Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Mazda 6 Series problems
Owners filed 217 complaints about the 2000 Mazda 6 Series with NHTSA between Sep 2000 and May 2018. The most-cited component is power train (159).
Complaints
217
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
6
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train159
- Engine and engine cooling17
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Equipment12
- Suspension10
- Air bags8
- Electrical system7
- Fuel system, gasoline6
- Latches/locks/linkages5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Exterior lighting4
- Vehicle speed control4
- Steering4
- Engine3
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
4
17
12
15
25
29
44
23
16
13
7
0
1
3
2
2
1
2
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 17 |
| 2002 | 12 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2006 | 44 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 16 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
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
159 reports1 crash
“WHILE COMMUTING, THE CAR STOPPED SHIFTING. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC--THEY FIXED A LEAK IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID-- CAR WAS THEN SHIFTING HARD, TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP--THEY DIAGNOSED TWO PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED THE LEAK. THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT EFFECTIVELY PUSHING THE FLUID THROUGH THE SYSTEM, AND WAS VERY DANGEROUS ON THE ROAD WHEN IT STOPPED SHIFTING. *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
17 reports
“MAZDA 1996 626 AND A MAZDA 2000 626. BOTH 4 CYL AND BOTH AUTOMATICS, AND BOTH HAVING TO HAVE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED. LEAVES YOU STRANDED ON THE ROAD, AND CAUSES BAD SHIFTS IN SPEED BEFORE YOU STOP GOING FORWARD COMPLETELY. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
13 reports1 crash1 related recall
“D&M AUTOBROKERS SOLD ME A "DEATH TRAP" VEHICLE THAT COULD NOT PASS DEQ EMISSIONS TESTING. MULTIPLE THINGS KEPT GOING WRONG, AND THE DEALERSHIP HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO FIX THE ISSUES. EVENTUALLY, ALL THE ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE AND THE NUMEROUS LIES I WAS BEING FED WERE TOO OVERWHELMING, I GAVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND MADE A DEAL WITH GOLD ACCEPTANCE FINANCE COMPANY AS WELL AS THE DEALERSHIP D&M AUTOBROKERS FOR D&M AUTOBROKERS TO PURCHASE THE LOAN BACK FROM GOLD ACCEPTANCE AND PAY IT OFF IN FULL. THIS AGREEMENT WAS WRITTEN AND SIGNED AS WELL AS A VERBAL AGREEMENT AND UNDERSTANDING. THE DEALERSHIP MADE ONE PAYMENT THAT INITIALLY PAID OFF HALF OF THE BALANCE OF THE LOAN, AND THEN DECIDED TO NOT PAY THE LOAN OFF IN FULL AT ALL, OR SEND A SINGLE PAYMENT. MY CREDIT IS NOW IN THE DANGER ZONE, THEY STILL HAVE AT LEAST $3000 OWED ON THE LOAN, AND THEY ARE NOW CLAIMING THEIR OUT OF BUSINESS. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO ALL THE CREDIT BUREAU'S AS WELL AS THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. GOLD ACCEPTANCE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL IN LEADING ME IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AS WELL AS PROVIDING HELP TO GET THIS TAKEN CARE OF. I DO NEED THIS COMPLAINT TO GO THROUGH. THIS DEALERSHIP…”
Equipment
12 reports1 crash
“I HAVE A 2000 MAZDA 626 WITH THE CD4E FORD TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS NOW. I HAVE DONE NUMEROUS RESEARCH AND TOOK IT TO MANY SHOPS AND HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THIS TRANSMISSION IS TRASH. THIS TRANSMISSION WAR POORLY BUILT AND THEY NEED TO RECALL THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. MAZDA AND FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD ENGINEERING THAT HAS COST THOUSANDS OF DRIVERS PROBLEMS AND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIRS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND A RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR”
Suspension
10 reports2 crashes
“I PURCHASED A 2000 MAZDA 626 USED IN 2001. I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS TO THE CINCINNATI JAKE SWEENY MAZDA SHOP TO ADDRESS THE SHAKING AND NOISES THAT I WAS HEARING FROM THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS OKAY THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE FINE AND THAT THE NOISE WAS FROM A BOTTLE OF ASPIRIN IN THE GLOVE BOX. THE NOISE CONTINUED AND OTHER SHOPS CONTINUED TO INFORM ME THAT MY MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BAD. I WAS AGAIN INFORMED BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE CAR WAS FINE. THE VEHICLE NOW HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT AND THE MOTOR MOUNTS, SWAY LINK BAR AND STRUTS ARE ALL SHOT TO HECK. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED BEING THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH NOW HAS ESCALATED. *TR”
Air bags
8 reports3 crashes
“MY 2000 MAZDA 626 BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING APRIL 10, 2008! THE CAR STARTED HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH RESULTED IN 3 BATTERIES, 2 ALTERNATORS, NO AC OR DEFROST COULD BE RUN. THEN THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 2 MONTH PERIOD! ALL THESE PROBLEMS RESULTED IN ME ALMOST BEING KILLED FROM AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT! THIS HAPPENED JUNE 8, 2009 WHICH WAS A MONDAY APPROX. 4 PM. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, AND MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. WINDSHIELD SHATTERED ALL OVER MY HAND RESULTING IN SEVERE LACERATIONS! THIS CAR NEEDS LOOKED AT ASAP!!!! PLEASE HELP *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.