2002 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
48,611 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 28 complaints (32.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 46.4% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 14.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 10.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 2 |
| Equipment | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 2; Equipment: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2005: 10; 2006: 7; 2007: 9; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10118707 · 2005-04-29 (April 29, 2005)
I HAVE A 2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE ES V-6, I PURCHASED IN FEBRUARY, 2002. I BEGAN COMPLAINING OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES (...SPECIFICALLY BATTERY CHARGING/MAINTAINING CHARGE), AT 15000 MILES. INITIALLY, THE CAR WOULD LOSE BATTERY CHARGE; BUT IN JANUARY, 2005, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THE BATTERY WAS DETERMINED TO BE FAULTY; AND WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. THE MILEAGE WAS 29,527. APRIL 22, 2005... I WAS IN THE WEST-BOUND LANES OF INTERSTATE 90, IN SPOKANE, WA. THE FREEWAY IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, WITH 3' SHOULDERS; THEN CONCRETE…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118707 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125489 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)
AT APPORX. 48K MILES, THE O/D LIGHT CONTINUED TO FLASH ON AND OFF, AFTER TAKING IT TO A MECHANIC THEY STATED IT NEEDED A NEW SPEED CENSOR, AFTER REPLACING SAID PART THE PROBLEM STILL CONTINUED, I TOOK IT TO A MAZDA SERVICE DEALER, WHO TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION, WITH LESS THAN 52K MILES ON IT??
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146015 · 2005-12-23 (December 23, 2005)
ON COLD STARTS THERE IS A LOUD TICKING SOUND FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. ONCE ENGINE WARMS UP THE TICKING GOES AWAY. WE BROUGHT OUR 2002 MAZDA MPV TO A LOCAL CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND HE DIAGNOSED A CRACKED FRONT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WE CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT MAZDA TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM AND PER MAZDA SINCE WE EXCEEDED OUR WARRANTY BY 5 MONTHS IT WILL NOT BE COVERED. AFTER ASKING US ABOUT OUR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE HISTORY WITH MAZDA WE REPORTED HAVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SERVICE DONE, BRAKE SERVICE, AND COOLANT FLUSH SERVICE DONE AT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146015 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147245 · 2006-01-09 (January 9, 2006)
TOOK MY 2002 TRIBUTE FOR OIL CHANGE AND DURING THE 21 POINT EXAM THEY NOTICED THAT MY ABS RING ON THE RIGHT AXLE WAS FRACTURED. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON WITH TRIBUTES. THE ABS RING CANNOT BE REPLACE, THEY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RIGHT AXLE ASSEMBLY AND WILL COST $600. IF IT IS NOT REPLACED MY ABS BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL WILL FAIL. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR. MY WARRANTY JUST EXPIRED AND IT IS NOT COVERED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 39,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147245 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190749 · 2007-05-15 (May 15, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO ACCELERATION POWER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT WAS RESTARTED. THE SLOW ACCELERATION OCCURS EVERY DAY, BUT THE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190749 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108169 · 2005-01-28 (January 28, 2005)
MY TIRES KEEP GOING FLAT- 2002 MAZDA 626. THE FIRST FLAT TIRE WAS ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE MECHANIC WHO CHANGED IT OUT FOR ME POINTED OUT THAT MY TIRE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE (NO HOLES) BUT ALSO LOOKED LIKE MY TIRES ARE LEANING "IN"- WHICH IS PUTTING THE WEAR/TEAR ON THE INSIDE THREADING, THUS WEARING OUT FASTER (ALL THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR LEANING ON EDGE OF TIRES). SECOND FLAT 2 MONTHS AGO, AND THRID THIS WEEK, BEING TOLD THE SAME THING. I WAS ALSO TOLD THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH ALIGNMENT. I DO NOT NEED AN ALIGNMENT. . HAVE NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108169 at NHTSA ↗