I PURCHASED A USED 2011 MAZDA 3 IN MARCH 2019. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT THE TIME BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING A CODE 16 ON THE DASH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR AND THE TWO PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS AROUND $800. I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPONENTS ON A CAR MAY GO BAD OVER TIME BUT SHOULD S…
2011 mazda Mazda3 airbags problems
severe 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Crashes
6
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WERE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND SHE WAS SEVERELY REAR ENDED. THE APPROXIMATE TRAVEL SPEED WAS 65 MILES PER HR ON THERE FREEWAY.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WIRING AND WEIGHT SENSOR. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT PUTS PASSENGERS AT RISK. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON TIME BY TIME FOR UNKNOWN REASON . I BRING THIS TO ATTENTION ON TIME IN MY BUMPER TO BUMPER GUARANTEE IN MY DEALER ON 2011, DEALER SAID THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I RECEIVED A LETTER BY MAIL ON OCT 2017 THAT A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT IS RELATED TO AIR BAG , I AM WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG IN MY AIRBAG ,SO I ADVISED MY DEALER THEY REFUSED TO CHEC…
PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF AND IT'S ALWAYS ON. THE ICON ON THE DASH IS INDICATING CODE 16. NOBODY IS SEATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 mazda Mazda3?
It's a meaningful issue. 22 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities.
Repair cost estimates are independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area.
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