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2002 Mazda MAZDA6

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Fewer warning signs than most model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Mazda MAZDA6 are lower than the model-year median of 105.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

24 reports with mileage · 4 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Power Train. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

28 reports
62,000 miles · Jan 10, 2008
Power Train

I WAS DRIVING MY WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 MAZDA MPV (ODO 66,000MILES) ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS AS IF IT WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY, WHICH DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. HAD IT TOWED TO MAZDA DEALER, WHO CORROBORATED THE DIAGNOSIS, AND PUT IN A REMANUFACTUR…

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I WAS DRIVING MY WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 MAZDA MPV (ODO 66,000MILES) ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS AS IF IT WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY, WHICH DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. HAD IT TOWED TO MAZDA DEALER, WHO CORROBORATED THE DIAGNOSIS, AND PUT IN A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. COST TO ME: $3,546.09. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT; I'M VERY UPSET. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PART, BUT THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE "CORE CHARGE", WHICH I DECLINED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214453

32,725 miles · Jan 7, 2008
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE CAR SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. DEALER REQUIRED PREPAYMENT TO ORDER PART FROM MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT INVENTORY THIS PART. IT HAS TO COME FROM JAPAN. UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN. THIS IS A "SAFETY ISSUE" PART. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10214074

42,000 miles · Dec 28, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE 2002 MPV HAS HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN CONTROL MODULE. THEIR HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ITEM, BUT AFTER HAVING HAD THE FAN CONTROL MODULE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY THE SAME PROBLEM RESURFACED AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES -- AND THIS TIME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR COST $233.35. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213059

88,000 miles · Oct 23, 2007
Power Train

MY 2002 MAZDA 626 ONLY HAD 88,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10206611

63,000 miles · Oct 11, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

MAZDA USA MAZDA MPV 2002 DEAR SIRS: I OWN A MAZDA MPV 2002 MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN HAVING MINOR SPORADIC TROUBLE FOR SOME TIME. BETWEEN 1500 AND 1800 RPM IT WOULD SOMETIMES JERK AND SPUTTER AND THEN IT WOULD SETTLE DOWN AND CONTINUE. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS DURING ROUTINE SCHEDULED SERVICE AND THEY S…

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MAZDA USA MAZDA MPV 2002 DEAR SIRS: I OWN A MAZDA MPV 2002 MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN HAVING MINOR SPORADIC TROUBLE FOR SOME TIME. BETWEEN 1500 AND 1800 RPM IT WOULD SOMETIMES JERK AND SPUTTER AND THEN IT WOULD SETTLE DOWN AND CONTINUE. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS DURING ROUTINE SCHEDULED SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING UNTIL THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WELL AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF THIS, FINALLY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , I REPLACED THE COILS 1,2,3 I NOTICED AN IMPROVEMENT BUT EVENTUALLY THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE REMAINING 3 COILS PLUS A HOSE. FOUR DAYS AFTER LEAVING THE SHOP ON A TRIP OF 50 MILES THE ENGINE LOST POWER ON A HIGHWAY CREATING A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR MY FAMILY. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNRELATED AND THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION TO THE TUNE OF $3400 AFTER HAVING ALREADY SPENT $1200. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10205399

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train

FROM THE DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2002 MPV HOME THE TRANSMISSION MIS-SHIFTED AND BUCKED. I CALLED THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT "THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS AND IT WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND BEGAN STALLING AT LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY SAID THEY COU…

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FROM THE DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2002 MPV HOME THE TRANSMISSION MIS-SHIFTED AND BUCKED. I CALLED THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT "THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS AND IT WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND BEGAN STALLING AT LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED THEM WHAT THEY NEEDED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO COMPUTER UPGRADES FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND I WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE WERE. A YEAR PASSED AND IT CONTINUED TO BUCK AND STALL. I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN AND TOLD THEM I THOUGHT IT WAS A "LEMON" AND I WANTED IT REPAIRED. THEY TOOK THE CAR AND "FIXED IT" BUT IT HAS CONTINUED TO MIS SHIFT REGULARLY. AT AROUND 25,000 MILES THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALED IT NEEDED NEW PLUGS. AFTER REPLACING THE PLUGS IT APPEARED TO RUN LESS ERRATICALLY. IT NOW HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST REVEALS THAT THE #5 CYLINDER COIL IS OUT. APPARENTLY EACH SPARK PLUG HAS ITS OWN COIL. I HAVE ORDERED THE COIL AND AM WAITING TO SEE WHAT PROBLEM WILL COME UP NEXT. IN OCT 2005 MAZDA SENT OUT A VOLUNTARY LABORATORY EMISSION TESTING FORM. SINCE THEY WANTED THE VEHICLE FOR 2 WEEKS AND I ALREADY DIDN'T TRUST THERE COMPETENCY I DECLINED THE OFFER. NEVERTHELESS, THIS TOLD ME THAT THEY MUST BE HAVING EMISSION PROBLEMS AS WELL. I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER OR A GOVERNMENT REQUIRED RECALL. THE DEALER NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM FROM DAY ONE, THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOW I HAVE NO RECOURSE. I HAVE LOST ALL CONFIDENCE IN MAZDA. I WILL BE CONTACTING SOME ATTORNEYS ABOUT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. IT SEEMS LIKE IT WILL TAKE A FATALITY ON A FREEWAY FROM A FAILED TRANSMISSION BEFORE MAZDA OR THE GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK INTO THIS! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10200376

85,000 miles · Aug 19, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

VEHICLE HAS A PCV HOSE FAILURE FACTORY RECALL. ITS FAILED FOUR TIMES - THE HOSE IS NOT RESISTANT TO OIL. IT EATS ITSELF OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT THAN SUCKS ITSELF IN AND GETS A GROWING HOLE. VACUUM PRESSURE GETS SO LOW THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER BEGINS TO FAILURE CAUSING BREAK FAILURE. MAZDA HAS SINCE UPGRADE THE "NEW" IMPRO…

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VEHICLE HAS A PCV HOSE FAILURE FACTORY RECALL. ITS FAILED FOUR TIMES - THE HOSE IS NOT RESISTANT TO OIL. IT EATS ITSELF OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT THAN SUCKS ITSELF IN AND GETS A GROWING HOLE. VACUUM PRESSURE GETS SO LOW THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER BEGINS TO FAILURE CAUSING BREAK FAILURE. MAZDA HAS SINCE UPGRADE THE "NEW" IMPROVED PART TO A MORE "IMPROVED NEW" PART THAT FIXES THIS PROBLEM. THEY REFUSE TO FIX MY VAN AGAIN BECAUSE THEY ALREADY FIXED IT ONCE. THEY SHOULD OF FIXED IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. I'M ON MY FOURTH HOSE NOW AND I THINK SINCE THEY UPGRADE THE PART AGAIN IT SHOWS THEY KNOW THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PART ON MY VAN IN THE FIRST PLACE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10200065

100,700 miles · Jul 31, 2007
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 MAZDA 626 SEDAN BURNED OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE BEING OPERATED DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL-MAINTAINED DURING MY PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA MECHANICS THAT THE 626 WAS "NOTORIOUS" FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ADVISE ANY ATTE…

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THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 MAZDA 626 SEDAN BURNED OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE BEING OPERATED DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL-MAINTAINED DURING MY PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA MECHANICS THAT THE 626 WAS "NOTORIOUS" FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ADVISE ANY ATTEMPT TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE PROBABILITY OF A SIMILAR FAILURE WAS HIGH, AND THAT THE "ECAT" TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE REBUILT. ESSENTIALLY, ONCE THE TRANSMISSION FAILS IN THIS VEHICLE (AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS SIMPLY A MATTER OF TIME), THAT THE ONLY OPTION TO RECOUP ANY LOSS IS TO SELL THE CAR FOR PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10197956

58,000 miles · Jun 28, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2002 MAZDA MPV TRANSMISSION AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT AT 58,000 MILES. NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND MAZDA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CAR JUST DIED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FIX WAS $4,000 IN REPAIRS PAID BY ME. SIX WEEKS LATER, I AM TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE A COIL AND…

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2002 MAZDA MPV TRANSMISSION AND WATER PUMP WENT OUT AT 58,000 MILES. NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND MAZDA WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE CAR JUST DIED IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC, AND LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FIX WAS $4,000 IN REPAIRS PAID BY ME. SIX WEEKS LATER, I AM TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE A COIL AND SPARK PLUG FOR ANOTHER $500. THE MECHANIC EVEN SAID THAT I MAY HAVE TO REPLACE MORE COILS IN THE COMING MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10194902

57,000 miles · May 15, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO ACCELERATION POWER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT WAS RESTARTED. THE SLOW ACCELERATION OCCURS EVERY DAY, BUT THE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO ACCELERATION POWER. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT WAS RESTARTED. THE SLOW ACCELERATION OCCURS EVERY DAY, BUT THE STALLING AND SHUTTING OFF IS OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,000.

NHTSA ODI #10190749

Official recalls

1

03V207000 · Parking Brake:indicator Light

Jun 5, 2003

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.