Most common 1996 Mazda MX-6 problems
Share of the 12 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda MX-6 complaints by model year
Best MX-6 years: 1997, 1996. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
1996 Mazda MX-6 recalls (2)
Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.
Remedy: Dealers will reprogram the sas unit to reduce the probability of unnecessary deployments in low speed undercarriage impacts.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 1996 Mazda MX-6:
Headlight failure
Obtained recall 99v-358
Oversensitive air bag deployment
In May of 1997, odi upgraded to an engineering analysis with 51 complaints.odi is now aware of 88 complaints of alleged inappropriate airbag deployments.typical complaints allege that the airbags deployed after the vehicle hit a pot hole at between 20 and 45 MPH, or that the airbags deployed while driving at between 20 or 60 MPH for no apparent reason.approximately 25 drivers alleged that they did not hit anything…
What 1996 Mazda MX-6 owners say
Air bags
Consumer was involved in an accident. Point of impact was drivers side, front at 60 to 65 MPH, in which there was no deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. Cause unkown. Also brake rotors have excessive wear and tear. Cause also unknown.
Air bag warning light illuminates with cause not known. Second time dealership replaced a clock spring. Now for the third time air bag warning light is flashing again. Consumer was told this means air bag is disfunctional. Please describe details.
1996 Mazda MX-6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 18 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Mazda MX-6 a good car?
Based on 12 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1996 MX-6 rates average: 24% fewer complaints than a typical year of the MX-6 at the same age. It is one of the best MX-6 years by this measure. 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 1996 Mazda MX-6?
The air bags — 7 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the brakes (2) and seat belts (1).
How many recalls does the 1996 Mazda MX-6 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1996 Mazda MX-6, the most recent from October 19, 2015 (switch). 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 MX-6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997 and 1996. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Mazda MX-6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Mazda MX-6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 110,000 miles; 0% 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.