NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1997

Mazda MX-6 recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 47 owner complaints for the Mazda MX-6, covering model years 1995 to 1997. The 1995 model year drew the most complaints (33), and Air Bags is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Mazda MX-6 VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

3 recall campaigns on file
47 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
3 model years with data (1995–1997)

most complaints: 1995 (33 for that model year)
top component: Air Bags (17 complaints)
latest recall 15V674000 (reported Oct 19, 2015)

9 complaints reporting a crash (19.1%)
3 complaints reporting a fire (6.4%)
10 complaints reporting an injury (21.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Mazda MX-6 complaints by model year

3 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1995 model year has the most complaints: 33 of 47, or 70.2%. Next come 1996 (12) and 1997 (2).

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

Mazda MX-6 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

Mazda MX-6 complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
1995	33	6	3	9
1996	12	3	0	1
1997	2	0	0	0
All model years	47	9	3	10

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Mazda MX-6 components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Air Bags is the component named most often, in 17 complaints (36.2% of all 47), followed by Power Train (9) and Engine and Engine Cooling (4).

Components named most often in Mazda MX-6 complaints (top 15)

Components named most often in Mazda MX-6 complaints (top 15)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Air Bags	17	36.2%
Power Train	9	19.1%
Engine and Engine Cooling	4	8.5%
Electrical System	3	6.4%
Fuel System, Gasoline	3	6.4%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	3	6.4%
Visibility	3	6.4%
Unknown or Other	2	4.3%
Wheels	2	4.3%
Equipment	1	2.1%
Exterior Lighting	1	2.1%
Seat Belts	1	2.1%
Service Brakes	1	2.1%
Steering	1	2.1%
Structure	1	2.1%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Mazda MX-6 recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name MX-6, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 1995 to 1997. The 1995, 1996 and 1997 model years appear in the most campaigns (2 each).

3 recall campaigns

Mazda MX-6 recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 2 campaigns	1996: 2 campaigns	1997: 2 campaigns

NHTSA campaign 15V674000
Reported Oct 19, 2015
Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Model years 1995–1997
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.
Consequence:
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
Remedy:
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.
Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.
NHTSA campaign 98V249000
Reported Oct 8, 1998
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module-Inactive
Model years 1995–1996
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.
Consequence:
Unexpected air bag deployment can result in occupant injury.
Remedy:
Dealers will reprogram the sas unit to reduce the probability of unnecessary deployments in low speed undercarriage impacts.
Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.
NHTSA campaign 98V206001
Reported Sep 8, 1998
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Model year 1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and get caught in the timing belt.
Consequence:
This condition can result in possible engine stalling.
Remedy:
Dealers will inspect the tensioner and replace it if necessary.
Filed by Mazda Motor Corp.

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Mazda MX-6 questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Mazda MX-6 have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the Mazda MX-6, covering model years 1995 to 1997. The most recent, 15V674000, was reported on October 19, 2015 and is filed under “Electrical system”. The 1995, 1996 and 1997 model years are covered by the most campaigns (2 each).

Which Mazda MX-6 model year has the most complaints?

The 1995 model year, with 33 of the 47 complaints in NHTSA’s file (70.2%). The next are 1996 (12) and 1997 (2). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Mazda MX-6 complaint?

Air Bags is the component named most often: 17 complaints, or 36.2% of all 47. Power Train (9) and Engine and Engine Cooling (4) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Mazda MX-6?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Mazda dealer.

How many Mazda MX-6 complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 47 complaints, 9 report a crash, 3 a fire, 10 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The Mazda models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Mazda VIN decoder with every Mazda model page, WMI code and VIN note.

Mazda 3 2004–2026 · 29 recalls · 2,983 complaints
Mazda 626 1995–2003 · 7 recalls · 2,458 complaints
Mazda CX-5 2012–2026 · 8 recalls · 2,443 complaints
Mazda 6 2002–2021 · 28 recalls · 2,234 complaints
Mazda Tribute 2000–2011 · 20 recalls · 2,102 complaints
Mazda CX-9 2007–2023 · 13 recalls · 1,487 complaints
Mazda CX-7 2007–2013 · 6 recalls · 1,131 complaints
Mazda Protege 1995–2003 · 6 recalls · 805 complaints

All Mazda models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.