1988 Mazda MX6: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
140,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 13 complaints (61.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 8 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 8; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1
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 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 12 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 | 7 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
1995: 7; 1996: 2; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10053508 · 2003-02-19 (February 19, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER. *AK THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SALT CORROSION. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, SLID ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND INTO THE MEDIAN. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 550825 · 2000-02-09 (February 9, 2000)
SEAT BELT LOCK AND RELEASE MECHANISM JAMMED RENDERING SEATBELT USELESS. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 786035 · 2002-07-07 (July 7, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT DRAINS THE BATTERY IN AS LOW AS HALF AN HOUR AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHARGED, THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ALONG WITH THE BATTERY, MAIN FUSE AND DISTRIBUTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 786035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 893758 · 2001-08-07 (August 7, 2001)
CONSUMER BOUGHT FOUR TIRES, AND THREE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 893758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960253 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
MODE NO 524, LAP/SHOULDER BUCKLE WILL NOT SNAP, PLASTIC INSIDE BUCKLE BROKE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960257 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
SEAT LATCH ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS PROBLEM LATCHING AND STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO UNLATCH IT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960259 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)
PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE RED BUTTON BROKE, RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE SEAT BELT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960544 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)
BUCKLE MODEL NO 524. PLASTIC PART IN SEAT BELT WOULD NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY ON DRIVER SEAT. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960544 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V149000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
Reported: 1987-09-17 (September 17, 1987)
FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF MAT.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL ANDCREATE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REMOVE PRESENT MAT AND REPLACE WITH NEW IMPROVED MAT.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V186000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Reported: 1987-12-07 (December 7, 1987)
FUEL TANK FIXING BAND RETENTION IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING THE BAND TO RUB AGAINST THE FUEL TANK BY VEHICLE VIBRATIONS.
Consequence: THIS COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH COULDRESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Remedy: REPAIR FUEL FIXING BAND BY INSTALLING A RUBBER SHEET.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V196000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Shoes/Linings
Reported: 1987-12-29 (December 29, 1987)
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR BRAKE DRUMS TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN MAY EXPERIENCE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE SHOE FROM THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER PISTON.
Consequence: SHOULD SEPARATION OCCUR, REPEATED BRAKE OPERATION MAYDAMAGE THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT, ALLOWING WATER OR DUST INTRUSION ANDSUBSEQUENT PISTON CONTAMINATION.
Remedy: ALL VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF NO SEPARATION IS FOUND GREASE WILL BE APPLIED TO THE COMPONENT INTERFACE TO LOWER FRICTION AND AVOID SUBSEQUENT RELATIVE MOTION. IF SEPARATION IS FOUND THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT WILL BE REPLACED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗88V022000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
Reported: 1988-02-22 (February 22, 1988)
AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREE F, FROST MAY ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER EXTENDED CONSTANT SPEED OPERATION.
Consequence: FROST ACCUMULATION ON THE THROTTLE VALVE MAY PREVENT THEVALVE FROM RETURNING SMOOTHLY.
Remedy: INSTALL A NEW TYPE THERMOSTAT DESIGNED TO RAISE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND WARM THE THROTTLE BODY TO A LEVEL ABOVE FREEZING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗95V103005 · Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗