Most common 2005 Mazda Mazda6 problems
Share of the 147 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Mazda6 complaints by model year
Best Mazda6 years: 2019, 2013, 2021. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2014, 2003. Compare all years →
2005 Mazda Mazda6 recalls (3)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2005 Mazda Mazda6:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
What 2005 Mazda Mazda6 owners say
Air bags all 76 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2005 Mazda 6. While driving approximately 55 MPH in rainy weather conditions, the contact lost consciousness and struck a light pole. The driver side air bag deployed causing the driver to sustain scratches and cuts to the face and bruises to the right leg. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to an impound lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact received a recall notification regarding the air bag failure from the manufacturer. The NHTSA campaign number was unavailable. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed and attempted to make a turn, the driver's side curtain air bag deployed without warning or impact. The contact sustained cuts, burns and bruises on the left arm. The contact drove himself to an urgent care medical facility. The contact called the sesi motors dealer: [phone], located at 3990 jackson rd, ann arbor, mi 48103) and was told to bring the vehicle in. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 133,000.
Transmission & drivetrain
Dt: consumer says he is having problem with transmission. Transmission will drop gears on its own, consumer just had vehicle at dealer for transmission slippage and harsh shifting. Consumer said that dealer did a software calibration on the transmission control module. Consumer says now when he is traveling on highway and consumer tries to accelerate transmission will drop from 4th gear to 3rd gear by itself and this makes acceleration very difficult. While driving vehicle in city consumer says that transmission will drop from 4th to 2nd while trying to accelerate. Consumer notices which gear by the indicator light located on dash. Consumer says that slippage and harsh shifting is now corrected, but he is having problem with transmission dropping gears. …
Leased 2005 Mazda 6 in July 2005. September 2005: took in for service for check engine light. Dealership replaced a purge canister valve. While driving vehicle after repairs were made, I heard a high-pitched whirring noise from the engine and returned the vehicle to the dealership for service. Tech determined noise was coming from transmission. Trans. Was replaced two times; noise did not go away. Tech then determined it was the fuel pump. That was replaced but noise remained. Tech then suspected the fuel lines were vibrating, added a clip to prevent rubbing and noise disappeared. That took 28 days. Day after vehicle left dealership, fuel tank leaked fuel upon starting the vehicle. Dealership determined that a cap had not been tightened. Cap was tightened and car was returned but smelled awful. Dealership shampooed interior. …
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact stated that the failure did not occur until it was repaired per NHTSA campaign number: 15V382000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the dealer had reset the sensor and the check engine indicator was turned off. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 119,141.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being operated, a loud noise emitted from the engine. Upon inspection, the contact discovered oil under the engine and oil coming from the exhaust. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 110,000. The VIN was not available.
2005 Mazda Mazda6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Mazda Mazda6 a good car?
Based on 147 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Mazda6 rates average: 31% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mazda6 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Mazda Mazda6?
The air bags — 76 complaints, 52% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (19) and engine & cooling (15).
How many recalls does the 2005 Mazda Mazda6 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2005 Mazda Mazda6, the most recent from October 31, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Mazda6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2013 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2003. See the full Mazda Mazda6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Mazda Mazda6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 58,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.