Most common 2006 Mazda Mazda6 problems
Share of the 173 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 →
2006 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 2006 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 2006 Mazda Mazda6 owners say
Air bags all 93 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mazda 6. While driving approximately 40 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the front driver side and caused significant damage to the front end of the contact's vehicle. During the crash, the seat belts did not secure the driver. The air bag deployment was delayed and caused the driver's head to impact the steering wheel. The driver sustained severe lacerations to the upper lip, damaged teeth, and facial contusions that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver swerved to avoid another vehicle and crashed into a concrete divider. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was totaled and was towed to a tow yard. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was called, but there was no response. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
Please can someone put in a recall for this my transmission is having problems again and this is my second madza 6... This doesn't make any sense we spend money of vehicles that suppose to run well... So why are there so many people having problems with these madza's and know one is doing anything about it.... I was on the highway with my kids when the car just cut off and wouldn't move and when it did it was started grinding when I put it in gear.... That was a scary thing... The same happened to me in my first madza 6 with only 89000 miles on it... Something needs to be done....
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. While driving various speeds, the clutch would shift automatically into neutral and the engine revved. After a few seconds, the gear would forcefully shift into any gear without warning. The failure occurred more often while on inclines or when the vehicle was in fourth, fifth, or sixth gear. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was still under warranty at the time. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the engine made a loud ticking noise. The contact stated that once the vehicle had warmed up, the would drive normal; however, while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the Variable Valve Timing Actuator (VVTA) was not functioning as needed causing the engine stall and loud ticking sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Driving on freeway at about 65 MPH, all of a sudden the ABS light came on, seconds later the check engine light came on. About 30 seconds later, my Mazda6 shut off and I lost power steering. I got stuck in the middle of the freeway. Smoke was coming out of the left side (if standing in front of car) under the hood and radiator fluid was pouring out the bottom. Car wouldn't start, click click click, had to have it towed home. Had a independent mechanic look at the car, he said the engine was blown. * car gave zero indications that it was overheating, no change in the temperature gauge.** I think there is a defect somewhere in this area, as it should've told me it was overheating. I bought this car brand new in June 2006 and have babied it. This is the first and only problem I have ever had with it. I did not replace the engine.
2006 Mazda Mazda6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 23 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Mazda Mazda6 a good car?
Based on 173 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 Mazda6 rates average: about as many complaints as 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 2006 Mazda Mazda6?
The air bags — 93 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (20) and engine & cooling (19).
How many recalls does the 2006 Mazda Mazda6 have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Mazda Mazda6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 31% 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.