1997 MAZDA 626 Air Bags Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 MAZDA 626. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

Mileage: 80,000

WE HAD JUST BOUGHT MY 1997 MAZDA 626 FROM A FAMILY MEMBER AND HAD ONLY HAD IT ABOUT 3 WEEKS. MY MOTHER IN LAW HAD USED MY CAR AND WAS COMING DOWN THE DRIVE AND HIT A POT HOLE WHEN THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HITTING HER IN THE FACE AND BUSTING THE WINDSHIELD. SHE HAD TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED DUE TO THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. I THEN WENT ONLINE WHERE I SAW THAT MAZDA HAD A RECALL ON MY CAR MODEL. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, THAT I WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. DUE TO THIS BEING AN OLDER VEHICLE I HAVE ONLY LIABILTY INSURANCE. THE CAR CONTINUES TO SET IN THE SAME STATE AS THE DAY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN.

Mileage: 157,821

BLACK ICE CAR EXITED THE ROAD, HIT A TREE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, OCTOBER 8, 2006, I WAS DRIVING LOCALLY TO VISIT A FRIEND IN A NEW HOME. I HAD JUST TURNED OFF A BUSY THOROUGHFARE ONTO A SIDE ROAD WHEN A HUGE EXPLOSION WENT OFF IN MY FACE. I WAS TRAUMATIZED AND BLINDED AT FIRST- ALL I KNEW WAS THAT I COULDN'T SEE, AND HAD BEEN HIT IN THE FACE WITH A TREMENDOUS FORCE--I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT I HAD BEEN IN A COLLISION, BUT COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHERE ANOTHER CAR COULD HAVE COME FROM--I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR, UNDO MY SEAT BELT AND GET OUT OF THE SMOKEY INTERIOR--A WOMAN DRIVING BEHIND ME PULLED UP AND HELPED ME TO THE CURB, SAYING "GET AWAY FROM THE CAR!" SINCE IT LOOKED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO EXPLODE! SHE CALLED THE RESCUE SQUAD, AND THEY INSPECTED MY INJURIES, WHICH WERE MAINLY FACIAL BRUISING AND SCRAPES--ASKED ME IF I WANTED TO BE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, AND I REFUSED, SIGNING A PAPER THAT SAID THAT I REFUSED--MY FRIEND CAME DOWN THE STREET AFTER I CALLED HER, AND BROUGHT ME A BAG OF ICE TO PUT ON MY FACE. I WAS GREATLY SHAKEN, AND STAYED AT HER HOME FOR THE AFTERNOON, AND THEN DROVE SLOWLY THE SHORT DISTANCE HOME WITH THE BAG TAPED UP -- I WAS TOLD TO NOT LET ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGERS SEAT SINCE THAT AIR BAG MIGHT DEPLOY ALSO AT ANY TIME! MY INSURANCE COMPANY SAID IT WOULD NOT COVER THE EXPENSES OF REPAIRING THE AIRBAG. *JB

Mileage: 109,456

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON CONSTANTLY, MEANING IT WILL NOT WORK. *JB

Mileage: 84,200

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 1O MPH AND CROSSING OVER A METAL SEWER COVER (THREE TO FOR 4 INCHES HIGHER ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE ROAD), THE FRONT DRIVER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A COMPLETE LOSS SINCE THE PRICE TO REPAIR THE AIRBAG OUTWEIGHED THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V249000, REGARDING AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.

Mileage: 149,000

DT: THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD KEEPS BLINKING. THE CONSUMER SAYS THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ELECTRICAL. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS A SENSOR THAT NEEDED REPLACING. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS ON THE CAR OUT OF POCKET. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN FLASHING A MONTH.*AK

Mileage: 59,000

I HAVE FAILED 2 TIMES TRYING TO TYPE THIS LETTER OF COMPLAINT. WELL,I HAVE A 1997 MAZDA 626 LX 4 CYLINDER,2 LITER ENGINE SEDAN.,THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THEW TIME NOW. FIRST TIME I TOOK IT BACK TO GRANGER IN GARDEN CITY,GA AND THEY SENT IT TO FAIRWAY FORDMAZDA IN ABERCORN ST IN SAVANNAH,GA. THEY KEPT IT ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYED OFF ABOUT 2 YEARS. THEN IT STARTED COMING BACK ON IN FEBRUARY 2005,SO I TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC HERE IN POOLER,GA.HE CLEARED THE SENSORS,LASTED ABOUT 1/2 DAY,TOOL\K IT BACK,HE SAID IT WAS NUMBER 2 SENSOR,REPLACED IT,LASTED ABOUT A DAY AND NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. NUMBER 2 SENSOR WAS WHAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME. I;M ALSO EXPERCING SOME JERKY MOTION IN THIS CAR AND IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION. SO I'M HOPING THAT YOU WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAULTY PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS,LIKE RECALL THEM AND REPAIR THEM AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. [email protected]. *AK

Mileage: 46,000

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 1997 MAZDA 626 WHEN SHE HIT A POTHOLE AT 19TH AND SPRING GARDEN STS IN PHILA., PA. BOTH AIRBAGS WENT OFF, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD. HER NECK WAS A LITTLE RED AFTER THE INCIDENT, BUT NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WAS SOUGHT. WE FOUND A SMALL DENT IN THE RIM, BUT THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. SHE DROVE THE CAR TO A PLACE WHERE SHE COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALED THE CAR. I FOUND THAT 97 MAZDA 626'S WERE RECALLED. I HAD A DEALER CHECK OUR VIN NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN IN FOR THE RECALL. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY AAA MIDATLANTIC IS CALLING THIS A CHARGEABLE ACCIDENT AND RAISING OUR RATES 40%. I FEEL THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED WHEN HITTING A POTHOLE AT NO MORE THAN 25 MPH THAT DID NO REAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR. LUCKILY, SHE WAS NOT HURT, BUT WAS CERTAINLY SCARED TO DEATH WHEN IT WENT OFF.*AK

Mileage: 87,000

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY AND SHATTERED THE VEHICLE WINDSHIELD. *AK *MR

Mileage: 80,000

MY WIFE STRUCK A CURB WITH THE RIGHT-FRONT TIRE AT ABOUT 25-30 MPH. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, THOUGH NOT THE PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN I LOOKED ON THE DOT WEBSITE I FOUND THAT 97 626 DRIVERS-SIDE AIRBAGS HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR DEPLOYING TOO EASILY. WHEN I SPOKE WITH THE DEALER THEY SAID THAT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL. MY INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR THE REPAIR, LESS OUR $300 DEDUCTIBLE, AND PUT IN A COMPLAINT ON THE AIRBAG. BECAUSE THEY WERE PAYING AROUND $1800, I THOUGHT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MY QUESTION IS, IF THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, WHY DID THE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THERE WAS NO BODY DAMAGE, AND WHY DIDN'T THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL WAS STRUCK? EITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE DEPLOYS TOO EASILY, OR THE PASSENGER SIDE DOESN'T DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD.

Mileage: 86,000

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON A SURFACE STREET WITHOUT BRAKING. DRIVING 30 MILES AND HOUR AND THE BAGS EXPLODED WITH NO IMPACT OF ANY KIND. I WAS BURNED AND BRUSED. MAZDA WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND INSISTS THAT I HAVE MY INSURANCE PAY FOR REPAIR. THE BAGS WERE ON FIRE.*AK

WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE, CAUSING INJURIES AND DAMAGE. *AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 45 MPH AND NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT BEING IN AN ACCIDENT, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO DRIVER, AND MAJOR INJURIES TO FRONT AND BACK PASSENGER.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 35 MPH CONSUMER HIT A POTHOLE, AND BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. CONSUMER FEELS AIRBAGS SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING 20-25 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING 20-25 MPH WITHOUT WARNING OR INVOLVEMENT OF A COLLISION, THE AIR AIR BAGS DEPLOYED CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER.*AK. ALSO THE RIGHT TIRE AND WHEEL WERE DAMAGED AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AT THE CURB.*YD

RECEIVED SAFETY RECALL IN MAIL TO HAVE DEALER RE-PROGRAM AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO RISK OF PRE-MATURE DEPLOYMENT. UPON PRESENTING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL SAFETY FIX, WAS ADVISED THAT AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NO LONGER OPERATIVE AND MUST PAY $365 TO INSTALL NEW UNIT. CURRENTLY WITHOUT AIRBAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DUE TO COMPLYING WITH MAZDA FACTORY SAFTEY RECALL ACTION.

WHILE TRAVELING AT 40-45 MPH LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING OVER GRAVEL, AS A RESULT RAN INTO GAURDRAIL AND TWO STREET SIGNS. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S AIR BAG INTERMITTENTLY DEPLOYED. *AK

AFTER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTCHEMICAL FROM THE AIR BAG CAUSES CONSUMER UPPER RESPIRATORY PROBLEMS, SUCH AS SHORTNESS OF BREATH, DIZZINESS AND RAPID HEART BEAT. SEEKING HELP FROM NHTSA TO LOCATE TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED IN THAT AIR BAG. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER . *AK

BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHEN CONSUMER WENT OVER A BUMP IN ROAD AT ABOUT 15 MPH, WINDSHIELD CRACKED WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. IMPACT WAS ON LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN MINOR INJURIES.*AK THE VEHICL'S SENSOR SYSTEM FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN ACCIDENT BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND DEALER REFUSED TO TAKE IT BACK. *YH

RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN WHEN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT EMITTING NOXIOUS FUMES FROM THEM WHICH MADE THE CONSUMERS CHOKE AND DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. NLM

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT EMITTING NOXIOUS FUMES FROM THEM WHICH MADE THE CONSUMERS CHOKE AND DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. NLM

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT EMITTING NOXIOUS FUMES FROM THEM WHICH MADE THE CONSUMERS CHOKE AND DAMAGES TO VEHICLE. NLM

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING (NO ACCIDENT OR WARNING). MJS

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. DEALER SAYS AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 6 PM. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT INTO A LARGE POTHOLE THAT I DIDN'T SEE, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO CRACK, AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR TO BE BENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT BY THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAGS PUSHING INTO THE CAR. THE POTHOLE WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO BEND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL AND PUT A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, AND KNOCKED THE SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DASHBOARD ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FACE RECEIVED SEVERAL LACERATIONS ABOUT THE MOUTH AND NOSE, AND IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY IF I'VE SUFFERED ANY PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MAZDA PARTS DIVISION SEEMS TO HAVE A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THIS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, MEANING I WILL BE CAR-LESS FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SO FAR. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WHEEL AND TIRE CLAIM ONLY, AND I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS A RESULT OF THIS. *AK

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT 6 PM. RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WENT INTO A LARGE POTHOLE THAT I DIDN'T SEE, CAUSING AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY, WHICH CAUSED WINDSHIELD TO CRACK, AND THE PASSENGER FRONT DOOR TO BE BENT OUT OF ALIGNMENT BY THE FORCE OF THE AIRBAGS PUSHING INTO THE CAR. THE POTHOLE WAS LARGE ENOUGH TO BEND THE ALUMINUM WHEEL AND PUT A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE, AND KNOCKED THE SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DASHBOARD ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FACE RECEIVED SEVERAL LACERATIONS ABOUT THE MOUTH AND NOSE, AND IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY IF I'VE SUFFERED ANY PERMANENT HEARING LOSS. MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MAZDA PARTS DIVISION SEEMS TO HAVE A NATIONAL BACKORDER ON THIS PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG, MEANING I WILL BE CAR-LESS FOR AN UNSPECIFIED AMOUNT OF TIME. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS SO FAR. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A WHEEL AND TIRE CLAIM ONLY, AND I'M LUCKY I DIDN'T SWERVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AS A RESULT OF THIS. *AK

ON 15 JAN 99, CONSUMER RECEIVED A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING MAZDA/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT / NHTSA RECALL # 98V-249000. CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR 20TH. JAN 99. ON THE 16 JAN 99, VEHICLE HIT A POTHOLE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY ON BOTH SIDES. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. *AK

AFTER HITTING A CURB AT 5 MPH, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT REASON, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

THE LEFT TIRE WENT OVER A CURB AND ONLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, WITHOUT VEHICLE COLLISION OCCURRING, THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT CONSUMER HIT A POT HOLE CAUSING DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS AND THAT IT WAS NORMAL. *SLC

DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE 35MPH, VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED AT A 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING. NO FRONTAL DAMAGE ON VEHICLE. *AK