Problems · NHTSA complaints

2001 Mazda 6 Series problems

Owners filed 189 complaints about the 2001 Mazda 6 Series with NHTSA between May 2001 and Jul 2019. The most-cited component is power train (140).

Complaints
189
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train140
  2. Engine and engine cooling20
  3. Equipment15
  4. Air bags11
  5. Electrical system6
  6. Tires5
  7. Seat belts5
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic5
  9. Visibility4
  10. Steering3
  11. Service brakes2
  12. Structure2
  13. Vehicle speed control2
  14. Latches/locks/linkages2

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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20015
20029
200317
200432
200537
200624
200721
200818
20099
20105
20112
20124
20130
20141
20152
20162
20170
20180
20191

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

140 reports
“I HAVE PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN THIS CAR. ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION, BRAKES, TIRES AND BALL JOINTS. NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACED, WIPER MOTOR AND QUARTER PANELS ARE ALL RUSTED OUT. I AM DISABLED AND THIS IS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION. SHOULD ALL OF THIS SHOULD OF GONE WRONG? IT WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR EIGHT YEARS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2015Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Power train, Structure, Tires, Service brakes, Visibility/wiperODI 10670033

Engine and engine cooling

20 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA 626. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER RESERVOIR OFF THE RADIATOR HAS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME. THE RESERVOIR HOLDS THE OVERFLOW FROM THE RADIATOR. THERE IS A CRACK IN THE SEAL WHERE THE SEAL MEETS. SHE HAS HAD TO PAY FOR EACH REPAIR BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10273474

Equipment

15 reports
“THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2001 MAZDA 626 I4 HAS FAILED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AT 118,000 MILES WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT A INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING AN SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT FOR 2K THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN AT 120,000 MILES WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION ON A UPHILL SLANT AND ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT WITH THE CARS BEHIND ME AS I BACKED THE CAR DOWN THE HILL TO THE CURBSIDE. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THESE HORRIBLE CD4E TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AGAIN AND THE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SHOP TELLS ME FORD HAS REDESIGNED THE DRUM FOR THESE TRANSMISSIONS (THE PART THAT FAILED BOTH TIMES) AND THEY ONLY RELEASE THEM 1 AT A TIME FROM THE FORD FACTORY TO TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO AVOID A RECALL ON THE PREVIOUS DESIGN WHICH FAILED ALL OF THEIR CD4E TRANSMISSIONS PREMATURELY. THIS IS VERY POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE ON FORDS PART AND THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND NOT HIDE FROM THEIR FAILURES WHILE STICKING IT TO THEIR COSTUMERS. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2011Power train, EquipmentODI 10395684

Air bags

11 reports10 crashes
“THE LIGHT FOR THE AIR BAGS JUST STARTED TO FLASH ON THE PANEL - CAR ONLY 8 YEARS OLD & DONE AROUND 50000 KMS - HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE MODULE AND NEEDS REPLACING - ALSO THAT THE BAGS COULD EITHER INFLATE WITHOUT WARNING OR MAY NOT WORK AT ALL IF CAR INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT - THEREFORE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS. COST OF APPROX AU$1500. SHOULD THIS REALLY BE HAPPENING IN A CAR OF THIS AGE. WE FEEL IT IS A FAULT WITH THE CAR AND THE MODULE SHOULD BE REPLACED AS A 'CAR DEFECT REPLACEMENT'. HAS ANYONE HAD ANY DEALINGS WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND IF SO WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME. I FEEL WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS AS IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 16, 2009Air bagsODI 10268897

Electrical system

6 reports3 fires
“MY DAUGHTER WAS SITTING IN HER CAR WHEN SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WIPER SWITCH AREA AND BLINKER AREA. THE SMOKE SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION BY A MECHANIC, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS BAD, CAUSING THE STARTER TO STAY ENGAGED. THE BURNING SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. I CURRENTLY HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART AS WELL AS THE RECEIPT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2016Electrical systemFire reportedODI 10876059

Tires

5 reports
“2001 MAZDA 626 RIGHT REAR TIRE SIDEWALL SPLIT IN TWO AREAS. CONSUMER STATES THAT LEFT REAR TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND HAD SIMILAR CRACKING FORMING. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THAT TYPE OF DAMAGE. *KB THE WIPER BLADES WERE REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO A BAD EGR FLOW WHICH WAS CLOGGED DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 23, 2008Engine and engine cooling, Visibility, TiresODI 10216111
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.