2006 Mazda MAZDASPEED6 problems

ENGINE

TAKATA RECALL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SPEED 55 MPH DROPPED VALVE BLOW HOLE IN BLOCK WHICH ALSO BLEW BIG PIECES OF THE PISTON AND BLOCK ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH COULD HAVE BOUNCED BACK INTO TRAFFIC CAUSING INJURY TO ON COMING DRIVERS OR DRIVERS FOLLOWING VEHICLE. I COLLECTED PIECES OF THE PISTON AND BLOCK ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MEDIUM SIZE HAND WELL OVER 50 YARDS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AFTER I DID AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS FOLLOWING ME OR ON COMING TRAFFIC SO NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE MAZDASPEED6 OR MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES. I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING THESE MOTORS REPLACED WITH A BETTER BUILT ONE BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT OR WORSE DIES.

NHTSA complaint #10981088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL 8 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO ME NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT NO ONE SHOULD RIDE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO THE RECALL. MAZDA HAS NOT PROVIDED THIS FIX IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOW I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO DRIVE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10893521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL I GET A LETTER EVERY YEAR THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT THAT THE "REMEDY" IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE IS NO PROJECTION OF WHEN MY REMEDY WILL BE AVAILABLE. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE HAS LOWER RESALE VALUE, IS GETTING OLDER AND I REMAIN AT RISK. WHILE 31% OF AT RISK VEHICLES HAVE RECEIVED SOME KIND OF REMEDY, THE RATE OF REMEDY APPEARS TO BE SLOWING DOWN. FIVE YEARS AFTER THE RECALL, I MIGHT HAVE A 50/50 CHANCE OF GETTING A REMEDY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT MY VEHICLE WILL BE IN THE JUNK YARD BEFORE A REMEDY IS OFFERED. SEEMS LIKE A GOOD PLAN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TO MAKE THE REPAIR. WHERE IS THE DIRECTIVE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC? YES, 7 MILLION AIRBAGS SOUNDS BUSY. KENNEDY'S MOON PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN 8 YEARS 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA complaint #10849875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

LOST CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING NEARLY HAVING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK OFF CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AS SYMPTOMS WOULD SUGGEST THE REPAIR WOULD BE. FOUND OUT THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS BROKE AND THAT THE FIREWALL IS "CRACKED" I CAN SEE LOTS OF POSTS ONLINE WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON AND VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA complaint #10780823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

5 MONTHS AGO, TOOK CAR TO MAZDA DEALER FOR TIMING CHAIN, VVT NOISE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. LAST MONTH STARTED TO FEEL INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER DURING QUICK ACCELERATION FOLLOWED BY PLUME OF SMOKE AT THE TAIL PIPE. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS HEAVY CARBON BUILDUP AT THE VALVES AS WELL AS MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, O2 SENSOR, AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE BILL WAS FOR ABOUT 1800 WORTH OF PARTS AND LABOR FOR DEEP CLEANING THE VALVES (INTAKE MANIFOLD REMOVED). AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, TOOK CAR HOME AND DROVE FOR ABOUT 25 MILES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I SMELLED BURNT OIL AND SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO FIND LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SAME MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD A ROD SHEARED AND BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE BLOCK AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE TRANSFER CASE HOUSING. THERE WAS NO ROD BEARING FAILURE, THE ROD JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST AND WILL NOT COVER THE TRANSFER CASE DAMAGE. READING THROUGH SEVERAL FORUMS, THE SAME ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OTHER MAZDASPEED 6 OWNERS. THIS TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #10662596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE MOUNTS AND THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 5 TIMES AND IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10610306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE

THE MOUNTS AND THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 5 TIMES AND IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10610306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY VEHICLES IS CLOUDING OF THE PLASTIC LENSES OVER HEADLIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM IS EXCEEDINGLY SEVERELY BAD ON THE MAZDASPEED 6. THE CLOUDING CANNOT BE REPAIRED VIA HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KITS AS ONCE IT'S REMOVED, IT COMES BACK EVEN WORSE AFTER. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. SINCE THESE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDE THE HID HEADLIGHTS ELECTRONICS (BALLAST) THEY ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. THESE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CLOUD AND BECOME COMPLETELY WORTHLESS WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. ON MY 8 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS PRODUCE LESS LIGHT THAN LOW BEAMS ON MOST OTHER VEHICLES. THE EASY SOLUTION FOR MAZDA WOULD BE TO RECALL THE HEADLIGHTS AND RETROFIT A LENS (GLASS OR OTHERWISE) THAT WILL NOT CLOUD. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOW BEAMS.

NHTSA complaint #10597586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I OWN A 2006 MAZDA SPEED6 WITH 96,600 MILES, PURCHASED DECEMBER 2005. MY SPEED6 HAS ALWAYS HAD A TURBOCHARGER SMOKING PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, IT LOOKED LIKE A MOSQUITO SPRAYING TRUCK GOING DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THAT ISSUE SEEMED TO ABATE, AND APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL ON ITS OWN. NOW THE CAR IS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND AFTER A YEARLONG ATTEMPT TO WATCH THE PROBLEM, TO SEE IF IT COULD BE CONTROLLED, I FINALLY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT IT COULD NOT, AND THAT THE TURBOCHARGED HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THUS MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MAZDA DEALER CLOSEST TO MY CURRENT RESIDENCE, PADUCAH MAZDA, IN PADUCAH, KY. I TOOK THE CAR IN YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM MY TURBOCHARGER SEALS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN AND PREVALENT, SUBJECT TO A NHTSA INQUIRY #10043874. AND AS A RESULT MAZDA ISSUED A LETTER EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM TO 84 MONTHS OR 70,000 MILES. I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING THIS LETTER, OR IF I DID, AT THAT TIME DID NOT BELIEVE I HAD A PROBLEM WORTHY OF A NEW TURBOCHARGER. SO YESTERDAY, THE MAZDA CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2500 TO REPLACE THE TURBOCHARGER. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN, DOCUMENTED, AND SUBJECT OF A MAZDA WARRANTY CONSIDERATION, I CALLED MAZDA CONSUMER SERVICE TO SEE IF MAZDA COULD OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ON THIS SERVICE ISSUE. I OFFERED TO WORK WITH THEM, TO PAY SOME PORTION OF THE REPAIR, MEET THEM IN THE MIDDLE IF POSSIBLE. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED IN TOTAL; ?NO ASSISTANCE?. NATURALLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS RESULT, GIVEN THAT I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL MAZDA OWNER. I AM VERY SURPRISED WITH THIS ABRUPT AND NEGATIVE TREATMENT FROM MAZDA, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10565914 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6 . THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHILE DECELERATING TO ATTEMPT A TURN, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY DOWNSHIFTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA complaint #10490566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW WE HAVE COMPLAINED TO MAZDA ABOUT THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING NOISE AND THE HEAVY WHITE SMOKE FROM THE LEAKING TURBO. THESE COMPLAINTS WERE DONE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. MAZDA CHOSE TO IGNORE THE ISSUES AND BRUSH THEM OFF. THE CAR NEEDS REPAIRS DUE TO THIS MATTER. MAZDA NEEDS TO BE FORCED INTO A TOTAL RECALL TO REPAIR THESE MANY COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA complaint #10461839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

DRIVING THE CAR ON THE TURNPIKE AND HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A BLOWOUT. IMMEDIATELY PULLED CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING. ATTEMPTED TO RESTART, BUT MADE NOISE AND WOULD NOT START. CALLED HUSBAND, WHO ARRIVED AND SAID THE ENGINE HAD COME APART. THERE WERE PHYSICAL PIECES OF THE ENGINE BLOCK UP TO THE SIZE OF A GOLF BALL IN THE SKID PLATE UNDER THE ENGINE, AS WELL AS OIL UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND ON THE ROAD. WE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA A FEW WEEKS EARLIER INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE SEALS IN THE TURBO AND A STOP PIN IN THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) AND IF THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ANY OF THE SYMPTOMS TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER FOR EVALUATION AND REPAIR, UP TO 7 YEARS/70K MILES. CALLED DEALER AND MAZDA HQ NEXT MORNING. MAZDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS ACTED IF THEY WERE INTERESTED IN THE ROOT CAUSE AND REASON FOR FAILURE, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS 1K MILES OUT OF THE COVERAGE PERIOD. MAZDA PAID FOR TOW TO DEALER, BUT ONCE THERE MAZDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE TEARDOWN AND BEGAN TO DANCE AROUND THE WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR THE VVT PROBLEM INFORMING ME THAT MAZDA IS RIGID ON THE 7YRS/70K MILES. I QUESTIONED MAZDA ON THE DISCUSSION THE PREVIOUS DAY REGARDING THE POST-MORTEM TEARDOWN AND ANALYSIS, WHERE I WAS GIVEN THE IMPRESSION MAZDA WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE TOW AND THE TEARDOWN TO DETERMINE ROOT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND THEN THE CLAIM WOULD BE EVALUATED FROM THERE. MAZDA DID A COMPLETE TURN AROUND AND WOULD NOT HONOR THEIR INITIAL WORD, NOW INFORMING ME I WOULD BE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WORK PERFORMED ON THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10460013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WELD FAILED. SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL OF CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT / DISENGAGEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10453571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I LOVE THE MAZDASPEED 6 CAR. WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS THAT RECENTLY I'VE HAD TO BORROW ANOTHER CAR TO DRIVE DUE TO THE WHITE SMOKE FROM THE MAZDA. I'VE HAD THE 2006 MAZDASPEED 6 FOR A YEAR NOW WITH 64,XXX MILES, DRIVES WELL, COMFORT COULDN'T ASK FOR MORE. TILL RANDOMLY I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. I'M A SAFE DRIVER AND KEEP MY CAR MAINTAINED WELL. THE "WHITE SMOKE" IS MOST VISIBLE AT IDLE. I DID NOT WISH TO GET AN EMISSIONS TICKET, SO I PARKED IT IN MY PARENTS GARAGE. HAVING TO BORROW A ANOTHER CAR IS A REAL PAIN. I HAVE READ UPON MANY SITE'S AND FORUMS TRYING TO SEE IF THIS IS A EASY FIX. IT HAS COME TO A CONCLUSION IT IS NOT. THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERS HAVE PUSHED ME AWAY DUE TO THIS WHITE SMOKE. I FEEL DISRESPECTED AS A MAZDA OWNER TO BE TURNED DOWN ON ANY HELP ABOUT THIS FAILURE. I HAVE SPENT OVER A $1000 DOLLARS TO TRY LOCAL SHOPS AND STILL THIS FAILURE IS KILLING MY BUDGET. I DO HOPE TO RECEIVE ANY INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FROM MAZDA CORP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TO READ THIS, AS I HOPE TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED.

NHTSA complaint #10410140 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6. THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE AND OCCASIONALLY IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND STATED THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE ENGINE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 61,000.

NHTSA complaint #10404158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

LOUD TICKING NOISE UNDER HOOD ON STARTUP.

NHTSA complaint #10284066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION:REAR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 6. WHILE ACCELERATING OR MAKING A TURN AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE REAR. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,912 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

NHTSA complaint #10229698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND GOING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP WHEN MY CLUTCH WENT OUT ON THE CAR. IT IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 17000 MILES ON IT. IT IS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MORE THAT JUST MY CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. THE REPAIR COST IS $3,0000 DOLLARS WHICH FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10220815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AND GOING DOWN THE EXIT RAMP WHEN MY CLUTCH WENT OUT ON THE CAR. IT IS 2 YEARS OLD WITH 17000 MILES ON IT. IT IS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6. I HAVE BEEN READING ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MORE THAT JUST MY CAR. IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. THE REPAIR COST IS $3,0000 DOLLARS WHICH FOR A FAIRLY NEW CAR IS RIDICULOUS.

NHTSA complaint #10220815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA SPEED 6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO MISFIRE. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED IT TO REST. AFTERWARDS, IT APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED A TRAIL OF OIL. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN OIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND CONTINUED TO LEAK. THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED A LARGE HOLE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSED TO DO A TEARDOWN OF THE MOTOR, BUT THEY REFUSED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE DEALER AND HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

NHTSA complaint #10209322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

2006 MAZDASPEED6 REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTING BOLTS SHEARED OFF. CRACKED REAR DIFFERENTIALS FRONT CASE AS WELL. TOOK TO THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT. CAUSING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL CASE TO CRACK UNDER THE TENSION OF DRIVING IT. THEY THEN DECIDED TO LOOK AT IT.

NHTSA complaint #10198885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.