Mazda MX-5 and Fiat 124 Spider may cause injuries to occupants

The two automakers have not said whether they are aware of any accidents or injuries related to the issue.

A problem with the airbags in some MX-5 Miata vehicles from 2016 to 2023 has forced Mazda to recall more than 77,000 convertibles in the United States. Given that the MX-5 is a sister model to the Fiat and Abarth 124 Spider, it’s no surprise that Stellantis recalled over 15,000 units due to the same defect.

The automaker has revealed that some sports cars are built with airbag control module software that may incorrectly command dual-stage front airbags to deploy instead of single-stage deployment during certain collisions. This oversight is more than a minor inconvenience; it poses a significant risk to both driver and passengers.

Read: 1.16 million Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram models recalled over faulty backup cameras

Federal motor vehicle safety standards require certain performance related to neck injury standards as part of the 16 mph frontal crash test, meaning only single-stage frontal airbags should deploy. However, the 124 Spider and MX-5 models involved in this recall may be equipped with dual-stage models, which means they do not meet neck injury standards, increasing the risk of injury. Fiat and Mazda blamed the faults on a design issue in which the accelerometer voltage specifications were set incorrectly.

The recall affects a total of 15,835 124 Spiders, all produced between March 1, 2016, and August 31, 2020, and 77,670 units produced between April 20, 2015, and November 2, 2023. MX-5. The two automakers have not said whether they are aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect.

Stellantis said it first became aware of the flaw when Mazda, which builds the two roadsters at its plant in Hiroshima, Japan, informed them of a potential problem with the airbag control module in early July. Stellantis Europe and Mazda reviewed vehicle records from July to September and ultimately decided to conduct the recall on September 11.

FCA U.S. dealers were notified of the recall on September 26, and vehicle owners will be notified by November 7. Meanwhile, Mazda dealers were alerted on September 23 and owners will be notified by November 17. In both cases, dealers will reprogram the airbag control module to resolve the issue without any hardware changes.