time. This action will support us to gather additional parts for examination and to promote customer satisfaction and safety.
There are approximately 330,000 vehicles included in this Safety Improvement Campaign in the United States
So far, Takata has tested a large number of inflators removed from Mazda vehicles, and NONE have been found to be non-compliant at this time
One vehicle – a 2005 Mazda6 located in Florida – has been identified as having experienced an abnormal driver's-side airbag deployment. Mazda has worked closely with NHTSA on this situation
Mazda will participate in the independent, industry-wide joint testing program for Takata airbag inflators
For history, on December 4, 2014, Mazda announced:
It would expand the area of the high-temperature, high-humidity region recall to include the Gulf Coast states. This campaign included both driver's- and passenger-side airbag inflators.
The following states and territories comprise the High Absolute Humidity Region - Florida; Puerto Rico; Hawaii; Saipan; Guam; American Samoa; US Virgin Islands; Georgia; Alabama; Louisiana; Mississippi; Texas.
As of December 4th, the estimated vehicles in all Mazda-Takata campaigns is 86,773. (Pending Polk Data confirmation).
Mazda is working closely with Takata to move forward the supply timing for replacement airbags. We continue to encourage customers to respond to our campaigns, and are making direct-to-customer phone calls and re-sending notification letters.
With safety as our first priority, we are cooperating with Takata to work toward finding a solution to this problem as early as possible
This situation is fluid, and updates will be provided regularly.