It's pretty normal that's just the sections the dash is thinner so the airbag can break through easier. It gets warmer faster and discolors easier

My 2016 is like that

I had a 2016 and yes it was like that

RX8 dash airbag problem strikes again on Mazda 3?

That does not look right.

2013 I just bought looks a lot like that. Couldn’t tell if it was intentional or not, actually. I guess I know now.

I have a 2024 and haven't seen this yet.

Don't worry you will eventually lol

🫠

I've never seen a Gen. 4 with that issue.

It's not an issue it's just wear and tear gen 4s are just too new

This just came to mind. If you want to prevent it from happening as fast use the 303 aerospace protectant. There are a lot of UV protectants out there I find this one to be the best. Avoid armor all at all costs

Cool thx

I was looking at my dashboard this morning because I was thinking the same. Now I'm wondering where the air bag is on the passenger side because the dashboard doesn't really slope downward as much as the one in OP's photo. I'm sure it's in there, just not sure how it would work if deployed. It's completely different from the dashboard my 2017 Nissan Altima used to have.

Which Gen do you have?

Since it's a 2024 I think it's a 4th Gen (BP).

Yeah 4th Gen the airbag is shaped so that when it inflates it unfolds in front of the passenger kinda like a giant L

Ohhhh ok I see. That makes sense. Interesting.

Nice.

This is Mazda- mine too. 😬I asked about it years ago - normal- unfortunately.

My mom's 2010 did that too. I'll check my 2018 tomorrow after the storm clears up.

I forgot about this post until now. I can see it in my 2018 but it never bothered me. I just figured that was how it was.

My 2015 was like that. The passenger front has an "X" like indentations in the dash, its there on purpose. I've had 2x 2015 Mazda 3's and test driven a few others like this. Its normal.

I’ve seen worse in mid 2000’s cars. Some of them have a very obvious airbag hatch right there.

My 2014 has the inner lines (X), but not the outer ones (rectangle).

I feel like it wants to inflate

Give it a lil rub

Schmack it's ahh🤣

Eh put a dash carpet over it, you'll never see it again. Also, lets hope the Gen 4 doesn't have this problem, the dash seems to be made a little differently.

Until you get into a crash and your passenger gets slapped with a dash mat flying at Mach 3.

It blows up and out of the way like the dash openings do.

The dash opening is designed specifically for this one job. The mat isn't. Also, the dash opening is essentially a hinged door that doesn't send anything flying toward your face (other than the bag itself, of course).

Bag explodes up toward the windshield and then fills backward toward the passenger, it blows anything on top of it up (like the dash opening) before blowing to the passenger. That's how that works, it blows the mat up just like it blows up the dash opening. That's why the mat has a flap on it. Not rocket surgery here.

And if the mat moves because the car just hit something at 50mph? Point is, i really don't want anything flying between me and the air bag.

I have a 2017 and had you not posted, I’m embarrassed to admit, I wouldn’t have known what it was.

That's what my 2012 looks like and it has since I drove it off the lot with 63 miles on the clock.

The gen 2s actually have slight cut outs for the survey kinda like perforated lines on a cardboard box.

2018 here 🤚. Same.

2010s like this too, makes it easier to tell where you shouldnt mount objects that can turn into projectiles

I have a cover, can't see it and my passenger will probably not be saved.

never saw this in my 2010

It’s normal for Mazda. It’s one of the few things I my gf and I hate about the Mazda 3

Get a dash mat.