1996 Mazda B-Series Truck

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 55 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the visibility › windshield wiper/washer. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer6
000
Tires › Tread/Belt5
000
Vehicle Speed Control4
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly3
000
Visibility › Windshield2
000
Suspension › Front2
000
Structure › Body › Door2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components2
000
Air Bags › Frontal2
201
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control09V414000
Filed Oct 23, 200939,600 vehiclesMazda Motor Corp

Defect. MAZDA IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 1997 AND MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2003 TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS) AND/OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND MANUFACTURED ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 5, 2002. A COMPONENT OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND DEVELOP A LEAK. THIS OCCURRENCE COULD CAUSE THE SWITCH TO OVERHEAT, SMOKE OR BURN WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy. MAZDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A UNIVERSAL FUSED JUMPER HARNESS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500 OPTION #6.

Tires › Tread/Belt00T005000
Filed Aug 21, 200014,400,000 vehiclesBridgestone/Firestone, Inc.

Defect. TIRE DESCRIPTION: FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT, SIZE P235/75R15, PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, ILLINOIS TIRE PLANT AND ALL FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX AND RADIAL ATX II TIRES, SIZE P235/75R15. OPERATION OF THESE TIRES AT LOW INFLATION PRESSURES, HIGH SPEED, AND IN HOT WEATHER, CAN CONTRIBUTE TO SEPARATION OF THE TIRE TREAD.

Risk. IF THE TREAD SEPARATES FROM THE TIRE, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON AUGUST 29, 2001. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT FIRESTONE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-465-1904 FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Visibility/Wiper
Filed Dec 1, 2015180,000 milesNY

LIKE MANY OTHERS WIPERS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY ONLY TO STOP WORKING COMPLETELY REPLACED SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. HAVE RED ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE GENERAL ELECTRIC MODULE WITH TRY REPLACING THAT NEXT!

Unknown or Other
Filed May 11, 2015140,000 milesNY

FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED/ CRACKED / HOLES / ROTTEN FROM RUST

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields
Filed May 2, 2013150,000 milesNY

FRAME IS CRACKED AND HAS HOLES FROM RUST. SPRING SHACKLES HAVE HOLES FROM RUST. WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT NEW FRAME OR MAJOR FRAME REPAIR. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage
Filed Aug 13, 2007145,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA B4000. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GAS LEAK WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS UP TO THE FILLING NECK. THIS LEAKAGE HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.

Vehicle Speed Control › Cruise Control
Filed Jan 28, 2006102,000 milesNV

CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON WITHOUT TURNING IT ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISABLED IT UNDER THE HOOD. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed May 17, 2005122,300 milesMS

DT: GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE CONSUMER JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK A WEEK AGO AND THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING ON MAY 5-16-05. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TRUCK TO A MECHANIC ON 5-16-05 AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE GAS TANK LOOKED DEFECTIVE. THIS IS TO BE FIXED ON FRIDAY MAY 20, 2005. THE CONSUMER IS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE TANK AND TRY AND SEE IF THE WHOLE TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 1, 2004AZ

CONSUMER CHECKED THE BRAKES, AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKES ROTORS ON THE 2 FRONT WHEELS WERE CRACKED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THEM.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Jun 24, 200348,500 milesVA

METAL BRAKE LINE FAILED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEADING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING. ONE BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH, ANOTHER LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED, AND THE 3RD LINE IS JUST STARTING TO CORRODE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. *JB

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Jun 9, 2003NC

DOOR INDICATOR BELL RING WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SWITCH WAS CHANGE D AND PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 11, 2002CA

THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. *YH

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 11, 2002CA

FRONT SEAT BELT A (L) BUCKLE FAILED. *TT

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Feb 11, 2002CA

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. *YD

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Aug 21, 2001NV

WAS DRIVING 60MPH WHEN CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON.CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE RELEASED AFTER HITTING BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN SHUT VEHICLE DOWN. ONCE RESTARTED, CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED.*AKCONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AT EACH FAILURE. *SLC

Steering › Linkages
Filed Aug 2, 2001VA

WHILE DRIVING ALONG SLOWLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE & VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. I PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC & THEN DISCOVERED STEERING WAS SLOW & LETHARGIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC & INTO A PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD "POP." I GOT OUT OF THE CAR & DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD SEPARATED ENTIRELY FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL & SLASHED THE INNER TIRE WHEEL (RESULTING IN THE FLAT).*AK (TIRESIZE: P22570R14)

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Jan 8, 2001PA

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P215/75R15 DOT W2HF1PJ016 HAVE CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRE ON SIDEWALL, CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS WHEN RECALL 00T005 WENT PUBLIC IN AUGUST OF 2000, DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL TIRES ARE ON RECALL. *SLC

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Dec 3, 2000IL

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY ON WHEN TURNED OFF IN THE FAST MODE.*AK

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Dec 1, 2000CA

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. WE'VE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WE'VE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THAT HAS NEVER SOLVED THE PROBLEM. SINCE WE ONLY USE WIPERS WHEN IT RAINS, THE FAILURE HAS CAUSES A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I BEEN IN SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHEN THIS HAS OCCURRED, ONE WHEN A TRACTOR TRAILER SPRAYED MY WINDSHEILD AND I COULDN'T SEE. MAZDA HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO VOLUNTARILY INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE DETAIL. AS A RESULT, WE'VE CONTINUALLY HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. WE CURRENTLY HAVE THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR THE SAME ISSUE, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT MAZDA WILL JUST REPLACE THE SWITCH, COLLECT THEIR MONEY, AND SEND US ON OUR WAY. FROM PAST EXPERIENCE, REPLACING THE SWITCH HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AS THE RAINY SEASON APPROACHES, I HOPE THIS MATTER CAN BE RESOLVE BEFORE A WIPER FAILURE CAUSES A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY, OR EVEN DEATH. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Oct 27, 2000NH

CONSUMERS TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACED TIRES, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT IS TAKING TO GET MONEY BACK (7 WEEKS). NLM

Suspension › Front
Filed Oct 9, 2000WA

FRONT SUSPENSION OF TRUCK UNSTABLE, HIGHLY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED BUT NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER

Seat Belts
Filed Sep 28, 2000IA

SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND LOCK PASSENGERS IN THE SEAT.*AK

20 of 55 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1994
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20094500Do not drive
200811300Do not drive
200737310Do not drive
200611600Do not drive
200516300Do not drive
200424300Do not drive
200321120Routine
200228200Routine
200137310Routine
200058330Routine
199978410Routine
1998675312Fatalities reported
199752210Routine
1996 — this page55201Fatalities reported
199542200Routine
1994122601Fatalities reported
19939200Routine
199211300Routine
199114410Routine
199016300Routine

Compare every B-Series Truck year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 23, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.