1993 Mazda MX-6: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
112,435 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1993 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 35 complaints (11.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 22.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 11.4% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.6% |
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 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 2; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 2; Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 6 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 26 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 6 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
1995: 6; 1996: 5; 2000: 5; 2001: 5; 2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10003272 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
I OWN A 1993 MAZDA MX-6 LS COUPE. MY DISTRIBUTOR HAS FAILED 3 TIMES NOW. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THERE ARE NO WARNING SIGNS. THE FAILURE IS ALSO INTERMITTENT. FAILURE AT REST IS OF NO ISSUE, YOUR CAR JUST DOESN'T START OR STARTS BUT DOESN'T RUN. HOWEVER, WHEN THE DISTRUBUTOR FAILS WHEN DRIVING IS THE ISSUE. THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING, THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AS WELL AS POWER BRAKES. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM AMONG MX-6 DRIVERS, AS CAN BE SEEN ON THESE SITES: HTTP://WWW.MX6.COM HTTP://WWW.PROBETALK.COM …
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020846 · 2003-06-01 (June 1, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A POP FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AREA OF CAR. THEN THE AREA BEGAN SQUEEKING AND GROANING WHEN CONSUMER WOULD HIT A BUMP. JACKED THE SIDE UP AND FOUND THAT THE FRONT RIGHT SPRING HAD BURST IN A DIAGONAL FASHION. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10020846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021375 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
1993 MAZDA MX-6 LS ([XXX]) DESCRIBED CAR HAS "ODOMETER FRAUD" CURRENTLY, AS OF 6/8/03, ODOMETER IS SHOWING AROUND 68,000 MILES. AFTER I GAVE HIM A SECURITY DEPOSIT OF $300.00 IN CASH ON 6/8/03, I CHECKED THE VEHICLE HISTORY ON CARFAX.COM AND SAW THAT ON 08/14/1998 THE CAR HAD 113,872 MILES ON IT. I AM TRYING TO HAVE MY SECURITY DEPOSIT OF $300 BACK FROM THE OWNER OF THE CAR AND REPORT THE ODOMETER FRAUD.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021375 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047650 · 2003-11-26 (November 26, 2003)
I OWN A 1993 MAZDA MX6, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BALL JOINTS ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TWICE AND ONCE ON THE OTHER SIDE, I WENT ON THE NET AND SAW THAT THERE WAS PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS ON THIS MODEL, AND WAS TRYING TO SEE IF I COULD BE REIMBURSED, I HAVE THE BILLS AND DATES THAT THE REPAIRS WAS DONE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10047650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050541 · 2003-12-15 (December 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING TIRE TURNED WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED. THEN, THREE SECONDS LATER, THE WHEEL CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 108,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055900 · 2004-01-27 (January 27, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND DID NOT COME BACK ON. THERE WAS NO WARNING. 8JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10055900 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106502 · 2005-01-17 (January 17, 2005)
APPLIED PARKING BRAKE. REAR BRAKE CALIPER PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM DESIGN FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR CALIPER TO NOT RELEASE AFTER RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. HAD TO MANUALLY (FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR) FORCE THE ACTUATOR LEVER BACK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 112,435 miles reported. Look up ODI 10106502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128576 · 2005-07-13 (July 13, 2005)
THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT PULLING MY DAUGHTER OFF THE ROAD AND HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPT WITH AN AIR BAG SHE STILL WAS THROWN HEAD FIRST INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY BUT DID NOT STOP HER. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
Owner-reported narrative. 171,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128576 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
15V674000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Consequence: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
NHTSA campaign record ↗92V045000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm
Reported: 1992-04-02 (April 2, 1992)
THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
Consequence: THE INSUFFICIENT TORQUE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTRETAINING BOLT CAN RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION FAILING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTIONAND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSPECT THE LOWER BALL JOINT RETAINING BOLTS AND TIGHTEN LOOSE BOLTS TO THE CORRECT TORQUE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗