2011 Mazda MAZDA2

The defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.

The risk

If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.

The remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 173,859 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

150,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda2. The contact stated while driving at 70 mph, the glass sunroof spontaneously exploded and shattered causing the glass to enter the vehicle. The contact stated that no object hit or caused the sunroof to shatter. The contact pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road to clean up the class that was in the vehicle and then continued driving to the residence. The vehicle was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage 150,000. Consumer stated sunroof was an aftermarket installation.

NHTSA complaint 11423265. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

64,000 miles

WE HAD OUR RACK AND PINION STEERING REPLACED AT THE MAZDA DEALER ON NOVEMBER 20, 2018 DUE TO CLONKING IN THE STEERING RACK. MY SON IS REPORTING THAT THE CLONKING AND STEERING IS MUCH WORSE WHEN SITTING STILL AND TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AND WHEN MAKING RIGHT AND LEFT HAND TURNS WHILE DRIVING. HE ALSO SAID THAT THE CAR DOESN'T WANT TO STEER STRAIGHT ON THE FREEWAY. I REPLACED THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS AND FRONT STRUTS IN 2018 AS WELL. I INSPECTED THE STRUTS AND BRAKES AND SUSPENSION TODAY AND FOUND THEM TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. I FIND THAT THE RACK AND PINION IS DEFECTIVE.

NHTSA complaint 11378040. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

107,500 miles

THE DRIVER SEAT SHIFTS FROM THE BASE, ON OCCASION IT HAS SLID FORWARD. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE BUT I WAS ABLE TO PUSH BACK AND IT WENT BACK INTO PLACE. THERE COULD BE BOLTS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOSENED.

NHTSA complaint 11341847. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

53,916 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA 2. WHILE MAKING A U-TURN, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT DISCONNECTED AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO FALL TOWARDS THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,916.

NHTSA complaint 11175001. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

90,000 miles

STEERING "CLUNKS" WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, AND METALLIC "CLANKS" ARE HEARD ON DRIVER'S SIDE UNDER DASH WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS. TOOK CAR TO LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO DIAGNOSED "BAD STEERING GEAR" AND STATED "THIS CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE." REPAIR BILL IS $1,200. LOOKING ONLINE, MULTIPLE MAZDA2 OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER IS CURRENTLY REPAIRING VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint 11110605. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

THE SYMBOL FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF AND BELT LIGHT KEEPS BLINKING ON THE DASHBOARD SINCE DEC 2017. I BOUGHT THIS FOR THE MAZDA DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, I DON'T HAVE MONEY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE WORK. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE REPAIR, WE HARDLY USE AND PARK ONLY IN THE GARAGE.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NHTSA complaint 11074352. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.