2003 Mazda MAZDA6: complaints, problems and recalls

THERE IS AN ODOR COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER TWO TIMES FOR THIS, AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE GAS I WAS BUYING. SO I STARTED BUYING GAS OUT OF TOWN FOR A WHILE, THE ODOR CONTINUES. I HAVE 12,000 MILES ON THE CAR, AND THE ODOR KEEPS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. BUT THE DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME IT IS THE GAS, AND OFFERS NO HELP.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021120 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

HAVE A MAZDA 6 THAT CONTINUOUSLY HAS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. HAD AN INCIDENT WHERE THE CAR WAS FAILING TO ACCELERATE AND WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR. WAITED 3 WEEKS BEFORE I COULD GET MY CAR BACK AND WHEN I GOT IT BACK, IT HAPPENED AGAIN 3 MORE TIMES, AND TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICING ALL THOSE TIMES. I DON'T WANT TO CONTINUE TO MAKE A TRIP TO THE DEALER EVERY MONTH LIKE I HAVE BEEN DOING.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025917 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED AROUND LEADING TO DOWNHILL, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. TWO DEALERS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RUN AT 8500 ELEVATION. THE CONSUMER WAS LEFT SIDEWAYS IN THE ROAD WHEN THERE WAS HESITATION. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10031786 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

MY FOUR YEAR OLD SON GOT HIS FINGER CAUGHT IN THE DOOR HANDLE OF MY 2003 MAZDA6. THE DOOR HANDLES DIFFER FROM OTHER HANDLES IN THAT A SECTION OF THEM PULL OUT AND THEN RETRACT BACK.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10036929 at NHTSA ↗

THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION LIGHT INDICATED A PROBLEM TO ME, AS WELL AS THE CAR JERKING UPON ACCELERATION. AFTER TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT KNOCK SENSOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED. SINCE THE FIRST VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, IT HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER AND AM STILL DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER HAS MADE NO ATTEMPT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION OTHER THAN REPLACING THE ENGINE SENSOR OVER AND OVER. THE CAR WAS OUT OF COMMISION FOR O…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037202 at NHTSA ↗

CENTER DEFROSTER VENT DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. DURING HUMID OR RAINY CONDITIONS, THE OUTSIDE CONDENSATION CAN IMPARE DRIVERS VIEW. IF LEFT UNCHECKED THE CONDENSATION CAN IMPARE THE MIDDLE 1/3 OF THE WINDSHIELD.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10037293 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOCKET HOLDER IN THE FOG LIGHTS IS INSTALLED IN THE LAMP CASING USING PRESSURE. DURING OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAN EXPAND THE SOCKET HOLDER. THE EXPANSION CAN FORCE THE SOCKET HOLDER REARWARD. AFTER REPEATEDLY BEING SUBJECT TO THIS EXPANSION, IF THE FOG LIGHT IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SOCKET HOLDER WITH THE BULB HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT CASING.

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE HARNESS CAN DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER AND POSSIBLY BUT RARELY, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BULB CAN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING TO PREVENT THE SOCKET HOLDER FROM SEPARATING FROM THE LAMP CASE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." DURING PRODUCTION, THE FLOAT IN THE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR IN THE BRAKE RESERVOIR CAN BE FORCED OFF OF THE GUIDE RAIL DURING THE FILLING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER.

Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.

Remedy: MAZDA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL SENDER UNIT (FSU) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK, PRODUCING AN INADEQUATE SEAL, AND FUEL MAY LEAK.

Consequence: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, AND IF NECESSARY, REPAIR OR REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

Reported: 2017-07-26 (July 26, 2017)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

Reported: 2018-06-15 (June 15, 2018)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Reported: 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.