2005 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
147 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 79 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 73 of 147 complaints (49.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 10.2% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 9.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 73 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Air Bags: 73; Electrical System: 11; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 10
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 68 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 | 6 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 29 |
| 2016 | 43 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2005: 6; 2006: 11; 2007: 9; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 12; 2011: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 6; 2015: 29; 2016: 43; 2017: 8; 2018: 1; 2019: 5; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 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 10128293 · 2005-07-11 (July 11, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER SAYS HE IS HAVING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WILL DROP GEARS ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER JUST HAD VEHICLE AT DEALER FOR TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE AND HARSH SHIFTING. CONSUMER SAID THAT DEALER DID A SOFTWARE CALIBRATION ON THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. CONSUMER SAYS NOW WHEN HE IS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND CONSUMER TRIES TO ACCELERATE TRANSMISSION WILL DROP FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR BY ITSELF AND THIS MAKES ACCELERATION VERY DIFFICULT. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN CITY CONSUMER SAYS THAT TRANSMISSION WILL DROP FROM 4TH TO 2ND WHIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131311 · 2005-07-22 (July 22, 2005)
2005 MAZDA 6 DEVELOPED PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE TRANSMISSION FROPPED FROM 4TH GEAR TO 3RD GEAR ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10131311 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162663 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
2005 GRAND TOURING GETS STUCK IN GEAR WHILE DRIVING. *TS THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK IN GEAR THREE TIME WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONSUMER TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE AT 60 MPH. THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED AT 60 MPH. THE CONSUMER PUT THE CAR IN MANUAL 6 SPEED AND THE VEHICLE BUCKED THEN WORKED NORMALLY. AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS PUT BACK INTO AUTOMATIC MODE THE GEARS BECAME STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROB…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,655 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162663 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10196540 · 2007-07-16 (July 16, 2007)
AT 28,000 MI I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY MAZDA 6 SPORT WAGON--RIGHT SIDE AT 4, LEFT SIDE AT 1. I WENT TO THREE DIFFERENT PLACES--THEY ALL SAID THE WEAR WAS INCREDIBLY UNEVEN DUE TO A FAULT WITH THE BRAKES. MY (NO LONGER) MAZDA DEALER SIL-TEHAR IN CO SAID THE DIFFERENCE WAS WITHIN THEIR ACCEPTABLE LIMITS. OBVIOUSLY, I DIDN'T TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE PEOPLE WHO DID SERVICE IT FOUND A PART MISSING--A CLIP THAT HELPS THE PAD SEPARATE FROM THE WHEEL. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAD ACTUALLY TAKEN THE BRAKES APART (UNTIL THE RE…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10196540 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10357032 · 2010-09-22 (September 22, 2010)
I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA 6 IN 2005. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THE BATTERY WENT OUT WITH NO WARNING. IT WOULD BE DRIVING FINE, I WOULD PARK AND GET OUT. WHEN RETURNING TO THE CAR, IT WILL NOT TURN AT ALL. INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS AND RADIO WORKED FINE BUT CAR WILL NOT TURN. THE FIRST TWO TIMES THE BATTERY WAS JUMPED AND THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND REPLACED UNDER THE MAZDA BATTERY MANUFACTURER WARRANTY BECAUSE THEY WENT OUT BEFORE THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. THE LAST TIME IN AUGUST OF 2010,…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,844 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357032 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10524056 · 2013-07-10 (July 10, 2013)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 94,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153262 · 2006-03-20 (March 20, 2006)
I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 6 I SEDAN. AFTER OWNING MY CAR FOR 7 MONTHS IT HAS TURNED OFF 3 TIMES WHILE DRIVING. ONCE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY THE OTHER TWO TIMES I WAS AT A STOP. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EXAMINED AND NO PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND. MY CAR HAS RECEIVED ALL OF THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. YET THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. WHEN THE CAR STALLS IT USUALLY STARTS AGAIN IMMEDIATELY HOWEVER I DON'T THINK A NEW CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153262 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182224 · 2007-02-10 (February 10, 2007)
IN AUGUST OF 2005 I PURCHASED A MAZDA 6 (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). AFTER 2 - 3 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP MY MAZDA DIED ON ME ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP YET NO PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED. 4 - 5 MONTHS LATER MY CAR STALLED WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT. A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THAT, MY MAZDA STALLED AGAIN. A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY MY CAR JUST TURNED OFF. IT'S SO ANNOYING BECAUSE I ALWAYS TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE STALLING OCCURS AND THEY CAN NEVER IDENTIF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231030 · 2008-06-14 (June 14, 2008)
I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA 6 AND IT CAME FROM THE FACTORY WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THE PROBLEM WAS IMMEDIATE WITH A SEVERE ROUGH RIDE WHEN THE TIRES WERE COOL THUS CAUSING STEERING PROBLEMS. I RARELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE (7,000 MILES PER YEAR) AND WAS SHOCKED TO FIND SIDEWALL BULDGES AND TIRE SEPARATION ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I NOTICED THE LEFT FRONT TIRE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SINCE DAY ONE, ALL 4 OF THE TIRES WOULDN'T HOLD THEIR TIRE PRESSURE (EVEN WITH NO LEAKS) WHICH COULDN'T BE FIGURED OUT BY "PROFESSIONALS." I RETURNED MY C…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,998 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231030 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10585224 · 2014-04-28 (April 28, 2014)
THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG RUPTURED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN A1A IN HALLANDALE BEACH, FL. THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC HAD JUST MERGED TO TWO AND TRAFFIC WAS FLOWING PERFECT GOING 25 MPH. THE CAR THAT WAS TWO IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED DEAD FOR NO REASON CAUSING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO STOP. I HIT MY BRAKES BUT COULDN'T STOP IN TIME AND REAR ENDED THE OTHER CAR. THERE WAS A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER I WAS SITTING IN MY CAR STARING AT THE CENTER OF MY STEERING CONSOLE. THE AIRBAG WAS NO WHERE TO BE SEEN. THE AIRBAG HAS COMPLETELY DISLODGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10585224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10189174 · 2007-04-28 (April 28, 2007)
LEASED 2005 MAZDA 6 IN JULY 2005. SEPTEMBER 2005: TOOK IN FOR SERVICE FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALERSHIP REPLACED A PURGE CANISTER VALVE. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE, I HEARD A HIGH-PITCHED WHIRRING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. TECH DETERMINED NOISE WAS COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. TRANS. WAS REPLACED TWO TIMES; NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY. TECH THEN DETERMINED IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. THAT WAS REPLACED BUT NOISE REMAINED. TECH THEN SUSPECTED THE FUEL LINES WERE VIBRATING, ADDED A C…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189174 at NHTSA ↗