Problems · by component

1996 Mazda 6 Series engine and engine cooling problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda 6 Series cite engine and engine cooling, 9% of all 362 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
33
9% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND FUEL WAS LEAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER TOLD HIM THAT TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. CONUMER STATED THAT DEALER TOLD HIM IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $3000.00. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON VEHICLE. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10073556
“I BOUGHT A USED 1996 MAZDA 626LX FROM RIERSON MOTORS IN CLOVIS, NEW MEXICO AND HAVE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN ONE MONTH AND THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON , IT LOSES POWER ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I ACCELERATE ABOVE 55 MPH AND LURCHES AND GOES IN TO NEXT GEAR VERY HARD. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS IN THIS PATICULAR MODEL. I HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND INVESTIGATE WHY SO MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND MAZDA SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ADMIT THEIR FAILURE AND FIX THE PROBLEM ARE COMPENSATE THE CONSUMER FOR THEIR EXPENDITURES.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 17, 2004Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10066379
“I HAVE A 96 626 THAT HAS 125,000 MILES. I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 98 WITH 60,000 MILES. IN MAY OF 2000 I HAD TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT AXEL AND THE RIGHT CV JOINT BOOT IN FEB. 2003. NOW I HAVE REPLACE MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION WHICH IS GOING TO COST AROUND 2300. I HAD NO INDICATIONS THAT I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS UNTIL IT JUST QUIT. ON MY WAY TO WORK MY CAR JUST STOPPED MOVING ON THE INTERSTATE. WHEN I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR IT WOULDN'T PULL. SO I GOT OFF THE ROAD SAFELY AND ATTEMPTED TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING FORWARD OR BACKWARDS. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP TO BE TOLD THE WONDERFUL NEWS. I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH AND I'M FINDING THIS CAR HAS LOTS OF PROBLEMS. I AM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OIL LEAKING AND OCCASIONALLY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPEARS TO BE HARD TO PRESS AS IF IT'S STUCK FOR A FEW MINUTES OR IT'S REAL TIGHT. I WOULD NOT ADVISE ANYONE TO PURCHASE A MAZDA. DON'T EVEN TAKE IT IF IT'S FREE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE CHEAPER TO PURCHASE A CAR. I REALIZE MY CAR HAS 125,000 MILES BUT I HAD A NISSAN THAT I DROVE 180,000 MILES FOR BEFORE MAJOR PROBLEMS OCCURRED. I'M FILING…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 25, 2003Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 10016513
“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY OR ANYWHERE FOR THAT MATTER THE CAR ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE "OVER DRIVE OFF" LIGHT BEGINS TO BLINK AND MY OVERDRIVE TURN OFF. I USUALLY HAVE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER OR AT A RED LIGHT AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON TO FIX IT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND ANNOYING BECAUSE IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYDAY. I HAVE TO DO THIS DURING RUSH HOUR ON I-294 IN CHICAGO. I AM RELUCTANT TO TAKE IT TO MAZDA REPAIR BECAUSE THEY CHARGE $100 JUST TO TAKE THE CAR IN THE SHOP AND THEY TRY TO FIND LITTLE WAYS TO SLAP ON A BIGGER BILL. I HAD THEM CHANGE MY TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A WEEK LATER IT LEAKED AND THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION. APPARENTLY IT WAS NOT THERE BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE AND THEY DID NOT NOTICE IT DURING. SO I HAD THEM JUST REFILL IT AND I ADDED SEALANT FROM AUTO ZONE. I CHECKED MY TRANSMISSION FLUID WEEKLY AND ITS JUST FINE. ENGINE LIGHT COMES AND GOES AT WILL. THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING WHICH IS MAZDA'S FAULT AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE OR FIX. EVERYTHING ON THE CAR IS STOCKED AND I MAINTAIN THE CAR BETTER THAN MAZDA SUGGESTS. I CHECK ALL…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2003Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10010266
“CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - DEALER SAYS THAT IF CAR IS RUNNING OKAY THAT NO SERVICE NEEDED?????? FINALLY GET IT CHECKED OUT AND TURNS OUT THAT CAT CONVERTER IS GOING BAD. BARELY GET THAT REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY LIMIT. SAME DAY, DRIVING HOME FROM DEALER, ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON. BRING IT BACK TO DEALER, THEY SAY AIR FLOW METER IS ALSO BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AT LEAST ENGINE LIGHT STAYS OFF NOW. THEN, AT ONLY 78K, O/D LIGHT STARTS BLINKING ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. SHOP SAYS THAT IT'S TRANSMISSION (TORQUE CONVERTER). WHY ARE SO MANY OF THESE UNITS FAILING SO EARLY? ONLY 78K ON CAR, MORE THAN HALF OF THEM ARE FROM PURE HWY TRIPS OF 45 MILES?????? WHY ISN'T MAZDA DOING ANYTHING FOR CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS?*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 17, 2002Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 763181
“INTERMITTENTLY THE OVERDRIVE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE, WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 23, 2002Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 8010372

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 1996 6 Series problem areas