2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE Air Bags Problems

The driver air bag light on the instrument panel has been illuminated since 2004, repair had been attempted several times but has failed. A bulletin has been sent by the manufacture to the dealership regarding steering wheel airbag light being illuminated giving a false warning, due to defective electrical wiring that cannot be repaired.

The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 212,900.

Mileage: 212,900

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA ZH98 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THE BODY DAMAGE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP BEHIND ANOTHER CAR AT A RED LIGHT AND MY CAR SLOWED DOWN BUT DID NOT FULLY STOP. I BARELY BUMPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT PROBABLY LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR BUT MY AIR BAGS WENT OFF. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO MY CAR OTHER THAN THE AIR BAGS EXPLODING AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY WANTS TO TOTAL MY CAR BECAUSE OF THE AIR BAGS EXPLODING. I HAVE SECOND DEGREE BURNS AND A CUT FROM THE AIR BAG.

Mileage: 142,000

SIDE IMPACT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, AND THE SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE STEERING WHEEL CRACKED, YOU CAN SEE THE AIR BAG BUT IT DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER....UPDATED 05-27-15 *BF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED. UPDATED 07/07/15

ON JULY 15 I WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT RANDOMLY FLASHES AND SOMETIMES STAYS ON FOR 2 TO 3 DAYS. IT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED DUE TO THE COST OF REPAIRING IT. IF THE AIR BAG EXPLODES WHILE I AM DRIVING THIS COULD BE FATAL TO MYSELF, MY 1 YEAR OLD SON AND MY 12 YEAR OLD SON. EVERY MAZDA SUV / TRUCK FROM 2004 HAS A RECALL EXCEPT MINE. THE RECALL NEEDS TO EXTEND TO THE TRIBUTE BECAUSE THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT'S NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *TR

Mileage: 129,075

CONCERNING TAKATA/MAZDA AIRBAG RECALL, I PURCHASED MY USED 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE DX FROM SANTA FE (NM) MAZDA VOLVO DEALER OCTOBER 2006. THEN I SHIPPED IT VIA CROWLEY SHIPPING TO MY PERMANENT RESIDENCE IN ST. JOHN, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS...WHERE IT HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY IN USE FROM 2007-TO PRESENT. ST. JOHN, US VIRGIN ISLANDS IS A HIGH HUMIDITY AREA . YOUR ONLINE RECALL QUALIFYING AREA MENTIONS JUST PUERTO RICO, SO BEFORE I AM DIVERTED OR PUT OFF BY MAZDA, I WISH TO KNOW IF I ACTUALLY QUALIFY. ON TOP OF THIS, AT TIME OF PURCHASE IT WAS NOT POINTED OUT TO ME THAT THE USED CAR WAS AN OFFICIAL "LEMON LAW BUYBACK. I DID NOT SEE THE PLAQUE AFFIXED TO THE FRAME OF THE CAR UNTIL AFTER IT WAS SHIPPED HERE AND I WAS WASHING TOP TO BOTTOM TO GET SHIPPING SEA SALT OFF. I AM 70 AND LIVE ALONE, NEVER EVEN OCCURRED TO ME TO THINK OF SUCH A THING. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL OF THE MAJOR PARTS OF THE CAR OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS, SO NOW I AM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE AIR BAG. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Mileage: 150,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR BUMPER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE'S BUMPER. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIP LASH, BACK, AND WRIST INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE NOT HAVE DEPLOYED AT SUCH LOW SPEED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND WOULD CONTINUE ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. ...UPDATED 10/10/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE MAZDA PAID HALF OF THE REPAIR COST OF THE AIR BAG CONNECTOR. UPDATED 10/16/12

Mileage: 55,000

AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND NOW REMAINS ON. THE 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE HAS BEEN IN A NORMAL MANNER AND ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

FRONT AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS GOING OFF FACTORY WONT CLAIM DEFECT PARTS PAYING COSTLY OUT OF POCKET REPAIRS STILL UNDER WARRANTY "JUST NOT THOSE PARTS". *TR

Mileage: 75,000

2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY IN PARK WHEN SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. DEALER AND MAZDA TOLD ME IT IS MY INSURANCE COMPANIES RESPONSIBILITY TO INVESTIGATE. AFTER SEEING THE OTHER ISSUES THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE WITH THE SYSTEM. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER ON SIX OCCASIONS FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER REPLACED A WIRING HARNESS, THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED A SEAT MODULE, THE THIRD TIME THEY HAD TO REINSTALL THE HARNESS BECAUSE THEY CONNECTED IT IMPROPERLY, THE FOURTH TIME, THEY REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE SENSOR, THE FIFTH TIME THEY REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT SENSOR, AND MOST RECENTLY, THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUES. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Mileage: 72,000

MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 4 YEARS OLD YET AND THE AIRBAGS DO NOT WORK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THAT, HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNLESS THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS MATTER. AIRBAGS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE SAFE AND THEY ARE REQUIRED. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. DEALER DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT CODE B1877 AND B1994 NEED 2 HARNESSES FOR SIDE AIR BAGS AND 2 HARNESSES FOR PRETENSIONER. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT. WELL MAINTAINED IAW MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDATIONS. IF THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM PERHAPS THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR $900. *TR

Mileage: 60,400

I HAVE HAD AIR BAG HARNESS REPLACED THREE TIMES NOW AND ACCORDING TO MAZDA IT HAS NOW CAUSED MY AIR BAG MODULE TO SHORT OUT. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY RECALL WHICH MAZDA DOES NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO. I AM CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGER IN CAR AND COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS BECOMING ABSORBENT AND ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY CONCERN WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I HAVE HAD AIR BAG HARNESS REPLACED THREE TIMES NOW AND ACCORDING TO MAZDA IT HAS NOW CAUSED MY AIR BAG MODULE TO SHORT OUT. THIS WOULD SEEM TO BE A SAFETY RECALL WHICH MAZDA DOES NOT WANT TO OWN UP TO. I AM CONCERNED FOR SAFETY OF PASSENGER IN CAR AND COST FOR REPLACEMENT IS BECOMING ABSORBENT AND ANY INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY CONCERN WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. SHE CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY REFERRED HER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK

DT: 2004 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 27, 2005 WAS HIT BY A DRUNKEN DRIVER. DRIVER'S SIDE WAS TOTALED, AND THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER WAS CUT BY THE WINDOW GLASS, HE REQUIRED A FEW STITCHES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP AND VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO SEE WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CALLED MAZDA, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DOCUMENT IT, BUT IT WAS UP TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO INVESTIGATE THE ACCIDENT. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK THE FRONT DOORS WERE IMPACTED YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

Mileage: 8,100

I WAS SITTING A STOP LIGHT. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A CAR AT 40 MPH. THE IMPACT PUSHED ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BUT SEATBELT BUCKLE SHATTERED INTO 6 PIECES. I CONTACTED MAZDA, AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. HTTP://WWW.KODAKGALLERY.COM/PHOTOVIEW.JSP?&COLLID=90010007906&PHOTOID=53811007906. *AK

Mileage: 13,500

DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Mileage: 801