2006 Mazda MAZDA6 problems
NHTSA has received 207 complaints about the 2006 Mazda MAZDA6, and 46% of them involve air bags. Next are engine (9%) and drivetrain & axles (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 207 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 46% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 19 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 11 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 75,000 miles 102 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 21 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 15 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 19 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 11 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 11 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 102 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 75,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 85,000 miles (12 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 19 complaints mention a crash; 1 complaint mentions a fire; 11 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2006 ranks 11th most-complained-about out of 17 model years of the Mazda MAZDA6 with enough data (52 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Our 2006 mazda 6 gt was totaled in a wreck in which it flipped 4 or more times on the highway and then into the median. The speed at the time accident occurred was 70 MPH. Not one of the 6 equipped air bags was deployed. I contacted mazda customer service and was told that apparently none of the sensors were tripped and this is not uncommon. I find it hard to believe that not one of 6 would trip in an accident that violent. My insurance also didn't seem to think it was an issue.
I was driving a hertz rented mazda 6 2006 with approximately 1,100 miles on it. Was driving at approximately 65 miles per hour when I lost control of the car. The car swerved to the right and hit a truck and swerved back to the left and hit a median. On subsequent inspection, it was found that the steering linkages were faulty and had failed. The police have recorded the incident as mechanical failure.
Neither side or front airbags deployed in accident. This car was rear ended at 45 MPH and then pushed into a guard rail, causing damage to the front and rear of the car.
Air conditioner never works properly on drivers side since new. Dealer claims it's not a problem but driver vent and left middle vent always blow warm when air is on. Making car unbearable to drive in heat also car does not cool off properly in summer.
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the local service center for maintenance, it was discovered that rust and corrosion was present on the front passenger’s side lower control arm. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed that the model year was not included in a Manufacturer's recall for the same failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 142,000.