US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

Mazda MX-6 recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Mazda MX-6, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 16
Total Complaints 302
Years Covered 1986–1997

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Mazda MX-6, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Other

2 campaigns · Years: 1988

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 1995–1996

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 98V249000 · Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive

Brakes

1 campaign · Years: 1988

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 87V196000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Shoes/linings

Electrical

1 campaign · Years: 1993–1997

These campaigns relate to wiring or electrical components that can cause warning lights, loss of function, or fire risk in some cases.

Official notices (evidence):

Engine and cooling

1 campaign · Years: 1997

These campaigns relate to engine or cooling components where failures can lead to stalling or overheating risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Fuel and emissions

1 campaign · Years: 1988

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

1 campaign · Years: 1988–1989

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Steering and suspension

1 campaign · Years: 1993

These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Mazda MX-6 in NHTSA complaint data are Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags:frontal, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
1997 2 2 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission.
1996 2 14 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Air bags, Seat belts.
1995 2 41 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Power train:automatic transmission, Visibility:windshield.
1994 2 71 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Power train:automatic transmission, Air bags:frontal, Electrical system.
1993 2 68 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper, Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1992 0 9 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Visibility:glass, side/rear, Power train:driveline.
1991 0 18 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Power train:automatic transmission, Power train.
1990 0 18 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts, Seat belts:front:anchorage, Engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe.
1989 1 42 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Seats, Seat belts:front:anchorage.
1988 5 16 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly, Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash, Power train:automatic transmission.
1987 0 1 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Seat belts:front:buckle assembly.
1986 0 2 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Seat belts:front:buckle assembly.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Electrical system , Air bags and Seat belts

Show recall evidence by year

1997

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Engine and engine cooling: Safety recall involving the engine and engine cooling area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V206001) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and get caught in the timing belt.

1996

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V249000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.

1995

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Air bags: Sensor/control module-inactive: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V249000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.

1994

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Exterior lighting: Switch: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V358000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The headlight wire that runs through the turn signal lever can fail at the point where it is soldered to the headlight switch.

1993

  • Electrical system: Switch: Safety recall involving the electrical system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (15V674000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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
  • Suspension: Control arm: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (92V045000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The lower arm ball joints on both sides of the front suspension may not have been torqued to specification.

1989

  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103005) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

1988

  • Vehicle speed control: Linkages: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V149000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Floor mat could interfere with release of accelerator pedal due to improper shape of mat.
  • Fuel system, gasoline: Tank assembly: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V186000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Fuel tank fixing band retention is not sufficient, allowing the band to rub against the fuel tank by vehicle vibrations.
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Shoes/linings: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V196000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicles equipped with rear brake drums transported by train may experience separation of the brake shoe from the wheel brake cylinder piston.
  • Vehicle speed control: Accelerator pedal: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (88V022000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: At ambient temperatures below 0 degree f, frost may accumulate within the throttle body under extended constant speed operation.
  • Seat belts: Buckle assembly: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V103005) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: 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.

Other Mazda Models

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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