Two Drivers Killed - Mazda Owners Asked To Stop Driving Their 2006 B-Series Trucks

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An important recall covers Mazda trucks. We have the number to call to see if your truck is part of this stop-driving recall.

Mazda has issued a recall that involves the deaths of drivers in a similar vehicle that used the same airbags. Two inflators built at Takata on the same day have ruptured causing fatal injuries on the MY2006 Ford Ranger, which was the same vehicle in many respects but marketed by Ford. There have been no reports of accidents or injuries due to the Takata airbag inflator in the B-Series. We should also point out that only a small number of Mazda trucks are affected by this recall.

A group of 2006 model year B-Series vehicles have been identified by Mazda as having Takata driver side frontal air bags that show a high risk of ruptures during airbag deployment. Mazda recall 2218A (NHTSA number 18V038) issues a “stop drive” notification to affected owners. Mazda says the affected trucks have a driver side frontal air bag inflator which could rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash where the frontal airbags deploy.

A separate Recall 2318A (NHTSA number 18V039), representing the same trucks as 2218A, covers the passenger frontal airbag inflator of model year 2006 B-Series, which could rupture if the vehicle is involved in a crash where the supplemental frontal airbags are designed to deploy.

Mazda suggests that in this case, owners of B-Series trucks call 800-222-5500 to find out if their truck may be included in this important recall.

Submitted by Mark Day (not verified) on January 19, 2018 - 7:37PM

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It would be coherent for automotive writers, as a group, to get behind some sanity regarding killer airbags. Folks buy vehicles for a need called transportation. Asking the same folks to park their $30-$40+k vehicles for an undetermined time, when a simple remedy exists, is more than ridiculous. The last time I checked, the vehicles are paid for and owned by the folks on the title or loan documents. It should be their decision, if wanted, to disconnect said killer airbags. Is it necessary to present charts, graphs, videos, and pictures, for understanding?