Mazda MX-6 recalls

6 official safety recalls for the Mazda MX-6 from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Ignition switch may overheat and catch fire

    Reported September 30, 2016Model years 1989–2002DVSA recall R/2016/210504,372 vehicles affected

    Carbonised grease may build up between ignition switch contacts, reducing insulation. The switch may heat up, produce smoke and, in the worst case, cause a fire. The ignition switch will be replaced.

    Official DVSA recall text
    Component
    FIRE MAY OCCUR
    Defect
    Carbonised grease may accumulate between the contact points in the ignition switch reducing the insulation performance inside the switch. In this condition the switch may generate heat resulting in smoke and in the worst case a fire.
    Remedy
    On affected vehicles replace the ignition switch.

  2. Ignition switch may overheat

    Reported October 19, 2015Model years 1993–1997NHTSA campaign 15V6740001,368,500 vehicles affected

    Grease on the ignition switch contacts may become conductive and overheat, increasing fire risk. Dealers will replace the ignition switch free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
    Defect
    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.
    Notes
    Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

  3. Headlight wire may fail at the switch

    Reported December 17, 1999Model years 1994NHTSA campaign 99V35800040,000 vehicles affected

    The wire through the turn signal lever may fail where it is soldered to the headlight switch, causing loss of headlights and increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the headlight switch lever.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
    Defect
    VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT WIRE THAT RUNS THROUGH THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER CAN FAIL AT THE POINT WHERE IT IS SOLDERED TO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
    Consequence
    THE FAILURE OF THIS WIRE COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
    Remedy
    DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH LEVER.
    Notes
    MAZDA RECALL NO. 87004.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 7, 2000.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.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  4. Air bags may deploy in minor undercarriage impacts

    Reported October 8, 1998Model years 1995–1996NHTSA campaign 98V249000213,000 vehicles affected

    The air bags may deploy during minor undercarriage impacts. Unexpected deployment can injure occupants. The remedy is to reprogram the sensor unit to reduce unnecessary deployments in low-speed undercarriage impacts.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE
    Defect
    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.
    Notes
    OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 1999.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 CONTACTMAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  5. Timing belt tensioner spring may break

    Reported September 8, 1998Model years 1997NHTSA campaign 98V20600140,000 vehicles affected

    An external spring in the timing belt tensioner can break and become caught in the belt, possibly causing the engine to stall. Dealers will inspect the tensioner and replace it if necessary.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
    Defect
    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.
    Notes
    OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 1998.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (-1888-327-4236).

  6. Front lower ball joint bolts may be loose

    Reported April 2, 1992Model years 1993NHTSA campaign 92V0450002,450 vehicles affected

    The front suspension lower ball joints may not be tightened to specification. A loose retaining bolt could cause suspension failure and sudden loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a crash. The bolts will be inspected and loose ones tightened to the correct torque.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
    Defect
    THE LOWER ARM BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION.
    Consequence
    THE INSUFFICIENT TORQUE OF THE LOWER BALL JOINTRETAINING BOLT CAN RESULT IN THE SUSPENSION FAILING WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTIONAND SUBSEQUENT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH CAN RESULT IN ANACCIDENT.
    Remedy
    INSPECT THE LOWER BALL JOINT RETAINING BOLTS AND TIGHTEN LOOSE BOLTS TO THE CORRECT TORQUE.
    Notes
    SYSTEM: SUSPENSION.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS PRODUCED AT FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN.

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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