Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 5 of 33 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Air Bags. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports3 fire reports9 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 1999
Visibility
WHEN DRIVING HOME ON A NIGHT WITH FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET, I PUT ON THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS WARM AT THE TIME THAT I SWITCHED IT ON. WITHIN SECONDS THE WINDSHIELD ICED UP AND ALL THE OTHER WINDOWS STEAMED UP. I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND SCRAPED ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPED THE …
Read full complaint
WHEN DRIVING HOME ON A NIGHT WITH FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET, I PUT ON THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE WAS WARM AT THE TIME THAT I SWITCHED IT ON. WITHIN SECONDS THE WINDSHIELD ICED UP AND ALL THE OTHER WINDOWS STEAMED UP. I HAD ZERO VISIBILITY. I PULLED THE CAR OVER AND SCRAPED ICE OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND WIPED THE SIDE WINDOWS SO I COULD SEE. I PROCEEDED TO DIRVE AND AGAIN WITHIN SECONDS IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I COULD SEE WHAT LOOKED LIKE SMOKE OR A MIST COMING FROM THE DEFROST VENTS. THIS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN ALL THE WAY HOME WITH ME CONTINUALLY PULLING OFF THE ROAD TO CLEAR THE WINDOWS. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM . I ALSO HAVE NEVER DRIVEN IT DURING AN ICE STORM. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND NERVE WRACKING EXPERIENCE AND AM HOPING TO FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK CAUSED THIS. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS A 1998 626 AND THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO HER ON THE SAME NIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #702343
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Air Bags
WHILE COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE RAN OVER A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 10-20 MPH; AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NHTSA RECALL 98V-249 000 CONCERNING AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #832058
Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment
RADIO WENT OUT, DOME LIGHTS ARE OUT, DOOR AND ENGINE LIGHT COME ON
NHTSA ODI #701397
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH OR MORE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831606
Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE DRIVING ON WET OR DRY PAVEMENT AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE THERE IS ALWAYS SCREECHING SOUND ,AND AND A LOT OF BRAKING DISTANCE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #829091
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT A FLAT TIRE AND BOTH AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING BOTH OF THE FRONT PASSENGER'S TO SUFFER SEVERE INJURIES UPON IMPACT OF THE AIR BAG. THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION OPEN EA97 012. *AK
NHTSA ODI #816339
Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 1996
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING IN RAIN AND CAR CUT OFF, LET IT SIT, WENT BACK, CAR STARTED WENT HOME AND PARKED IT AND WENT TO START IT AND VEHICLE WOULD N'T START . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
NHTSA ODI #800890
Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire
EXPERIENCED FIRE THAT STARTED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #981171
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Visibility
SNOW WAS COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO ICE UP TO WHERE THE OWNER HAD TO USE SCRAPER ON INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #980193
Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Visibility
SNOW WAS COMING THROUGH THE WINDOWS, CAUSING THE WINDOWS TO ICE UP TO WHERE THE OWNER HAD TO USE SCRAPER ON INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. *AK
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 & remedy
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence & remedy
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.
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
2
RQ99022 · Headlight Failure
Opened Dec 20, 1999 · Closed Aug 30, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
OBTAINED RECALL 99V-358
EA97012 · Oversensitive Air Bag Deployment
Opened May 23, 1997 · Closed Oct 9, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN 20 OR 60 MPH FOR NO APPARENT REASON.APPROXIMATELY 25 DRIVERS ALLEGED THAT THEY DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROADWAY.MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL OFALL 1995 AND 1996 MODELS OF THE MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AS WELL AS A SMALL NUMBER OF 1997 MAZDA 626 MODELS, EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME SAS UNIT.THE SAS UNIT CONTROLS THE AIRBAG SYSTEMIT CONTAINS A BUILT-IN CRASH SENSOR TO DETECT VEHICLE DECELERATION DURING A COLLISION.AFFECTED MODELS WERE ASSEMBLED FROM JUNE 1, 1994 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 10, 1996 AND HAVE A VIN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING RANGES: MAZDA 626:1YVGE22**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE22**V5599030 MAZDA MX-6: 1YVGE31**S5300001 THROUGH 1YVGE31**T5589965ALL OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEIR VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE AN UNNECESSARY AIRBAG DEPOYMENT IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS.THEY WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE FREQUENCY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS.
1995 Mazda MX-6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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