1996 Mazda B-Series Truck Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda B-Series Truck, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Visibility1320.6%
- Tires & wheels711.1%
- Brakes69.5%
- Seat belts57.9%
- Steering57.9%
- Driver assistance57.9%
- Suspension46.3%
- Airbags34.8%
- Body & structure34.8%
- Fuel system23.2%
- Exterior lighting23.2%
- Interior & seats23.2%
- Powertrain (other)23.2%
- Transmission23.2%
- Heating & air conditioning11.6%
- Electrical11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
LIKE MANY OTHERS WIPERS WERE WORKING INTERMITTENTLY ONLY TO STOP WORKING COMPLETELY REPLACED SWITCH TO NO AVAIL. HAVE RED ITS A PROBLEM WITH THE GENERAL ELECTRIC MODULE WITH TRY REPLACING THAT NEXT!
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STAY ON WHEN TURNED OFF IN THE FAST MODE.*AK
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES P215/75R15 DOT W2HF1PJ016 HAVE CRACKS ALL THE WAY AROUND TIRE ON SIDEWALL, CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS WHEN RECALL 00T005 WENT PUBLIC IN AUGUST OF 2000, DEALER WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL TIRES ARE ON RECALL. *SLC
CONSUMERS TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACED TIRES, CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME IT IS TAKING TO GET MONEY BACK (7 WEEKS). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER CHECKED THE BRAKES, AND FOUND THAT THE BRAKES ROTORS ON THE 2 FRONT WHEELS WERE CRACKED. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THEM.*AK
METAL BRAKE LINE FAILED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT LEADING TO A COMPLETE LOSS OF ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING. ONE BRAKE LINE CORRODED THROUGH, ANOTHER LINE WAS SEVERELY CORRODED, AND THE 3RD LINE IS JUST STARTING TO CORRODE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. *YD
THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BUCKLE FAILED. *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ALONG SLOWLY, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE & VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. I PULLED INTO THE MEDIAN ATTEMPTING TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC & THEN DISCOVERED STEERING WAS SLOW & LETHARGIC. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC & INTO A PARKING LOT, I HEARD A LOUD "POP." I GOT OUT OF THE CAR & DISCOVERED THE TIE ROD SEPARATED ENTIRELY FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL & SLASHED THE INNER TIRE WHEEL (RESULTING IN THE FLAT).*AK (TIRESIZE: P22570R14)
WHILE TRYING TO MOVE FROM A PARKED POSITION, INNER TIE RODS BROKE OFF AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALER CAN'T FIND THE REASON FOR THIS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON WITHOUT TURNING IT ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND DISABLED IT UNDER THE HOOD. *AK
WAS DRIVING 60MPH WHEN CRUISE CONTROL CAME ON.CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE RELEASED AFTER HITTING BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR PEDAL. HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AND THEN SHUT VEHICLE DOWN. ONCE RESTARTED, CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ACTIVATED.*AKCONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENS AT EACH FAILURE. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT SUSPENSION OF TRUCK UNSTABLE, HIGHLY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED BUT NO CHANGE WHATSOEVER
VEHICLE BOUNCES INTO OTHER LANES WHILE DRIVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE TRIED FOR OVER A YEAR TO GET MY PASSENGER AIRBAG EITHER INSTALLED WITH A SWITCH OR SIMPLY HAVE IT DISCONNECTED. MAZDA SIMPLY WILL NOT PROVIDE SATISFACTORY SERVICE. MY ORIGINAL DEALER IS GONE AND NOW I HAVE BILL ROGER'S MAZDA IN ALBANY OREGON. I CALLED LOCALLY, CALLED HQ, WROTE A LETTER AND WAS TOLD I COULD BUY A BRAND NEW MIATA. IF I HAD WANTED A MIATA, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT ONE IN THE FIRST PLACE. I HAVE A ONE-YEAR OLD GRANDSON I WILL NOT PLACE IN DANGER. CAN I USE THE SAME CERTIFICATION TO HAVE IT DISCONNECTED BY SOMEONE ELSE OTHER THAN MAZDA? DO I HAVE TO SELL THE TRUCK TO GET THIS RESOLVED? OR DO I SIMPLY HIT THE DARN THING WITH A BASEBALL BAT TO GET IT TO DEPLOY? I AM VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THIS. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT SON'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRAME IS CRACKED AND HAS HOLES FROM RUST. SPRING SHACKLES HAVE HOLES FROM RUST. WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT NEW FRAME OR MAJOR FRAME REPAIR. *TR
DOOR INDICATOR BELL RING WHILE TRAVELING VEHICLE SWITCH WAS CHANGE D AND PROBLEM RETURNED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 MAZDA B4000. THE CONTACT NOTICED A GAS LEAK WHILE FILLING THE VEHICLE WITH GAS UP TO THE FILLING NECK. THIS LEAKAGE HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 145,000.
DT: GAS WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK. THE CONSUMER JUST BOUGHT THE TRUCK A WEEK AGO AND THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING ON MAY 5-16-05. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE TRUCK TO A MECHANIC ON 5-16-05 AND THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE GAS TANK LOOKED DEFECTIVE. THIS IS TO BE FIXED ON FRIDAY MAY 20, 2005. THE CONSUMER IS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO DROP THE TANK AND TRY AND SEE IF THE WHOLE TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON/OFF. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND EVERY TIME DEALER REPAIRS THEM ANOTHER PROBLEM WOULD ARISE. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF, AND AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED RUNNING. *AK
HEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
INTERIOR LIGHT WON'T SHUT OFF DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON EVEN WITH BOTH DOOR FULLY CLOSED. *AK
HEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED. MJS
SPEED SENSOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BURNING UP, AND IT TAKES A WHILE FOR THE REVERSE GEAR WILL CLICK IN. ALSO HAS HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK
SPEED SENSOR FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF ONGOING PROBLEM WITH WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER INTERMITTENTLY TURN ON/OFF. VEHICLE IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON FOUR OCCASIONS, AND EVERY TIME DEALER REPAIRS THEM ANOTHER PROBLEM WOULD ARISE. ALSO, SIGNAL LIGHT WOULD COME ON/OFF, AND AIR CONDITIONING STOPPED RUNNING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
SUDDEN ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .