2006 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
173 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 77 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 89 of 173 complaints (51.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 8.7% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 5.2% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 89 |
| Power Train | 17 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Electrical System | 9 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Tires | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
Air Bags: 89; Power Train: 17; Engine: 10; Electrical System: 9; Exterior Lighting: 7; Tires: 7; Steering: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 3
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 96 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 14 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 44 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2006: 9; 2007: 8; 2008: 4; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 5; 2012: 3; 2013: 14; 2014: 11; 2015: 44; 2016: 42; 2017: 6; 2018: 4; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10171266 · 2006-10-18 (October 18, 2006)
2000 MAZDA 626 - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - 52K MILES 1) NO REVERSE - ONE TIME INCIDENT IN MAY, MOVED IT FORWARDED AND RAN THROUGH THE OTHER GEARS AND THEN IT WENT INTO REVERSE... SO DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. IN LATE SEPTEMBER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN. FREQUENCY INCREASED OVER NEXT MONTH. NO PATTERN... HOT, COLD, DRY, WET, ETC. 2) I NOW HAVE NO REVERSE MOST OF THE TIME, THOUGH STILL INTERMITTENT 3) TOOK TO AAMCO... IT'S NOT ELECTRICAL, NEEDS TOTAL OVERHAUL FOR $2K 6 YEAR OLD CAR WITH ONLY 52K MILES, NOT DRIVEN HARD... SHOULDN'T HAVE THESE P…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198069 · 2007-07-26 (July 26, 2007)
2006 MADZA 6 WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A MONTH AND THE CAR IS STILL IN DISREPAIR**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING METAL SOUND. THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE LOOKED UNDER IT AND NOTICED FLUID WAS SPILLING OUT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND AFTER 2 WEEKS THE DEALER STATED THE REPAIR WORK WAS FINISHED, HOWEVER 3 DAYS LATER, THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR THE SAME METAL SOUND AS BEFORE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10198069 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10162385 · 2006-07-14 (July 14, 2006)
I LEASED MY FULLY LOADED 2006 MAZDA A6 BACK IN DECEMBER OF 2005. EVER SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THE CAR. FIRST, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS NOT GOING DOWN. A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, I REALIZED THAT THE TURBO KEPT GIVING OUT ON ME. THEN I CAME ACROSS A HUGE DILEMMA, WHERE THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL, DRIVE SHAFT, AND ALL THE BOLTS AND HINGES HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A BOLT WHICH WAS NOT TORQUE ENOUGH. THEN, THE BRAKES KEPT MAKING AN ANNOYING NOISE EVEN WITHOUT THE BRAKES APPLIED AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162385 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174924 · 2006-12-01 (December 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED MOMENTARILY, AND THE ENGINE WAS EASILY RESTARTED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH DID NOT PRODUCE ANY FAILURE CODES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,694 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153743 · 2006-03-26 (March 26, 2006)
I WAS DRIVING A HERTZ RENTED MAZDA 6 2006 WITH APPROXIMATELY 1,100 MILES ON IT. WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE CAR SWERVED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A TRUCK AND SWERVED BACK TO THE LEFT AND HIT A MEDIAN. ON SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE STEERING LINKAGES WERE FAULTY AND HAD FAILED. THE POLICE HAVE RECORDED THE INCIDENT AS MECHANICAL FAILURE. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED DUE TO IMPACT, THE SIDE AIR BAG HAD RELEASED AND THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL HAD COMPLETELY COME OFF (THE LAST MENTIONED…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,271 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10222334 · 2008-03-26 (March 26, 2008)
MAZDA'S BLUEPRINT FOR DISASTER: BATTERY LOCATION, BATTERY QUALITY. OVERHEATED , LOW QUALITY BATTERY SPEWING ACID ON CRITICAL ENGINE COMPONENTS, CORRODED WIRING, STEERING, SENSORS TRANSMISSION, OTHER PARTS BEYOND REPAIR. WASHED WITH WATER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10222334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239908 · 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)
I CURRENTLY OWN A MAZDA 6 (2006) WHICH I ACQUIRE O MARCH 13, 2007. SINCE FEBRUARY 15, 2007 MY CAR STARTED TO STALLS AND SHUT OFF. I HAD TAKEN MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER (MAZDA JIM CLICK) FOR REPAIRS SINCE THE PROBLEM ARISE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE I ALSO PAID FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLATINUM (PAS). THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS FOR 72 MONTHS OR 100,000 MILES WHICH EVER OCCURRED FIRST WHICH INCLUDE ANY MECHANICAL OR ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN THE SERVICES DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIRS FIVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11442545 · 2021-12-03 (December 3, 2021)
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V744000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the part did not fit the fuel tank. The technical advisor was contacted and informed the contact that the style fuel tank was no longer being used. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11442545 at NHTSA ↗