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2003 Mazda MAZDA6Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 174 owner complaints about the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6, most often about the power train. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-402 the manufacturer reports only 9% of affected cars repaired.

2003 Mazda MAZDA6
45
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.2× the MAZDA6 median · #5 of 18 years by complaints
Safety recalls6Lowest repair rate 9%Owner complaints17418 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage24kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through January 25, 2022. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 has problems

174 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train360
Engine and engine cooling360
Air bags309
Service brakes, hydraulic180
Electrical system182
Vehicle speed control180
Structure110
Engine101
Fuel system, gasoline90
16 other systems486

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

6 recalls

2003 Mazda MAZDA6 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

38%repaired · 2021 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 19V-781 · Oct 31, 2019 · 47,006 vehicles · 17,707 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

9%repaired · 2019 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-402 · Jun 15, 2018 · 308,591 vehicles · 29,226 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

14%repaired · 2018 Q4

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 17V-474 · Jul 26, 2017 · 308,992 vehicles · 42,217 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 2 more recalls
–no report yet

Exterior lighting: fog lights

Recall 03V-206 · Jun 5, 2003 · 64,000 vehicles

Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE HARNESS CAN DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER AND POSSIBLY BUT RARELY, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BULB CAN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Parking brake: indicator light

Recall 03V-207 · Jun 5, 2003 · 45,600 vehicles

Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.

Mileage at failure

When do power train problems start?

24kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 30 power train complaints. 77% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
16under 30k miles23under 100k miles7100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other MAZDA6 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MAZDA6 median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Mazda MAZDA6 safety ratings

2003 Mazda6 4-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2003 Mazda MAZDA6 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
4 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT SEAL LEAKPE03047 · closed Dec 24, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-531
  4. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 13V-172
In owners' words

What MAZDA6 owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

AFTER TWO YEARS OF DRIVING THIS CAR THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY BROKE PUNCTURING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL AND BRAKE RESERVOIR, LUCKILY I WAS STARTING THE VEHICLE IN A HOSPITAL PARKING LOT WHEN I PUSHED THE CLUTCH IN IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT COME BACK UP. IT WAS COMPLETELY…
Complaint 11268685 · Oct 15, 2019 · 50,000 miles
2003 MAZDA 6. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER BEING PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. DISCOVERED PCM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED MAZDA STOPPED MANUFACTURING THE PCM FOR VEHICLES MANUFACTURED IN 2003 AND THEREFORE, IT HAD TO SPECIAL ORDERED. IT TOOK…
Complaint 10838352 · Feb 8, 2016
TRANSMISSION KICKS REALLY HARD MAKING THE CAR FEEL LIKE IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. THE CAR IS HARD TO CONTROL AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENS. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM,ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR 90LB DAUGHTER IS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF…
Complaint 10649347 · Oct 22, 2014 · 105,000 miles

Own a 2003 MAZDA6?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.