The 1993 Mazda MX-6 has 3 safety recalls and 54 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (14 complaints).
Recalls3safety recalls
Complaints54filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths6 · 1reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
NHTSA recall 15V674000 · Oct 19, 2015 · 1,368,500 vehicles
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Risk: If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.
Fuel system, gasoline
NHTSA recall 05E065000 · Oct 5, 2005 · 42,962 vehicles
Problem: CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.
Risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
Fix: SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.
Problem: THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
Risk: THE INSUFFICIENT TORQUE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTRETAINING BOLT CAN RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION FAILING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTIONAND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
Fix: INSPECT THE LOWER BALL JOINT RETAINING BOLTS AND TIGHTEN LOOSE BOLTS TO THE CORRECT TORQUE.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
MX-6
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 31 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
MX-6
23mpg combined
City / highway
21 / 28 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
MX-6
20mpg combined
City / highway
18 / 24 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,100/year to fuel
MX-6
19mpg combined
City / highway
17 / 23 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $4,350/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulic Foundation components › Disc › Caliper; Foundation components › Disc
14
1
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
9
0
0
0
—
Suspension Front › Springs › Coil springs; Front › Control arm › Lower ball joint
7
0
0
0
—
Steering Rack and pinion; Hydraulic power assist system
6
1
0
1
—
Seat belts Front › Anchorage; Front
5
1
0
1
—
Power train Automatic transmission; Axle assembly
5
0
0
1
—
Electrical system Ignition; Alternator/generator/regulator
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Aug 31, 2008 · 125,000 milesSuspension › Front TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA MX6. WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND. HE CONTINUED IN REVERSE AT APPROXIMATELY 2 MPH AND TURNED THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE LEFT, BUT THE NOISE PERSISTED. HE LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS FAILED. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, ONLY A GUARD ASSEMBLY SHOULD BE INSTALLED TO PREVENT THE COIL SPRINGS FROM FAILING AGAIN. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT BECAUSE THE COIL SPRINGS ALREADY FAILED, THEY WOULD ONLY INSTALL THE GUARD ASSEMBLY IF THE COIL SPRINGS WERE REPAIRED DUE TO THE RESPONSE THEY RECEIVED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT…
Jan 1, 1999Power train › Automatic transmission I HAVE A 1993 MAZDA MX6 WITH 105,000. IN 1999 THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REBUILT. THEN, RECENTLY, I'VE HAD MY CAR IN 3 TIMES FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THEY'VE REPLACED SOLENOIDS, TORQUE CONVERTER, INLINE BOOST VALVE AND SO FAR IT ISN'T FIXED. I'VE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS VERY ISSUE BUT MAZDA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING FOR CONSUMERS. *TR
Jun 15, 2001 · 112,125 milesParking brake › Driveline › Hydraulic › Actuator ON THE MODELS WITH REAR DISC BRAKES: AFTER APPLYING, AND THEN RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE IN A NORMAL MANNER THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR PIVOTING PIN BEARING ON ONE OF THE REAR CALIPERS SEIZED, CAUSING IT NOT RELEASE OR TO NOT FULLY RELEASE. THIS COULD CAUSE A HANDLING/BRAKING INSTABILITY ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION PREMATURE BRAKE PAD WEAR/FAILURE. AN IMPROPERLY DESIGNED CALIPER INVOLVING THE SEAL AROUND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR PIVOTING PIN AND BEARING WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES.*AK
Sep 17, 2005 · 136,000 milesExterior lighting › Headlights DT: THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 THERE WERE NO RUNNING LIGHTS, DASHBOARD OR TAIL LIGHTS. WENT TO TURN ON THE HEADLIGHTS AND IT SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX, AND IT STARTED SMOKING. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC , AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. THEN ,WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, WERE SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND THEY REFUSED TO FIXED THE PROBLEM EVEN WITH THE CONSUMER PAYING THEM FOR THE WORK. THEY STILL WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE. DRIVING WAS FINE IN DAYLIGHT, BUT AT NIGHT THERE WERE NO LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENED EVERY TIME THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Jul 7, 2005 · 171,000 miles · crash · 1 injurySeat belts › Front THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT PULLING MY DAUGHTER OFF THE ROAD AND HEAD ON INTO A TELEPHONE POLE. THE POINT OF IMPACT WAS THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH SHE WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT AND THE VEHICLE WAS EQUIPT WITH AN AIR BAG SHE STILL WAS THROWN HEAD FIRST INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG DID DEPLOY BUT DID NOT STOP HER. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
Jun 5, 2001 · 112,435 milesParking brake APPLIED PARKING BRAKE. REAR BRAKE CALIPER PARKING BRAKE MECHANISM DESIGN FAILURE CAUSED THE REAR CALIPER TO NOT RELEASE AFTER RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE HANDLE. HAD TO MANUALLY (FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR) FORCE THE ACTUATOR LEVER BACK. *JB
Jan 27, 2004Exterior lighting › Headlights WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT AND DID NOT COME BACK ON. THERE WAS NO WARNING. 8JB
Dec 14, 2003 · 108,000 milesSteering WHILE DRIVING TIRE TURNED WITHOUT THE STEERING WHEEL BEING TURNED. THEN, THREE SECONDS LATER, THE WHEEL CORRECTED ITSELF. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
RQ99022 · opened Dec 20, 1999 · closed Aug 30, 2000HEADLIGHT FAILURE OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358