Open safety recalls, the components owners report failing most often, crash-test results and running costs for the 2004 Mazda MAZDA6 — assembled from NHTSA and EPA records.
Everything on this page applies to the model as a whole. Run its 17-character VIN to decode that exact car — its engine, trim, assembly plant and factory equipment — alongside these records. Free, no account.
Run a VIN →Recalls 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).
The parts named most often across 184 owner complaintsfiled with NHTSA for this make, model and year — the closest free answer to “what is likely to go wrong?”
6 crashes · 6 injured
1 crash · 1 fire
1 injured
2 crashes
Complaints are self-reported and skew toward problems people find alarming, so treat this as where to look, not a defect rate.
1 complaint-reported fatality on this model.
Very hard shifts from 1st to 3rd gear it's a automatic transmission it's getting worse it will do it at random times and it's getting to the point I'm scared to drive the car. mazda should listen to everyone else's problems with the same transmission it's ridiculous
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights were inoperable and failed to illuminate as needed. The contact replaced the bulbs, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the electrical wires had shorted out due defective wire coating. The mechanic attempted to fix the failure by covering the electrical wires, but the failure persisted. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 165,000.
WE NO LONGER OWN THIS VEHICLE. IT WAS SOLD AT AUCTION ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. PLEASE STOP SENDING ME THESE REAL NOTICES. VIN IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 3,000 FROM THE OWNER HAD IT FOR 2 MONTHS, GOT OIL AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGED. WHEN I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE A BLOCK AWAY IT TOTALLY DIED ON ME AND NOW IT WONT START AT ALL. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ABOTHER ONE. OR EVEN REPAIR IT.
VEHICLE SUBFRAME ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT.
REPEATED THROTTLE BODY ISSUES, CAR WHILE DRIVING WILL DROP TO A CRAWL WITH ERRATIC REVVING. DID THIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXPRESS WAY, NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. WILL NOT START DO TO REVVING LOOP CAUSED BY THROTTLE BODY. MULTIPLE TSB HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM, SO IT SEEMS THE THROTTLE BODY ISSUES PLAGUE MANY CUSTOMERS.
"TAKATA RECALL" I PARKED MY CAR WHEN I GOT OFF WORK. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO CRANK MY CAR IT WOULD TURN OVER BUT IT WOULDN'T START, SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID MY COMPUTER WAS OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY YARD
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V474000 AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED FAIRWAY LINCOLN OF SAVANNAH (10101 ABERCORN ST, SAVANNAH, GA 31406, PHONE NUMBER: (844) 921-2980) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (SHORTLINE MAZDA, 90 HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80010 (303) 364-2200) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY AND THEY WOULD CALL THE CONTACT WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/26/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *JS
THE HEATING KICKS IN (MOSTLY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT) AND I NEVER TURNED IT ON...I EVEN REMOVED THE FUSE AND IT STILL HEATS UP...WIERD...
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
DRIVER AIR BAG INFLATOR FINAL REPAIR NOTICE - SAFETY RECALL 8215F. I TOOK MY VEHICLE WHEN I RECEIVED THE FIRST NOTICE AND WENT TO JIM FALK MAZDA IN KAHULUI,MAUI,HAWAII AND THEY TOLD ME SORRY WE DON'T HAVE THE PART TO REPLACE YET BUT WILL CALL ME WHEN IT COMES IN AND THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.NOW I RECEIVED THE 2ND AND FINAL NOTICE AND I CALLED TWO DAYS AGO TO THE SAME PLACE AND AGAIN THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE GOING TO LOOK INTO IT AND CALL ME BACK. WELL NO CALL BACK YET AND I AM GETTING VERY UPSET THAT THEY DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT TO CALL PEOPLE BACK TO FIX THIS IMPORTANT PROBLEM. BEING THAT THE AIRBAG IS IMPORTANT YOU WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART ASAP AND CALL YOU TO COME IN AND HAVE IT REPLACED.
Showing 12 of 184 complaints.
3 open NHTSA investigations into this model. Investigations come before recalls, so these are potential defects not yet covered by one.
Rated configuration: 2004 Mazda6 5-DR. Sport Wagon
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 7 recalls for this make/model/year. Recalls apply to the model, so some may already be fixed on this specific car — check with a dealer using 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: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE RIGHT AND/OR LEFT REAR SEAT BELTS MAY NOT LOCK PROPERLY DUE TO MISSING RETAINING PINS ON THE HOUSING.
Risk: THE LOCKING MECHANISM OF THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MAY MALFUNCTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE REAR SEAT PASSENGERS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. PASSENGERS SHOULD NOT SIT AND CHILD SEATS SHOULD NOT BE USED IN THE RIGHT OR LEFT REAR SEATS UNTIL THIS DEFECT HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 27, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION #4.
Campaign 04V582000