Major automaker recalls 80 thousand vehicles with defective airbags: Return them to the dealer as soon as possible

Major automobile manufacturer Mazda It is recalling about 77,670 Miatas, citing defective airbags.

“During a minor crash or collision, deployment of a higher force airbag instead of the expected lower force airbag may inconveniently occur.” Mazda stated in a September release:.

“SAS (airbag) control module software does not meet the necessary requirements FMVSS 208 (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) Passenger Crash Protection features. “Passengers not using seat belts may increase the risk of injury caused by airbags.”

• Read more: Toyota recalls more than 42 thousand vehicles due to brake failure

No injuries or accidents have been reported so far due to the malfunction.

Affected models include: MX-5 MiatasThe years 2016-2023. Approximately 80,000 vehicles in the United States and its territories are affected by the defect.

Mazda is trying to solve this problem by rolling out a free software update that will change the performance of the airbags, since the airbags themselves are not defective. consumerreports.org.

• Read more: IRS 2025 new tax brackets: Here’s what awaits you

Mazda engineers found that “a calibration tool was incorrectly configured, resulting in some airbags being incorrectly calibrated.” consumerreports.org reports with reference to documents provided by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The dealership will reprogram the airbag software at no charge to owners of vehicles affected by the recall.

Owners can call Mazda at 800-222-5500 for more information. The NHTSA recall campaign number is 24V695.