Owners filed 54 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components › disc › caliper. It has been recalled 3 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
5
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
4
0
0
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
4
0
0
1
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
3
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
3
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
3
0
0
0
Unknown or Other
2
0
0
0
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
2
0
0
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
2
0
0
0
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
2
0
0
0
3 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch15V674000
Filed Oct 19, 20151,368,500 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
Defect. 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.
Risk. 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline05E065000
Filed Oct 5, 200542,962 vehiclesSpx Filtran
Defect. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
Risk. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Remedy. SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.
Suspension › Front › Control Arm92V045000
Filed Apr 2, 19922,450 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc
Defect. THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
Risk. 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.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Suspension › Front
Filed Sep 18, 2008125,000 milesME
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX6. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND. HE CONTINUED IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND TURNED THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE LEFT, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, ONLY A GUARD ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE COIL SPRINGS FROM FAILING AGAIN. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE COIL SPRINGS ALREADY FAILED, THEY WOULD ONLY INSTALL THE GUARD ASSEMBLY IF THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPAIRED DUE TO THE RESPONSE THEY RECEIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 22, 2008CO
I HAVE A 1993 MAZDA MX6 WITH 105,000. IN 1999 THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THEN, RECENTLY, I'VE HAD MY CAR IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THEY'VE REPLACED SOLENOIDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, INLINE BOOST VALVE AND SO FAR IT ISN'T FIXED. I'VE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE BUT MAZDA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR CONSUMERS. *TR
Parking Brake › Driveline › Hydraulic › Actuator
Filed May 10, 2007112,125 milesNC
ON THE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES: AFTER APPLYING, AND THEN RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE IN A NORMAL MANNER THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR PIVOTING PIN BEARING ON ONE OF THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED, CAUSING IT NOT RELEASE OR TO NOT FULLY RELEASE. THIS COULD CAUSE A HANDLING/BRAKING INSTABILITY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR/FAILURE. AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED CALIPER INVOLVING THE SEAL AROUND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR PIVOTING PIN AND BEARING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES.*AK
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Oct 6, 2005136,000 milesCO
DT: THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 THERE WERE NO RUNNING LIGHTS, DASHBOARD OR TAIL LIGHTS. WENT TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC , AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. THEN ,WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND THEY REFUSED TO FIXED THE PROBLEM EVEN WITH THE CONSUMER PAYING THEM FOR THE WORK. THEY STILL WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. DRIVING WAS FINE IN DAYLIGHT, BUT AT NIGHT THERE WERE NO LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Seat Belts › FrontCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 13, 2005171,000 milesPA
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.
Parking Brake
Filed Jan 17, 2005112,435 milesNC
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
Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 27, 2004ND
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND DID NOT COME BACK ON. THERE WAS NO WARNING. 8JB
Steering
Filed Dec 15, 2003108,000 milesGA
WHILE DRIVING TIRE TURNED WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED. THEN, THREE SECONDS LATER, THE WHEEL CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint
Filed Nov 26, 2003GA
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
Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 10, 200344,000 milesNJ
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
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Jun 1, 2003160,000 milesNC
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
Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 23, 2003100,000 milesNY
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 HTTP://HOMEPAGE.NTLWORLD.COM/DOROTHY.BRADBURY/PROBEMX/INDEX.HTM AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 4, 2002CA
ENGINE STALLED ON FREEWAY DRIVING AT 70-75 MPH. CAR RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER.*AK
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Mar 4, 2002VA
THE KEY BROKE OFF IN THE DOOR LOCK. HAD ALL THE LOCKS REPLACED AND HAD THE KEYS CODED FOR THE LOCKS AND THE KEY BROKE FOR THE 2ND TIME IN THE LOCK.*AK
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1 injured
Filed Sep 13, 2001NJ
I WAS DRIVING TO THE MALL ON I-95 NORTH WHEN MY CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THE TACHOMETER STARTED REDLINING, SO I STOPPED PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL. NOW IT WILL COST ME ANYWHERE BETWEEN $1,500.00 AND $2,000.00 TO REBUILD IT. AND TO GET A BRAND NEW TRANSMISSION WILL COST $2,500.00 AND UP. PLEASE HELP ME, I'M A COLLEGE STUDENT AND I CAN'T AFFORD THE REPAIRS TO MY CAR. AND I DESPERATELY NEED MY CAR. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages
Filed May 18, 2001CA
MY HAND BRAKE WILL FAIL TO RELEASE, OR ON REPEATED HEAVY BRAKE-APPLICATION THE CALLIPER WILL NOT RELEASE - CAUSING INTENSE HEAT TO ROTOR AND DISTORTING THE CALIPER. *AK
Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Apr 24, 2001NY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Apr 24, 2001NY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper
Filed Apr 17, 2001MA
BRAKE CALIPER SIEZED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER AND A SUDDEN PULL TO ONE SIDE AND ABNORMAL WEAR OF BRAKE PADS, VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED.*AK CONSUMER STATED ON MULTIPLE INSTANCES AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS AND ROAD CONDITONS THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED AND/OR STUCK AFTER APPLICATION OF BRAKES.*SLC
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc
Filed Sep 22, 2000NJ
PARKING BRAKE CALIPER FROZE. OVERHEATED ROTOR WHILE DRIVING. CAUSED IMBALANCE WHILE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENT. ROTOT HEATED UP TO DANGEROUS LEVEL.
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 19, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.