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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train140
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Equipment15
- Air bags11
- Electrical system6
- Tires5
- Seat belts5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Visibility4
- Steering3
- Service brakes2
- Structure2
- Vehicle speed control2
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
5
9
17
32
37
24
21
18
9
5
2
4
0
1
2
2
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2005 | 37 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 18 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 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
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”
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.”
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”
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”
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.”
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”
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.