2003 Mazda MAZDA6 fuel system problems

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired for the same failure under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V531000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

NHTSA complaint #11448828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, AN UNKNOWN FLUID STARTED LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR CAP AND COOLANT BYPASS FITTING HAD MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,326.

NHTSA complaint #10747562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I ASKED MAZDA TO FIX THE TWO RECALL ISSUES AND THAT HAVE NOT CALLED ME NOR SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR THIS REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10690703 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WAS AT A STOP SIGN TO MAKE A LEFT TURN HALF WAY THRU THE CAR STALLED AND ALL LIGHTS CAME ON, VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN INTO US. BARELY GOT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD HAD TO TURN CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON BUT VEHICLE WOULD DRIVE, AFTER ABOUT 5 STARTS THE LIGHT CAME OFF HAD THE CAR CHECKED, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY. ONE WEEK LATER SAME THING WET TO PULL ONTO A BUSY STREET AND CAR STALLED ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER WRECK, TRIED TO DRIVE IT HOME AND STOPPED AT THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN I WENT TO PULL IN THE CAR STALLED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET, BLOCKING ON COMING TRAFFIC. CALLED MAZDA TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST TO BE FIXED, THE LADY TOLD ME THAT IF IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY IT WOULD BE FREE BUT THAT EXPIRED IN 2011. I HAVE SEEN MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, MAZDA HAS ADMITTED TO IT BEING A PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT RECALLED IT. WE HAVE TWO KIDS AND THANK GOD NOTHING SERIOUS HAS HAPPENED WITH US IN THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATHS TO ANY DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10587693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON SEVERAL MODELS OF MAZDA 6'S MAZDA HAS ISSUED A TSB FOR THE PROBLEM WHICH IS A DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS BY CONSUMERS. MAZDA HAS MADE A NEW PART YET NOT RECALLED THE OLD PART. WHEN THIS PART FAILS YOU LOSE ALL ACCELERATION POWER TO THE VEHICLE. THE WAY TO RESET THIS IS TO TURN OFF THE MOTOR AND TURN IT RIGHT BACK ON. I WAS DRIVING ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY CROSSED OVER THE BROKEN DOUBLE YELLOW LINE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE WHEN THIS DEFECTIVE PART FAILED AND I LOST ALL ACCELERATION. THANKFULLY, I HAD JUST ENOUGH TIME TO BE ABLE TO ALLOW THE SAME CAR I WAS PASSING TO PASS ME AND I PULLED OFF THE ROADWAY. THE CAR WORKED FINE FOR THE REST OF THAT TRIP IT OCCURRED AGAIN ON THE FREEWAY IN THE FAST LANE. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE CUSTOMER CARE THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT HAD NOT ISSUED A RECALL AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA complaint #10394944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

CAR ENGINE STOPPING WHILE RUNNING AND A NO START. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WARNINGS OVER A LONG TIME. ONE REPAIR BY MAZDA ON THE GAS CAP REPAIR, BUT I HAVE ALSO UNCOVERED A RECALL ON LEAKING SEALS AT THE TANK ON 2003 MODELS, 03V-531. SERVICE LIGHT AGAIN CAME ON FROM 10/18/10 -10/30/10. WHILE OUT OF TOWN THE CAR SAT AIRPORT PARKING ON MY RETURN IT STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AT A LIGHT 11/22/10, BUT ALL LIGHTS AND RADIO STATIONS WERE ACTIVE, SO NO BATTERY PROBLEM. AFTER ADJUSTING THE FILLER GAS CAP SEVERAL TIMES I FOUND IT WASN'T CLOSING AND COULD BE PULLED RIGHT OFF. WE HAVE MADE SURE THE CAP IS ON TIGHTLY EACH TIME AND SINCE CANCELLED THE DEALER APPOINTMENT FOR A $100 INSPECTION, NO LIGHT SINCE. 2/9/11 AFTER DRIVING 35 MILES THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART, AAA CAME OUT AND NO BATTERY TROUBLE, BUT A 30 MILE TOWING WAS REQUIRED TO MY HOME. THE VEHICLE SITS IN A GARAGE AVG TEMP OF 35-45F. THE NEXT MORNING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS AND USING BOTH KEYS IT RESTARTED AND WE TOOK IT INTO A DEALER. @2 DAYS LATER THEY FIND A "SERVICE BULLETIN" 901-009/07) FROM 2007. POSSIBLE @ -30C (ZEROF) THE NO START OR CRANK DUE TO MOISTURE WITHIN THE MAIN RELAY AND/OR FUEL PUMP RELAY. THAT NIGHT 25-30F IN NOV NO WAY CLOSE. ON 02/12/11 WHILE DRIVING ON IS77 THE CAR QUITE RUNNING AGAIN, 911 CALLED AS I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNDER HEAVY FAST MOVING TRAFFIC. THIS WEEK ON 2/22 WHILE IN THE GARAGE HESITANT TO TURN OVER AGAIN BUT DID START ON THE 3RD TRY, VEHICLE TEMP READING WAS 47F. SO NOW FOR 2 NEW PARTS FOR 2003-2005 MODELS AND $450+ REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. THE PARTS ARE IN AND PER THE BULLETIN LOOKS MORE LIKE A BY-PASS OPTION THAN REPLACING A DEFECTIVE OEM PART. CUTTING OUT WHILE DRIVING IS VERY SERIOUS, AS MUCH SO AS ACCELERATION ON A TOYOTA. SINCE MY COMPANY IS TIED TO THE TIRE/WHEEL & AUTO MFG AND WE CONDUCT 1/2 DOT TIRE TEST FOR THE USA, I'M PRETTY SURE I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT ON DEFECTS.

NHTSA complaint #10384337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM MY CHARDON, OH OFFICE ON EITHER AUG 5 OR 6, 2009 AT 35 MPH MY CAR'S RPM NEEDLE STARTED JUMPING AND THE CAR'S "GAS PRESSURE" FELT LIKE IT WAS HICUPPING. THE RPM NEEDLE JUMPED FROM @2 TO 4 TWICE, THEN THE CAR STARTED STEADILY ACCELERATING IN SPEED. THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THIS TIME FELT "HARD" AND THE CAR WAS "FIGHTING AGAINST MY ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN" AND THE RPM'S WERE STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I IMAGINE IF I PUSHED ON THE BRAKE AND THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME, IT WOULD SIMULATE THE WAY IT FELT. I ALSO HAVE A MANUAL SHIFT MODE ON MY CAR AND USED IT TO MORE EFFECTIVELY SLOW DOWN (VS USING THE BRAKE) BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE, BUT COULDN'T BECAUSE I WAS IN A LOWER GEAR/MANUAL MODE. AND I REMEMBER WHILE IN MANUAL GEAR 1, MY CAR WAS LURCHING ME BACK AND FORTH IN MY SEAT AS I DROVE THROUGH MY NEIGHBORHOOD TO GET HOME, AND MY FOOT WAS OFF THE GAS PEDAL! ON AUG 12TH, 2009 I MENTIONED THIS EVENT TO A MITSUBISHI DEALER'S MECHANIC (FRIEND OF MY FATHER) WHO WAS REPLACING MY POWER STEERING LINE, HE TOOK A LOOK AT MY CAR BUT SAID IT SEEMED FINE. MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DRIVING THAT CAR SINCE THAT EVENT, BECAUSE I AM AFRAID OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN. THE CAR HAS NOT DONE THIS WHILE MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN DRIVING IT. NOT TO SOUND LIKE AN ODDBALL, BUT IF I DIDN'T KNOW BETTER I WOULD HAVE SAID MY CAR WAS ACTING POSSESSED, LIKE THE MOVIE "CHRISTINE". I HAVE TO THINK THAT THERE IS SOME CORRELATION TO WHAT MY CAR DID AND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH TOYOTA. MY HUSBAND IS AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND HE USED TO WORK FOR GROB SYSTEMS, WHO DOES ENGINEERING FOR MULTIPLE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS, AND I WONDER IF MAZDA HAS SOME SAME SYSTEM IN THEIR AUTOMOBILE'S AS TOYOTA AND IF IT WAS ENGINEERED BY THE SAME SUPPLIER. I WOULD SWEAR ON A BIBLE THAT THIS HAPPENED TO ME WITH MY CAR. (MY HUSBAND LEFT GROB TO MOVE TO CLEVELAND AND MARRY ME). IT SUCKS HAVING THIS CAR NOW, IT IS PAID OFF, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT, AND I DON'T WANT TO SELL TO AN INNOCENT STRANGER.

NHTSA complaint #10308054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY CAR HAS HAD 4 RECALLS. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006 NOT KNOWING THAT PARTS HAD BEEN RECALLED 3 TIMES. I RECENTLY FIXED A PROBLEM IN MY CAR THAT I FEEL MAKE HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH RECALL #3 , THE FUEL SENDER UNIT.

NHTSA complaint #10256437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

2003 MAZDA 6 RECALL 1403L, CAMPAIGN # 03V531000, ON MY VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY WAS REPAIRED IN BATON ROUGE AT DIAMOND MAZDA IN 2004, BUT CAR IS LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA THAT WAS A PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH NOW. SO THE WORKMANSHIP WHERE THEY REPAIR THE SEAL IS NOT VERY GOOD. FOUR YEARS LATER I BUY THE CAR AND IT IS POOR GAS ON THE TOP OF MY GAS TANK OUT OF THE SEAL AROUND THE FUEL PUMP WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT UNDER WHERE MY CHILD SITS. SO I'VE BEEN IN A TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF. NO ONE CAN GIVE ME PROOF OR PAPER WORK OF WHERE THIS RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. NOW SUPPOSE THAT IT DID BLOW UP AND KILL OR INJURE MYSELF AND MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WOULDN'T MAZDA BE AT FAULT FOR NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA complaint #10237320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2003 MAZDA 6 RECALL 1403L, CAMPAIGN # 03V531000, ON MY VEHICLE SUPPOSEDLY WAS REPAIRED IN BATON ROUGE AT DIAMOND MAZDA IN 2004, BUT CAR IS LEAKING IN THE SAME AREA THAT WAS A PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH NOW. SO THE WORKMANSHIP WHERE THEY REPAIR THE SEAL IS NOT VERY GOOD. FOUR YEARS LATER I BUY THE CAR AND IT IS POOR GAS ON THE TOP OF MY GAS TANK OUT OF THE SEAL AROUND THE FUEL PUMP WHICH JUST HAPPENS TO BE RIGHT UNDER WHERE MY CHILD SITS. SO I'VE BEEN IN A TIME BOMB JUST WAITING TO GO OFF. NO ONE CAN GIVE ME PROOF OR PAPER WORK OF WHERE THIS RECALL HAS BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. NOW SUPPOSE THAT IT DID BLOW UP AND KILL OR INJURE MYSELF AND MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. WOULDN'T MAZDA BE AT FAULT FOR NOT PROPERLY REPAIRING THE VEHICLE?

NHTSA complaint #10237320 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAR WAS HESITATING IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT OFF MADE IT HOME NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CAR KEPT IN SHOP FOR A MONTH DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE GOT THE CAR BACK BUT IT SINCE THEN CONTINUED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO ORIGINAL DEALER CRYSTAL MAZDA FOR 3 RECALLS IN JULY04 AND OTHER PROBLEMS, IN APRIL05 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNS ON IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY CAR STARTS TO JERK AND JUST DIED CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED ME WEEKS LATER TO TELL ME THE ENGINE SEAZED I HAVE HAD A LEMON LAW CASE WITH KIMMEL AND SILVERMAN FOR A YEAR NOW DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY TO ME AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURER THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE VEHICLE OR GIVE ME A REPLACEMENT I ALSO REQUESTED A COPY OF AN INVOICE DESCRIBING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE DYING AND DIAGNOSIS THEY REFUSE TO DO SO I HAVE BECOME SO ILL BECAUSE OF THIS AND HAVE A CHILD TO THINK ABOUT I JUST WANT A RELIABLE CAR THAT ME AND MY DAUGHTER WILL BE SAFE IN CAN YOU HELP.

NHTSA complaint #10127275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

THE CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE FIVE MONTHS BEFORE ONE BECAME AVAILABLE. *NM THE CLUTCH, STARTER, CD CHANGER, AND PANEL COVER WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS RUST ON THE DOOR SASHES. THERE WAS A SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE VIBRATIONS AND RATTLES IN THE DOOR, WHICH HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAKING FUEL SENDER UNIT IN THE GAS TANK. THE STARTER WOULD GRIND AND THE CLUTCH SHUDDERED. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10091938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

I PURCHASED MY 2003 MAZDA 6S IN OCTOBER 2003. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I GETS POOR GAS MILEAGE ON IT (ABOUT 16-18 MILES PER GALLON). I DO PLENTY OF CITY DRIVING BUT I STILL FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE. EVEN WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY THE GAS MILEAGE AVERAGES POORLY. THERE IS ALSO A SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO REV'S UP HIGHER BEFORE SWITCHING FROM LOWER GEARS TO HIGHER GEARS. I DO NOT 'JACK RABBIT' START OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO ALOT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE RIMS OF THE FRONT WHEELS. ACCELERATION IS VERY POOR. THERE IS ALSO A JERK WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHES FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE THE WAY THE VEHICLE LOOKS, WHICH IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT THE OVERALL QUALITY HAS TURNED OUT TO BE MUCH POORER THAN I HAD EXPECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10060223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

AFTER HAVING MY 2003 MAZDA 6 FOR NO MORE THAN A WEEK, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT SHUT OFF ON ANY SETTING HIGHER THAN "1". I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO MY DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW SWITCHBOARD FOR MY DASH. I WAITED A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD THE PART MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. I BECAME FRUSTRATED AND PICKED UP MY CAR AND ASKED THE DEALER TO CALL ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN. I WAITED FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS THEN RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING MY PART HAD ARRIVED. AS I AM PART OF THE WORKING CLASS, I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND BACK TO THE LETTER. I RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER STATING THAT IF I DID NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PART INSTALLED WITHIN 10 DAYS, THE DEALER WAS REQUIRED TO SEND THE PART BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. I MADE MY APPOINTMENT. I WAS GIVEN YET ANOTHER RENTAL CAR. AFTER REPLACING THE PART I WAITED SO LONG TO COME IN, I WAS INFORMED THAT PART DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER PART TO ARRIVE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WERE 3 RECALLS THAT CONSUMERS HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF YET THAT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO MAKE AN INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE RECALLS WERE FIXED. NOW, RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEARS HOLIDAYS, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER A NEW GAS TANK FOR MY VEHICLE AND THE PART WILL BE ORDERED AND SHOULD ARRIVE "WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS". I HAVE BEEN PROMISED MY VEHICLE NEXT WEEK. I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATHE.

NHTSA complaint #10051466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

I PURCHASED THE MAZDA6 I IN LATE AUGUST OF 2003, EXPECTING AT LEAST ROUGHLY, THE 25 - 32 MPG THAT WAS ADVERTISED ON MY CAR WINDOW. FROM THE START I WAS GETTING 18-20 MPG REGULARLY, I DO A LOT OF CITY DRIVING, BUT EVEN WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HIGHEST IT HAS EVER BEEN WAS 27-28 AND THATS PUTTING 300 MILES ON IT IN ONE STRAIGHT SHOT. I COMPLAINED TO A DEALER IN TOLEDO WHEN I HAD ABOUT 2200 MILES ON MY CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR A BREAK IN PERIOD AND TO COME BACK WHEN I HAD 3500 MILES ON MY CAR. I WAITED AND WAITED, CONTINUING TO GET THE SAME POOR GAS MILEAGE. FINALLY, WITH 3800 MILES ON MY CAR I SENT AN E-MAIL TO THE DEAL ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS STILL GETTING THE SAME GAS MILEAGE. THE DEALER RESPONDED 3-5 DAYS LATER (THOUGH THE WEBSITE SAID SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY RESPONSE) AND HE SAID, THAT WAS NORMAL AND MAZDA DOESN'T CONSIDER THAT EXCESSIVE. 23 - 29 WAS WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR MY ENGINE, BUT THAT WAS WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR THE 6 CYLINDER, THAT I DON'T HAVE. HE WAS RUDE AND COULDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY EMAIL AND RESPOND WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER NEAR MY HOMETOWN WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN I TRIED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THE LADY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A NEW CAR?

NHTSA complaint #10050936 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.