Mazda North American Operations has now detailed the Takata airbag inflator related recall it said earlier it would undertake.
Affected vehicles, totalling 444,907, are 2003-2008 6 models made from 29 May 2002 to 5 May 2008, 2004-2008 RX-8s manufactured from 10 April 2003 to 18 February 2008, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed 6s built from 4 August 2005 to 28 June 2007.
The cars, Mazda said, have a dual stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver’s frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Dealers will replace the inflator.