Worst 2003 Mazda Mazda6 Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Airbags
Unintended Acceleration
Automatic Transmission
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Mazda Mazda6.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbags | 28 | 7 | — | 58,586 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 18 | — | — | 88,502 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 14 | — | — | 66,743 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 12 | — | — | 75,806 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 12 | — | — | 56,342 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 10 | — | 1 | 110,410 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 | — | — | 23,134 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 7 | — | — | 61,687 mi | |
| Manual Transmission | 7 | — | — | 54,972 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 7 | — | — | 31,233 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 6 | — | — | 100,100 mi | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 6 | — | — | 86,033 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 5 | — | — | 11,000 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Body Structure | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Other | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 2 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Mazda Mazda6. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Mazda Mazda6
3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~664,589 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
Other Mazda Mazda6 Years
2003 Mazda Mazda6 — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?
What are common problems with the 2003 Mazda Mazda6?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Mazda Mazda6?
How safe is the 2003 Mazda Mazda6?
Does the 2003 Mazda Mazda6 have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2003 Mazda Mazda6?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Mazda Mazda6 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Mazda Mazda6
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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