Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Mazda 6 Series problems
Owners filed 320 complaints about the 1999 Mazda 6 Series with NHTSA between Nov 1998 and Sep 2017. The most-cited component is power train (234).
Complaints
320
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train234
- Engine and engine cooling48
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Electrical system12
- Equipment9
- Air bags5
- Seat belts4
- Seats4
- Suspension4
- Steering4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Tires3
- Service brakes2
- Engine2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
9
15
13
24
54
59
45
40
23
9
8
5
4
4
0
0
2
3
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 9 |
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2003 | 54 |
| 2004 | 59 |
| 2005 | 45 |
| 2006 | 40 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
234 reports2 crashes1 fire
“THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING UP WHICH IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE BY MAZDA THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL MALFUNCTION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD. THIS BS WITH IT COST MY WIFE HER JOB”
Engine and engine cooling
48 reports1 crash2 fires1 related recall
“THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION IS NOT KNOWN FOR ITS RELIABILITY. IT FACT, THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WITH THE MAZDA 626 TRANSMISSION. A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE VEHICLE IS THE FAILURE OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THIS FAILS, THIS MAY CAUSE THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT TO FLASH. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE SLIPPING AND VIBRATION. NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PRODUCT BEING THAT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS WHY IS MAZDA NOT LIABLE FOR THIS ISSUE....... *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 MAZDA 626. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DOWNHILL, THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THEN CRASHED INTO A TREE. AS A RESULT, THE CRASH DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED A BROKEN LEFT LEG WHILE SEATED IN A CHILD SEAT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #00V074000) HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. AS OF JANUARY 2, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.”
Electrical system
12 reports2 fires
“WHEN ENGAGING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO START THE VEHICLE, SMOKE COMES FROM THE STEERING COLUMN, I MUST IMMEDIATELY TURN OFF THE CONTACT POSITION. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS SECONDS AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH IS ENGAGED.”
Equipment
9 reports1 crash
“THE DOLLAR FIGURES ARE APPROXIMATE. IN FEBRUARY 2002 MY DAUGHTER AND I PURCHASED A USED 1999 MAZDA 626 WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FROM WILSON DODGE IN TORRINGTON CT, 06790 FOR $9000. PART OF THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE WAS A PROMISE TO INSTALL A SUN ROOF FOR $500. THE WARRANTY WAS FOR 60 DAYS OR 2000 MILES. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR WAS ITS SECOND. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD TAKE THAT AS GOOD NEWS. A FAULTY ONE IS REPLACED. HOW OFTEN DOES A TRANSMISSION FAIL? *AK IN APRIL (ABOUT 5 '' 10 DAYS AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED), THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING. THE COST WAS ESTIMATED AT $2300. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GET THIS COVERED BY THE DEALER IN GOOD FAITH, I AUTHORIZED THE INSTALLATION OF A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. DURING THIS NEGOTIATION I HAD TO ENDURE WITH SOME SNIDE REMARKS FROM SOME OF THE OTHER SALES PEOPLE WHEN I MENTIONED THAT ANOTHER DEALER WOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF THIS. THEIR RESPONSE WAS ''YEAH. THEY SAY THAT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT SELL YOU THE CAR!'' (THE WARRANTY ON THE REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS 1 YEAR OR 12,000 MILES) THE SUNROOF COST WAS FORFEITED LEAVING A BALANCE OF $1800. IT WAS AGREED THAT I WOULD PAY $300 A MONTH UNTIL THE…”
Air bags
5 reports4 crashes
“THIS IS MY CONCERN I WAS RIDING WITH SOMEONE AND WE HAD A CRASH GOING 80 MPH. THE CAR HYDRO PLAIN OFF THE HIGHWAY HITTING THE GUARD RAIL. I BELIEVE AT THAT SPEED THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE CAME OUT BUT THEY DID NOT, I MYSELF HAD MAJOR NECK AND BACK PAINS MY HEAD HITTING THE SIDE WINDOW. I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHY THIS AIRBAG DID NOT COME OUT AND IT'S BOTHERING ME BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY HURT OR KILLED THANK GOD I WALK OUT. THE CAR WAS 99 MAZDA 626. THIS CAR IMPACT WITH THE GUARD RAIL 3 TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. I DON'T UNDERSTAND, CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS OR SHOULD I REPORT THIS TO CONSUMERS. THANKS... *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.