2004 Mazda Mazda6 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (51) · Structure:body (8) · Power Train (7)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Mazda6 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
93 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-10-31 · campaign 19V781000 · 47,006 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-06-15 · campaign 18V402000 · 308,591 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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,
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2017-07-26 · campaign 17V474000 · 308,992 vehicles ⚠ DO NOT DRIVE
Defect: 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
Service bulletins (220)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-20 · SA-055-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
product quality information (pqi) description service information mt-041/12 is no longer valid. it has been unpublished and superseded by the field quality information report (fqir) reporting system.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-07-29 · 09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 description some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines, integral antenna concerns causing radio reception issues or terminal tabs pulled
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Unknown Or Other 2025-12-10 · 07-004-25a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
a musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (a/c) system is operating. it is most noticeable when the a/c is first turned on. this odor is the result of mold growth in the a/c evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-22 · SA-039/25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or low-e windows. this may be caused by the sun's reflection. if a structure's windows create enough of a curve, the concave glass can focus the sun's rays onto a small area and a
Unknown Or Other 2025-08-14 · SA-036-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
when replacing the siriusxm satellite radio unit, a call must be made to inform siriusxm of the existing radio id and the new/replacement sat radio id as soon as possible to ensure the customer leaves the dealership with an active sat radio.
Showing the 6 most recent of 220 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-06 · Air Bags“have contacted sport durst mazda in [xxx] about recall on air bags. told me i had to drive vehicle to their shop. told them the letter said do not drive. they said they'd do the recall if i bring it to them. i live in [xxx]. i don't understand why i can not get repair done unless i drive my 2004 mazda 6 station wagon with over 300 thousand miles on…”
2024-03-19 · Power Train“very hard shifts from 1st to 3rd gear it's a automatic transmission it's getting worse it will do it at random times and it's getting to the point i'm scared to drive the car. mazda should listen to everyone else's problems with the same transmission it's ridiculous …”
2023-04-20 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:bulbs · 165,000 mi“the contact owns a 2004 mazda mazda6. the contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights were inoperable and failed to illuminate as needed. the contact replaced the bulbs, but the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the electrical wires had shorted out due…”
2021-04-13 · Unknown Or Other“we no longer own this vehicle. it was sold at auction about 3 years ago. please stop sending me these real notices. vin is [xxx]. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr…”
2020-08-08 · Service Brakes · 1 mi“i bought this car for 3,000 from the owner had it for 2 months, got oil and all fluids changed. when i was leaving my house a block away it totally died on me and now it wont start at all. i am very frustrated because i dont have the money to buy abother one. or even repair it.…”
2019-09-03 · Structure:body · 90,800 mi“vehicle subframe almost completely rusted out.…”
2018-12-13 · Vehicle Speed Control:throttle“repeated throttle body issues, car while driving will drop to a crawl with erratic revving. did this in the middle of the express way, nearly causing an accident, had to be towed away. will not start do to revving loop caused by throttle body. multiple tsb have been issued for this problem, so it seems the throttle body issues plague many customers…”
2017-12-09 · Unknown Or Other · 1,468,391 mi“"takata recall" i parked my car when i got off work. the next day i went to crank my car it would turn over but it wouldn't start, so i took it to a mechanic and he said my computer was out. the vehicle was stationary in my yard…”
2017-09-27 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2004 mazda 6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign numbers: 17v474000 and 16v354000 (air bags); however, the parts needed for the repair were not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called fairway lincoln of s…”
2017-08-24 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2004 mazda 6. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v354000 (air bags). the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the dealer (shortline mazda, 90 havana st, aurora, co 80010 (303) 364-…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.