Mazda Recalls Vehicles for Airbag and Gear Shift Defects; Owners Urged to Act Promptly

Mazda is issuing two separate recalls affecting a total of 24 vehicles due to potential safety risks involving airbag functionality and gear shifter operation. Although the number of vehicles involved is small, the defects could lead to serious injury if not addressed, and owners are being encouraged to have their vehicles repaired as soon as possible.

The first recall, listed under NHTSA Recall No. 25V413, affects two 2025 Mazda CX-50 vehicles—one gasoline-powered and one hybrid—produced on February 27, 2025. These vehicles were fitted with Sophisticated Air bag Sensor (SAS) units programmed with incorrect software data, making the airbag system potentially incompatible with the new sensor mounting location. This mismatch could result in the airbags failing to deploy correctly during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Mazda discovered the issue during routine end-of-line testing and has since corrected the manufacturing process.

The second recall, under NHTSA Recall No. 25V418, involves 22 units of the 2025 Mazda CX-50 Hybrid manufactured between February 26 and February 27, 2025. Due to procedural errors during in-plant repairs, some vehicles were shipped with the factory mode still activated. This configuration disables the Neutral shift interlock, allowing the gear shifter to be moved from Neutral to Drive without applying the brake pedal. If the accelerator is engaged during this transition, it could cause the vehicle to move unexpectedly, creating a heightened risk of accidents.

Mazda has confirmed that none of the affected vehicles were delivered to dealerships, and there have been no reported injuries or crashes related to either issue as of mid-June. Owners will be notified by mail and instructed to bring their vehicles to a Mazda dealership for free repairs. For the airbag issue, the SAS unit will be reprogrammed. For the shift interlock problem, technicians will replace the Engine Control Module and reprogram the Hybrid and Power Control Units to deactivate factory mode.

Both recalls are covered under warranty, and no reimbursement program is necessary. Dealer notifications were scheduled for June 23, and owners should receive official recall letters by August 17. Vehicle owners can also check their VINs starting June 23 to confirm if their car is affected.

Article by multiple contributors, based upon information from Mazda North American Operations via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration press releases.

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