Tire sidewall and tread separation
TIRES
2 NHTSA complaints · 2005-07 → 2012-09
“ONE TIRE WENT FLAT DUE TO TEARS ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE”
“I NOW HAVE 11,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND TIRES”
2004 Mazda B-Series Recalls, Problems & Maintenance
The 2004 Mazda B-Series has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Tire sidewall and tread separation.” Mazda's Skyactiv engines use unusually high compression ratios (13:1 to 16:1) and require strict adherence to oil intervals — extending oil life on a Skyactiv engine accelerates carbon buildup on intake valves. Mazda's published Schedule 1 (severe) covers most US driving conditions.
Save this car as:
No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Known issues & problems for this vehicle
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Mazda B-Series.
Reported to NHTSA
Takata air bag recall repair parts unavailable
AIR BAGS
15 NHTSA complaints · 2015-01 → 2018-06
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA B3000. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V048000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE”
“RECALL ISSUED MARCH 2016. AS OF 4/31/2017, NO INSTRUCTIONS FROM MAZDA TO GET REPAIRED. BEEN A YEAR SINCE RECALL ISSUED. WHAT'S GOING ON”
“THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANGER THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER MORE PARTS”
Air bags not deploying in crash
AIR BAGS
5 NHTSA complaints · 2004-12 → 2017-04
“WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS (INCLUDING A REPAIRED RECALLED AIR BAG) DID NOT DEPLOY”
“UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED”
“NOT ONE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THANK GOD FOR THE SEAT BELTS. THEY SAVED OUR LIVES”
Engine stalling and loss of power
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
8 NHTSA complaints · 2004-12 → 2005-08
“ENGINE STALLS--ON HOT DAYS--YOU'RE ON EXPRESSWAY YOU CAN FEEL POWER LOSS---THEN WHEN YOU GET OFF EXPRESSWAY OR HIT TRAFFIC JAM --THE CAR STALLS...SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET IT TO START..AND IDLE IS BAD BUT MAIN GOAL IS TO GET OUT OF THE WAY”
“HAS NO POWER, HESITATES BADLY, BUCKS ABOVE 3-4 RPM, HAS CAUSED ME TO ALL MOST CRASH AND OR GET HIT 2-3 TIMES”
“THE ENGINE JUST TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE CUT OFF TWICE WHEN TRYING TO GO UP HILL AT 20 MPH”
Fuel system power loss and hesitation
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3 NHTSA complaints · 2005-07 → 2005-09
“BUCKING AND LOSS OF POWER, NOISE COMING FROM AREA NEAR FUEL PUMP UNTIL PART FAILED COMPLETELY AND CAR WOULD NOT START, OR IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE TO BE REPLACED”
“DURING ACCELLERATION LOSES POWER, HESITATES, FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO STALL AND SMOKE COMES OUT OF EXHAUST. DEALER HAS REPLACED FUEL PUMP, PROBLEM GOT BETTER FOR A SHORT PERIOD BUT HAS BEGUN TO REOCCUR”
Issues on other model years
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.
We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.
Essential maintenance
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
Engine Oil & Filter
Every 5,000 miReplace 0W-20 full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2 (highway-only): 7,500 miles. Turbo engines: 5,000 miles regardless of schedule.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$120–$160
Shop
~$85–$115
DIY
~$25–$55
Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.
Tire Rotation
Every 7,500 miRotate tires every 7,500 miles; every 5,000 on AWD models, where the front-biased coupling wears tires unevenly.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.
Brake Inspection
Every 7,500 miInspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake at every oil change. Front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$85
Shop
~$60
DIY
Free
Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.
Brake Fluid
Every 30,000 miReplace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 36 months.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$180–$200
Shop
~$125–$140
DIY
~$10–$25
DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.
Important maintenance
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
Engine Air Filter
Every 30,000 miReplace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Skyactiv-G direct injection is sensitive to airflow restriction — inspect at every oil change.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.
Automatic Transmission Fluid
Every 60,000 miReplace ATF every 60,000 miles severe / 100,000 normal. Use Mazda FZ ATF — substitutes cause harsh 1-2 shifts and torque converter shudder.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$330–$500
Shop
~$235–$355
DIY
~$60–$180
Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.
Spark Plugs
Every 60,000 miIridium spark plugs every 60,000 miles on Skyactiv-G 2.0L and 2.5L; 45,000 miles on the 2.5L Turbo.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$390
Shop
~$200–$275
DIY
~$25–$100
Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.
FL-22 Long-Life Coolant
Every 60,000 miMazda FL-22 (yellow): first change at 120,000 miles or 10 years, then every 60,000. Do not substitute — silicate-free formula prevents water pump damage on Skyactiv engines.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$285–$330
Shop
~$200–$235
DIY
~$25–$60
Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.
Transfer Case / Rear Diff (AWD)
Every 60,000 miOn AWD models, replace transfer case fluid and rear differential fluid every 60,000 miles.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$105–$140
Shop
~$75–$100
DIY
~$15–$40
AWD/4WD vehicles only. Easy drain-and-fill on most platforms.
Recommended maintenance
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
Cabin Air Filter
Every 15,000 miReplace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. On most models it sits behind the glove box.
Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges
Dealer
~$60–$95
Shop
~$45–$70
DIY
~$15–$40
Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.
Fatal crash history & reported problems
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
17 crashes 1990–2024
How the 17 occupant deaths break down
12
driver deaths
5
passenger deaths
17
occupant deaths
Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2006 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.
FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number
FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.
Why we show driver deaths too
Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.
Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.
IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.
Owner-reported problem signals
Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.
9
complaints mentioning a crash
0
complaints mentioning a fire
Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.
How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.
This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Mazda B-Series reflects Mazda's published service intervals. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.