CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR POPPING NOISES IN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *LA THERE WAS A POP NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN THE VEHICLE SAT FOR A WHILE AND WHEN GOING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, THE STRUTS AND MOUNTS WERE NOISY, THE LOWER BODY FAIRING HAD COME APART TWICE, AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE BRAKES DUE TO THE WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS. *SC *JB
2003 Mazda Mazda6 complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2003 record →
SULFUR ODOR COMING FROM CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE GASOLINE BEING USED AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. WELL, NOW THERE IS 26,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE SMELL IS STILL EVIDENT, IF NOT EVEN WORSE.*AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT GO FAST ENOUGH DURING HEAVY RAINS. THE FASTEST SPEED IS NOT ENOUGH TO CLEAR THE WATER AWAY FOR VISIBILITY. *AK
5-SPEED MANUAL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN LOWER GEARS. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. WHEN VERY COLD, YOU CANNOT GET INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN UPSHIFTING. HAVE TAKEN INTO DEALER 3 TIMES WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK
THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN 3 TIMES, AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THEY REPLACED SOME PADDING AND TIGHTENED A CHARCOAL FILTER. IT IS VERY ANNOYING HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR WITH A LOUD RATTLE.*AK
I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA6 2 WEEKS AGO, THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A TOTAL OF 100 MILES AND HAS BEEN COVERED SINCE PURCHASE. LAST NIGHT, I FOUND RUST AROUND THE WEATHER STRIPS IN ALL 4 DOORS. I CALLED MAZDA AND APPARENTLY THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE SELLING THE CAR TO ME. THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE DEALER LOT FOR 5 MONTHS AND THEY NEVER TOOK CARE OF THAT PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS SITTING ON THE LOT....I HAD TO FIND AND POINT THE PROBLEM OUT TO THEM. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR A "NEW" VEHICLE WITH RUST ON IT. *JB
THE "NEW" VEHICLE HAD 900 UNEXPLAINED MILE ON IT UPON PURCHASE. WITHIN 4 MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE KICKS BACK WHEN CHANGING GEARS. TOOK TO DEALER IN PENNSYLVANIA, WAS ADVISED THAT NEEDED KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE PART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER IN VIRGINIA, DID NOT LOOK AT IT, ALTHOUGH I TOLD THEM WHAT OTHER DEALERSHIP SAID, AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. TOOK TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE ARE 2 RECALLS, AND THEY WERE FIXED. NOW THE FAN RACES MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE LACKING IN POWER DESPITE THE ENGINE IS 220 HORSE POWER. *LA
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE REAR INNER SIDE CAME OUT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE ENDED ON THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. MICHELIN RADIAL XSE, P205/60R16-914 , DOT# UNKNOWN. *AK
ROTTEN EGG SMELL FROM EXAUST. DEALER SHOWED ME MAZDA'S SERVICE BULLITEN WHICH STATES IT COMES FROM HIGHER SULFER GAS, AND WILL DISSIPATE BY 10,000 MILES. NOW HAVE ALMOST 8,000 MILES WITH NO LESSENING OF SMELL REGARDLESS OF GAS USED. (SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT WITH AMOCO) SOMEONE INKY HAD NEWER CATLYSTS INSTALLED BY MAZDA WITH GOOD RESULTS. THIS SHOULD BE DONE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ANYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK
CAR DOES NOT HAVE IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM. AFTER STOPPING CAR, TURNING OFF AND REMOVING KEY, CAR ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE STILL IN "DRIVE" POSITION CAUSING DAMAGE TO DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR. SON WAS WITHIN INCHES OF BEING SLAMMED INTO CONCRETE POLE THE CAR ROLLED INTO. *LA
WHEN TURNING STEERING A GRINDING NOISE IS PRODUCED.*AK
BRAKES MAKES A HARD GROUDING NOISE WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. TOOK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THE TECH SAID HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY.IN AUG 2003 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE BRAKES. I TOOK THE CAR IN SO THAT THEY CAN LOOK AT IT IN AUGUST FOR THE RECALL. THE BRAKES ARE STILL MAKING THAT NOISE.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR DIDN'T HAVE KNOW PICK UP.TOOK CAR TO THE DEALER,THEY NEVER TOLD ME WHAT WAS WRONG.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
THERE IS A "CLUNKING" SOUND COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT OF THE CAR THAT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS WHILE GOING OVER RAIN DITCH.
SULFUR (ROTTEN EGG) SMELL IN VEHICLE CABIN. DEALER SAID NO FIX FROM MAZDA RELATED TO EXHAUST ISSUE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, ISSUE LASTS UP TO 8K MILES. CAR HAS LESS THAN 800 MILES.*AK
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
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
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 OVER A WEEK EACH TIME. I HAVE GONE TO THE DEALER ASKING FOR THEIR HELP IN CONTACTING MAZDA ABOUT A NEW ENGINE AND OR CAR AND THEY ARE COMPLETLY UNCOOPERATIVE. *AK
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
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
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
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
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 STILL EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THE KIT IS NOT EVEN HOOKED INTO THE CARS WIRING ANYWHERE, IT IS WIRED ONTO THE BATTER DIRECTLY. THE PHONE IS NOT EVEN IN THE KIT WHILE THE CAR IS STARTING, AND THE KIT PULLS NO POWER UNLESS THE PHONE IS IN IT.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2003 Mazda Mazda6 → · Every Mazda6 year → · How the figures are calculated →