1996 Mazda MX-6

Routine

Owners filed 12 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal6
201
Unknown or Other2
000
Wheels1
000
Structure › Body › Hood1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
100
Air Bags1
000

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.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-inactive98V249000
Filed Oct 8, 1998213,000 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Risk. UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Wheels
Filed Apr 10, 2006110,000 milesKS

ALL 4 WHEELS ARE CRACKED ON THE OUTSIDE, AND BAC SIDE OF THE RIMS. THEY LOOK DEEP AND THE WHEELS MIGHT BREAK AT ANY TIME. *NM

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 2, 2001TX

VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH , AND CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT VEHICLE RAN OVER, BUT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOTHING WAS HIT, AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER IS CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 28, 2001CA

HEAD-ON CRASH AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Aug 2, 2000CA

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 8, 1999LA

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 20, 1998VA

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AT 60 TO 65 MPH, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. CAUSE ALSO UNKNOWN.

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 13, 1998TX

FALSE/VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Mar 13, 1998CA

WHILE DRIVING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, NO RAIN, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A REGULAR STOPPING SITUATION AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Mar 19, 1997WV

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Feb 18, 1997WV

BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY.

Structure › Body › Hood
Filed Feb 12, 1997MA

WHILE LIFTING HOOD UP THE HOOD FELL DOWN ON THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HURT BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HURT VERY BADLY. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Aug 14, 1996FL

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH CAUSE NOT KNOWN. SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CLOCK SPRING. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS MEANS AIR BAG IS DISFUNCTIONAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK.

12 of 12 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19990100Routine
19980100Routine
19972300Routine
1996 — this page12300Routine
199533330Routine
199446400Routine
199354301Fatalities reported
19927100Routine
199113100Routine
199014100Routine

Compare every MX-6 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.