171K Mazda 3s and CX-30s Recalled Due to Potential Airbag Fault

Car and Driver

10-06-2025

Mazda is recalling 171,412 cars due to an issue that may deactivate the airbags, stopping them from deploying during a crash.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the recall is split between 51,857 Mazda 3s and 119,555 CX-30s.
Owners of affected cars will be notified and asked to bring their vehicles to a Mazda dealer to reprogram or replace the airbag sensor.
Mazda issued a recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that affects 171,412 cars from the 2024 and 2025 model years. The recall is split between 51,857 Mazda 3 sedans and hatchbacks and 119,555 CX-30 crossovers.
According to NHTSA, the recall is due to an issue that may deactivate the airbags, keeping them from deploying during a crash. Documents associated with the recall explain that if the battery becomes completely depleted by leaving the ignition switch in the "ON" position, the Sophisticated Airbag Sensor (SAS) unit will store an internal fault. The fault won't be stored if the battery is depleted in any other way. If the battery is recharged and the vehicle turned back on after being depleted, the airbag warning light will turn on in the instrument cluster and keep the airbags from deploying.
Marc Urbano
|
Car and Driver
According to NHTSA documents, the fix is as simple as reprogramming the existing SAS unit with improved hardware or replacing the unit with a newer one. Owners of affected models will be notified by mail and instructed to bring their vehicles to a Mazda dealer to perform the fix. Mazda isn't offering a reimbursement program for the issue, as all affected vehicles should still be under full warranty coverage.
The automaker has already notified dealers of the recall, and owner notification is expected to be completed by the end of July.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf. Read full bio