Mazda has added more than 79,000 and a new model year to its list of recalled vehicles to get permanent replacements for their Takata airbag inflators.
The new recall supersedes an earlier recall for the vehicles as part of the massive industry-wide action being phased in through 2020 to replace all Takata airbag inflators that don't contain a desiccant, or drying agent, to protect the propellant. Takata earlier this summer issued a similar new recall for about 205,000 model-year 2007-11 CX-7 and CX-9 SUVS and 2009-11 Mazda6 sedans. The latest recall adds 2012 models, as well as some additional production of the vehicles from those years.
Mazda has been repairing these vehicles with temporary "like for like" replacements, inflators like the originals and using the same non-desiccated ammonium-nitrate propellant that has caused the problem. The stopgap repair made the vehicles safer because it in essence reset the clock on the potential propellant degradation that develops from years of exposure to heat and humidity, which can cause the inflators to explode with too much force and spew shrapnel into the cabin.
The temporary measure was taken as Mazda developed a permanent replacement and suppliers ramped up to make the parts that use a different, safer propellant. The new recall will cover vehicles never repaired under the original action and those repaired with the temporary fix.
More information on the Takata recall and a tool to check your car for recalls can be found here.