Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6, assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its VIN to decode that exact car, its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment, alongside these records.
Open a VIN recordRecalls and complaints are filed against a specific model year, so figures differ from one year to the next even within a single generation. See every Mazda MAZDA6 year.
No EPA fuel-economy match for this model. Naming may differ, or it predates EPA records.
NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning covering 3 recalls on this make, model and year. Repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Recalls are issued per model. Confirm whether this specific car has already been repaired using its VIN, free, at any franchised dealer or on nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA lists 9 recalls for this make, model and year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car. A dealer can confirm from the VIN.
Issue: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
Campaign 18V402000
Issue: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.
Campaign 19V781000
Issue: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
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 occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
Campaign 17V474000
Issue: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
Campaign 09E012000
Issue: DOPE, INC. IS RECALLING 42,540 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DOPE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DOPE, INC. AT 1-626-272-1798.
Campaign 09E025000
Issue: THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
Risk: THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
Campaign 09E011000
Issue: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." DURING PRODUCTION, THE FLOAT IN THE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR IN THE BRAKE RESERVOIR CAN BE FORCED OFF OF THE GUIDE RAIL DURING THE FILLING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER.
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.
Remedy: MAZDA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 03V207000
Issue: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL SENDER UNIT (FSU) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK, PRODUCING AN INADEQUATE SEAL, AND FUEL MAY LEAK.
Risk: A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK, AND IF NECESSARY, REPAIR OR REPLACE IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 03V531000
Issue: ON CERTAIN MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOCKET HOLDER IN THE FOG LIGHTS IS INSTALLED IN THE LAMP CASING USING PRESSURE. DURING OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAN EXPAND THE SOCKET HOLDER. THE EXPANSION CAN FORCE THE SOCKET HOLDER REARWARD. AFTER REPEATEDLY BEING SUBJECT TO THIS EXPANSION, IF THE FOG LIGHT IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SOCKET HOLDER WITH THE BULB HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT CASING.
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 BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING TO PREVENT THE SOCKET HOLDER FROM SEPARATING FROM THE LAMP CASE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Campaign 03V206000
The parts named most often across 175 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this make, model and year.
7 crashes · 2 injured
1 crash · 1 fire
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so read this as where to look rather than as a defect rate.
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.
In 2018, the car was part of a trade in for a certified used car at my dealership. The car had over 350,000 miles and could no longer run.
WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS IT STAYS AT THE SAME SPEED OR IT SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. WHEN I PRESS ON THE BREAK SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT'S NOT GOING TO STOP AND JUST KEEP GOING OR IT JERKS FORWARD WHEN I STOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD AND THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS.
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 INOPERABLE, I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED AFTER PATCHING THE FIREWALL AND REPLACING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY FOR $1800 I WAS TOLD THAT PART WAS FAULTY ON THIS VEHICLE AND IF IT HAPPENED ONCE IT WOULD PROBABLY HAPPEN AGAIN. ONE YEAR LATER IT BROKE AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT GEARS THE CLUTCH WENT TO THE FLOOR AND DIDN'T COME BACK UP, I HAD TO PULL OVER LUCKILY I DIDN'T GET HIT OR CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD BY MAZDA THERE WOULD BE NO RECALL BECAUSE THIS PART ISN'T A DIRECT SAFETY ISSUE.
ON 01/18/2019 I TOOK VEHICLE I PURCHASED, TO MOCK FORD IN GRANT'S PASS OREGON FOR TAKARA AIRBAG RECALL. THIS IS WHEN I BECAME AWARE OF SAFETY ISSUE THAT VEHICLES AUR BAGS HAD BEEN CUT OUT AND REMOVED. THE SERVICE GUY AT MOCK FORD EXPLAINEDAND GAVE ESTIMATE WHICH WAS GREATER THAN WHAT CARS VALUE WAS. THE SELLER OF CAR AARON RONSON NEVER DISCLOSED ANY ISSUES. ONLY THAT HE BOUGHT FROM A FRIEND THAT BUYS AND FIXES CARS. HIS FRIEND WORKED AT A WRECKING YARD. MY SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS INSURANCE COVERAGE IS HAVE BEEN B.CEFFECTED. MY COMPLAINT IS NO FOUND RECORDS OF VEHICLEACCIDENT. AND NO BRANDING OF TITLE IT IS CLEAR. NO EVIDENCE OF AIRBAD DEPLOYMENT. I HAVE BEEN REFUSED COPIES IF PREVIOUS OWNER TO INVESTIGATED KNOWLEDGE PRIOR TO MY PURCGASE.
I HIT A DEER AT 45 MILES AN HOUR THEN HIT THE HIT TOTALLING THE CAR, THE AIRBAG DID NOT COME OUT, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING ME TO BE SLAMMED INTO THE STEELING WHEEL, NOW I SUFFER GREAT PAIN, CAN'T MOVE MY NECK, CAN'T LAY DOWN BC OF SUCH BAD HEADACHE I THROW UP, I SLEEP SITTING UP, SOMETHING IN THE CAR LIKE METAL FRAGMENT HIT ME IN THE LEFT EYE, NOW I CAN BARELY SEE OUT OF MY LEFT EYE. AND MUST CONTINUE MEDICAL TREATMENT. AND SOMEONE IS GOING TO PAY FOR MY MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PAIN AND SUFFERING, BC THAT SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING CAUSED MY INJURIES, MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOTALLED MY CAR OUT BC OF THE SEVERE DAMAGE TO IT.
TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE NOTIFIED MAZDA AT LEAST 5 TIMES THAT THIS CAR HAS BEEN JUNKED, YET I KEEP GETTING HARASSED WITH MAILINGS. PLEASE STOP! THIS IS HARASSMENT!
I JUNKED THE CAR IN JANUARY OF 2018 DUE TO HAVING TOO MANY PROBLEMS
THIS CAR WAS DESTROYED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AS SUCH CAN NO LONGER BE REPAIRED.
2003 MAZDA6 MODEL CARS WERE BUILT WITH FAULTY THROTTLE BODIES. UNAWARE OF THIS, I BOUGHT ONE OF THESE VEHICLES AND IMMEDIATELY BEGAN EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH IT. WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOWLY, UNDER 15 MPH, THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY THROTTLE, ACCELERATING IT IN BURSTS EVEN WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. THAT ISSUE IS PROBLEMATIC BUT RELATIVELY MINOR; HOWEVER, THERE IS A MUCH MORE DANGEROUS ISSUE THE FAULTY THROTTLE BODY CREATES. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE FAULTY THROTTLE BODY CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING WITH OUR KIDS IN THE CAR THE FIRST TIME WE HAD THE ENGINE CUT OUT WHILE DRIVING (SOON AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR). LUCKILY, SHE WAS DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA AT 25 MPH. THE ENGINE HAS CUT OUT ON ME WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS FORCED TO COAST THROUGH FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER IN ORDER TO STOP THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE HAS CUT OUT, WITHOUT WARNING, AT SEVERAL SPEEDS. THERE IS NO RHYME TO WHEN IT WILL CUT OUT AND NO INDICATION IT'S GOING TO CUT OUT AHEAD OF TIME. I SPENT OVER $500 TRYING TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH MECHANICS UNSURE WHAT WAS WRONG. THEN A MECHANIC HAPPENED TO HAVE AN OLD SERVICE BULLETIN (SB), DATED 5/18/2006, FROM MAZDA THAT STATED THROTTLE BODIES WITH THE MARKINGS AA, AB, OR BA AT THE END OF THEIR SERIAL NUMBERS (AS IS THE CASE WITH THE ONE IN MY CAR) ARE "NO GOOD". BECAUSE THE PART IS LABELED "NO GOOD" UNDER MAZDA LETTERHEAD, I FIGURED THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE I OWNED THE CAR THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER SOMEHOW MISSED. I TOOK THE CAR IN TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS ASSURED NO RECALL HAS EVER BEEN ISSUED ON THE PART AND IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT, THE COST WILL BE OVER $1,000. A RECALL MUST BE MADE ON THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND FAULTY, BY MAZDA'S OWN ADMISSION, PART BEFORE UNSUSPECTING PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED, IF THAT HASN'T HAPPENED ALREADY.
TAKATA RECALL, FORMER OWNER
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED TWO DEALERS, BUT THERE WAS NO RESPONSE AFTER SEVERAL CALLS. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Showing 12 of 175 complaints.
NHTSA frontal crash test
4 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2003 Mazda6 4-DR.