Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2,232 owner complaints analyzed
28 distinct recall campaigns
62,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2021 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,250 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 618 of 2,232 complaints (27.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 250 | 11.2% |
| Steering behavior | 177 | 7.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 152 | 6.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 121 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 65 | 2.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 37 | 1.7% |
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 | 618 |
| Unknown Or Other | 222 |
| Suspension | 213 |
| Electrical System | 207 |
| Structure:Body | 188 |
| Engine | 139 |
| Steering | 128 |
| Power Train | 117 |
Air Bags: 618; Unknown Or Other: 222; Suspension: 213; Electrical System: 207; Structure:Body: 188; Engine: 139; Steering: 128; Power Train: 117
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 293 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 214 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 214 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 203 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 235 |
| 150,000 and above | 91 |
Under 25,000: 293; 25,000 to 49,999: 214; 50,000 to 74,999: 214; 75,000 to 99,999: 203; 100,000 to 149,999: 235; 150,000 and above: 91
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (293). 982 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 30 |
| 2004 | 53 |
| 2005 | 35 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 46 |
| 2008 | 35 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 60 |
| 2011 | 60 |
| 2012 | 29 |
| 2013 | 70 |
| 2014 | 153 |
| 2015 | 305 |
| 2016 | 292 |
| 2017 | 237 |
| 2018 | 195 |
| 2019 | 119 |
| 2020 | 79 |
| 2021 | 58 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 78 |
| 2024 | 80 |
| 2025 | 49 |
| 2026 | 34 |
2003: 30; 2004: 53; 2005: 35; 2006: 40; 2007: 46; 2008: 35; 2009: 33; 2010: 60; 2011: 60; 2012: 29; 2013: 70; 2014: 153; 2015: 305; 2016: 292; 2017: 237; 2018: 195; 2019: 119; 2020: 79; 2021: 58; 2022: 62; 2023: 78; 2024: 80; 2025: 49; 2026: 34
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 250 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 177 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 152 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 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10036853 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
THERE IS A METALLIC "CLUNKING" SOUND SOME WHERE IN THE RIGHT FRONT (AND CAN SOMETIMES BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL) WHEN MAKING LOW SPEED, 90 DEGREE TURNS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036853 at NHTSA ↗
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 10021122 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS ON COLD STARTS. THE CAR WILL IDLE UP TO 2000 RPM, THEN IDLE ALL THE WAY DOWN AND DIE. ALL OF THIS WILL TAKE PLACE IN ABOUT 5-6 SECONDS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WAS AN AFTERMARKET HANDSFREE KIT I HAD ADDED TO THE CAR. BUT I PURCHASED THE CAR IN JANUARY AND HAD THE KIT ADDED IN LATE FEBRUARY, AND HAD NO PROBLEMS UP UNTIL A COUPLE WEEKS AGO (LATE MAY). THE DEALER UNHOOKED THE HANDSFREE KIT, BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT THE AFTERMARKET PRODUCT WAS THE PROBLEM. AFTER HAVING THE KIT UNHOOKED FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS NOW, I STIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021122 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 10051466 · 2004-01-01 (January 1, 2004)
AFTER HAVING MY 2003 MAZDA 6 FOR NO MORE THAN A WEEK, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT SHUT OFF ON ANY SETTING HIGHER THAN "1". I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO MY DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW SWITCHBOARD FOR MY DASH. I WAITED A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD THE PART MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. I BECAME FRUSTRATED AND PICKED UP MY CAR AND ASKED THE DEALER TO CALL ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN. I WAITED FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS THEN RECEIVED A…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091938 · 2004-09-08 (September 8, 2004)
THE CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE FIVE MONTHS BEFORE ONE BECAME AVAILABLE. *NM THE CLUTCH, STARTER, CD CHANGER, AND PANEL COVER WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS RUST ON THE DOOR SASHES. THERE WAS A SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE VIBRATIONS AND RATTLES IN THE DOOR, WHICH HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAKING FUEL SENDER UNIT IN THE GAS TANK. THE STARTER WOULD GRIND AND THE CLUTCH SHUDDERED. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091938 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 9; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 6; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 0; 2021: 0