Owners have filed 14 complaints
about the 1996 Mazda MX-6 with NHTSA between 1996 and 2006.
The largest single group is the airbags.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 14
Against the median year of the Mazda MX-6. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
35.7% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1996 Mazda MX-6
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Airbags
750.0%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Other & Unspecified
214.3%
Brakes
214.3%
2 crashes, 0 fires
Seat Belts
17.1%
Wheels
17.1%
Median failure at 110,000 miles
Body & Structure
17.1%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Aug 1996peak 2Apr 2006
NHTSA investigations into the 1996 Mazda MX-6
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
RQ99022Opened 20 Dec 1999Closed 30 Aug 2000EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT FAILURE
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
EA97012Opened 23 May 1997Closed 9 Oct 1998AIR BAGS
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN 20 OR 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 25 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OFALL 1995 AND 1996 MODELS OF THE MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF 1997 MAZDA 626 MODELS, EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SAS...
Recalls on the 1996 Mazda MX-6
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199905711,107 units in Canada
Fuel System
Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1105 - Evaporative Emissions. Fuel vapour may leak from between the fuel cap and the fuel filler pipe. The gap could be generated by improper dimensions between the top ends of the inner and outer pipe of the fuel filler pipe. In some cases, raw fuel would be released into the atmosphere. Correction: Dealers will install a modified fuel cap o-ring.
Recall 199820312,746 units in Canada
Seats And Restraints
On certain vehicles, minor undercarriage impacts can result in unnecessary air bag deployment. This could result in personal injury and/or loss of vehicle control. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the sas unit to reduce the possibility of unnecessary deployments in low speed undercarriage impacts.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Burbank, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HEAD-ON CRASH AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #884467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandra, VACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AT 60 TO 65 MPH, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. CAUSE ALSO UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #827030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandra, VACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AT 60 TO 65 MPH, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. CAUSE ALSO UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #827030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, NO RAIN, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A REGULAR STOPPING SITUATION AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #821950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 110,000 milesWichita, KS
WHEELS
ALL 4 WHEELS ARE CRACKED ON THE OUTSIDE, AND BAC SIDE OF THE RIMS. THEY LOOK DEEP AND THE WHEELS MIGHT BREAK AT ANY TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10154972 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Houston, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH , AND CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT VEHICLE RAN OVER, BUT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOTHING WAS HIT, AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER IS CONTACTING MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #893255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burbank, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
HEAD-ON CRASH AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #884467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lemesa, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #866595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scott, LA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #715794 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandra, VACrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AT 60 TO 65 MPH, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. CAUSE ALSO UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #827030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alexandra, VACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. POINT OF IMPACT WAS DRIVERS SIDE, FRONT AT 60 TO 65 MPH, IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKOWN. ALSO BRAKE ROTORS HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. CAUSE ALSO UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #827030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FALSE/VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG, RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #535505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland, CACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING ON GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, NO RAIN, DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES IN A REGULAR STOPPING SITUATION AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF A TRUCK. THE VEHICLE IS BEING REPAIRED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #821950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Morgantown, WV
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS.
NHTSA complaint #515297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Star City, WV
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED SPONTANEOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #546767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Longmeadow, MA
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
WHILE LIFTING HOOD UP THE HOOD FELL DOWN ON THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HURT BUT COULD HAVE BEEN HURT VERY BADLY.
NHTSA complaint #808800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Opopka, FL
SEAT BELTS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH CAUSE NOT KNOWN. SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CLOCK SPRING. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS MEANS AIR BAG IS DISFUNCTIONAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #800840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Opopka, FL
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES WITH CAUSE NOT KNOWN. SECOND TIME DEALERSHIP REPLACED A CLOCK SPRING. NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS FLASHING AGAIN. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THIS MEANS AIR BAG IS DISFUNCTIONAL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK.
NHTSA complaint #800840 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.