Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Mazda Mazda6 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 18 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR 3,000 FROM THE OWNER HAD IT FOR 2 MONTHS, GOT OIL AND ALL FLUIDS CHANGED. WHEN I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE A BLOCK AWAY IT TOTALLY DIED ON ME AND NOW IT WONT START AT ALL. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DONT HAVE THE MONEY TO BUY ABOTHER ONE. OR EVEN REPAIR IT.
THE V6 MOTOR IN MY MAZDA 6S HAS BEEN LEAKING OIL FOR ALMOST 10 OF THE 12 YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. THE OIL LEAKS OUT OF THE FAULTY SEALS ON THE TIMING CHAIN COVER IN FRONT OF THE PASSENGER, AND THE OIL DROPS ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THIS OIL VAPORIZES AND THAT VAPOR ENTERS THE CABIN IN SLOW SPEED DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTIONS. I COMPLAINED ABOUT A BURNING OIL SMELL MANY TIMES WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE MAZDA SERVICE TECHS ALWAYS PRETENDED LIKE THEY DIDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEM. YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, I AM FINDING THIS IS A RAMPANT PROBLEM WITH ALL FORD AND MAZDA CARS AND SUVS WITH THIS "DURATEC" 3.0 V6 WHICH WAS MADE BY FORD. IT IS INSTALLED IN MANY FORD, MERCURY AND MAZDA VEHICLES. I CARRY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER WITH ME IN THE EVENT I HAVE AN UNDER HOOD FIRE, AND I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT MY HEALTH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF BREATHING THIS VAPOR. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS SEAL FAILURE IS DAUNTING. I HOPE MHTSA CAN SEE THAT FORD HAS BEEN COVERING UP THIS DEFECT, ENDANGERING LIVES AND THE HEALTH OF DRIVERS AS WELL AS CREATING A TOUGH FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE OWNERS TO FIX THE ISSUE. I GAVE A DATE ON THE FORM BELOW, SINCE IT WAS REQUIRED, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE 2006 OR SO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OIL NEEDED TO BE CHANGED AND THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE CHECK OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE OIL AND THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND THE SMOKE DISAPPEARED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE BURNED OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING OUT OF NO WHERE REALLY LOST POWER IT SPUN THE BEARING AND ROD IN THE ENGINE ITS THE 2.3 LITER ENGINE MAZDA HAS HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS FROM 2004 TO 2006 I HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE LIKE I SAID COULD CAUSE MAJOR ACCIDENTS IT WAS NOT LOW ON OIL AND WAS NOT READY FOR ITS MAINTENANCE MAZDA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. *TR
RE: MAZDA 6 V6 MADE IN THE FORD/MAZDA AUTO ALLIANCE FACTORY IN FLAT ROCK, MI. THE MILES/SPEED I LISTED ARE ACTUALLY N/A - THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS EXISTED FOR MOST OF THE 10 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CAR. I COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELLING BURNING OIL COMING INTO THE CAR'S CABIN SINCE THE CAR WAS ONLY 1 YEAR OLD, BUT THE MAZDA REPAIR TECHS APPEARED TO "NEVER NOTICE THE SMELL". IT WAS MORE THAN A YEAR OR SO AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED - DESPITE A DOZEN INSTANCES OF COMPLAINING TO MAZDA DEALERS OF THIS SMELL - THAT I REALIZED MY PROBLEM WAS OIL LEAKING FROM MY V6 MOTOR'S TIMING CHAIN COVER. THE OIL LEAKS DOWN THE SIDE & BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR & DRIPS (ONLY WHILE DRIVING, NEVER WHILE RESTING) ONTO THE TOP OF ONE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM'S CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. THE INTENSE HEAT OF THE CONVERTER VAPORIZES THE OIL, THE RESULT OF WHICH ENTERS THE CAR'S CABIN THROUGH THE HVAC SYSTEM. I HAVE BEEN ADDING A QUART OF OIL ALMOST EVERY TWO MONTHS FOR YEARS NOW, BREATHING THIS CARCINOGENIC VAPOR AND WORRYING ABOUT AN ENGINE FIRE FOR THE BETTER PART OF A DECADE NOW. LEADING UP TO DISCOVERING THE LEAK, I HAD REPLACED MY VALVE COVER GASKETS & OIL PAN & GASKETS AT GREAT COST. THE PROPER REPAIR FOR THIS WOULD LIKELY REQUIRE REMOVING MY CAR'S ENGINE & A 12 HOUR REPAIR AT $100 PER HOUR, AND THAT'S JUST THE LABOR. WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, IT APPEARS IN ONLINE FORUMS TO BE A CONSISTENT PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS (LIKELY THOUSANDS) OF OWNERS, AND VARIATIONS OF THIS FORD-MADE V6 ENGINE ARE INSTALLED IN A DOZEN FORD AND MAZDA CARS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT OVER THE YEARS FORD - KNOWING THIS WAS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM - ADVISED IT'S DEALER NETWORK TO KEEP HUSH-HUSH AND PRETEND TO NOT UNDERSTAND OR NOTICE THE PROBLEM IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID A COSTLY RECALL CAMPAIGN. I FEEL THAT THE TIME HAS COME FOR FORD, NOT MAZDA, TO PAY THE PIPER, AND I WOULD LIKE MY CAR REPAIRED WITHOUT A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP PLACED UPON ME. *TR
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
CONSTANT OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. CHANGED EVERYTHING FROM HOSES TO RADIATOR,THERMOSTAT AND GASKET BUT IT STILL COMES ON AFTER A WHILE. SPENT SOOO MUCH MONEY ON THIS AND THE OTHER DAY SMOKE ERUPTED FROM CAR WHEN DRIVING AND GOT IN ACCIDENT. FORMER OWNER HAD SAME PROBLEM. *TR
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS....IT WONT REVERSE, IT'S MAKING SCARY NOISES AND IT'S JERKING NONE STOP. MECHANIC SAID I HAVE TO GET IT REBUILD, I HAD OVER 20 QUOTES FOR A PRICE TO GET IT REBUILD BUT I CANT AFFORD IT..PLEASE RECALL THE 3.0 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION...I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I SAW THAT HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MAZDA 6 2004 TRANSMISSIONS AND WE CANT AFFORD IT. THE LOWEST PRICE WAS STARTING AT 1500 NOT INCLUDING LABOR. IM A SINGLE MOM WITH TWO TODDLERS, IM WORKING AND I CANT EVEN GET IT FIXED. *TR
ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS WITH THE 2003-2005 MAZDA 6. MAZDA EVEN RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN: 01-016/06 IN 2006 REGARDING A BAD THROTTLE BODY WITH AA, AB, OR BA MARKINGS. SURE ENOUGH AFTER REMOVING THE THROTTLE BODY, MINE HAD THE AA MARKINGS. FROM THE AMOUNT OF ONLINE COMPLAINTS AND THE FACT THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS RELEASED, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED ISSUE. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. TO TOP IT OFF, CURRENTLY MAZDA HAS AN ISSUE WITH REPLACEMENT THROTTLE BODY'S THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO JERK AND STALL AT ANYTIME. THEY HAVE ADMITTED THAT THE CURRENT NEW STOCK OF THROTTLE BODIES WILL NOT WORK WITH MY VEHICLE. THIS WILL CAUSE PEOPLE TO KEEP DRIVING WITH A BAD THROTTLE BODY SINCE THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT.
ENGINE IS THROWING A ROD, NEEDS NEW ENGINE, NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR OTHER WARNING LIGHTS PRESENT TO ALERT TO IMPENDING FAILURE.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA, MAZDA6. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNT OIL. THE OIL LIGHT NEVER ILLUMINATED BUT THE NEXT MORNING WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS KNOCKING. HE ADDED OIL TO THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAM HAD SLIPPED WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS SPEAKING WITH WARRANTY PERSONNEL AND THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 85,000.
PRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED, DESTROYING MY V6 ENGINE. I THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE, BUT I HEARD SEVERAL CASES WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME VEHICLE; 2004 MAZDA 6S. $3000 FOR 4 NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AND $4000 FOR A NEW V6 ENGINE=$7000....I DON'T THINK SO. *TR
2004, 5SPEED MAZDA6 CATCHES FIRE AND BURNS TO A CRISP. GETTING ONTO A HIGHWAY A LOUD "POP" WAS HEARD THEN THERE WAS SMOKE-POPPED THE HOOD ALOT MORE SMOKE CHECKED UNDER THE CAR FOR LEAKS SAW ORANGE GLOW-10 SECONDS LATER THE CAR WAS UP IN FLAMES. *TR
DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY FROM CHICAGO TO WISCONSIN I NOTICED A KNOCK IN MY ENGINE THAT TURNED INTO 2 THROWN PISTONS THROUGH MY ENGINE BLOCK. I WORK FOR A CRASH TEST FACILITY. CARS ARE A DAILY COMPONENT IN MY LIFE. THE ENGINE HAD 45,000 MILES ON IT AND MAZDA REJECTED MY WARRANTY CLAIM. I ENDED UP SETTLING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND TRANSFERRING MY LOAN TO A USED CAR. I WANTED TO POST THIS OCCURRENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE TO MAKE SURE IT WASN'T A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
2004 MAZDA 6 MADE A RATTLING SOUND IN THE FRONT END. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE RADIATOR HAD A HOLE IN IT, AND ONE FAN BLADE BROKE OFF OF THE FAN. *KB ***NAR*** THE HOLE IN THE RADIATOR CAUSED STEAM TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. ALTHOUGH IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING THE TEMP GAUGE REMAINED IN THE NORMAL RANGE AND DID NOT INDICATE OVERHEATING. *NM
AUG 27 ENGINE NOISE, AUG 29 MAZDA DIAGNOSED INTERNAL ENGINE DAMAGE. 2004 19,000 MILES UNDER WARRANTY-MAZDA WONT REPAIR, SAYS THE OIL CHANGE OF 7-23 WAS NOT PERFORMED CORRECTLY. $8000-$9000 TO FIX ENGINE, NOTHING DONE AT THIS TIME , TRYING TO FIND AN ATTORNEY. *JB
CONSUMER REQUESTING INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN MAZDA OWNERS MANUAL. THAT VEHICLE MAY CUT OUT OR LOSE POWER , ETC. WHILE DRIVING. *BF THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE INFORMATION ADDED TO THE MANUAL REGARDING THE CONSUMERS NEED TO WATCH RPM'S AND LET OFF OF THE GAS BEFORE THE ENGINE GETS TO THE RED LINE AND SHUTS ITSELF DOWN. WHEN THE THROTTLE IS FULLY DEPRESSED WHILE PASSING, THE ENGINE DOWNSHIFTS AS IT IS SUPPOSED TO BUT WILL NEVER UPSHIFT AGAIN UNTIL THE DRIVER CONSCIOUSLY PATS THE ACCELERATOR TO MAKE IT UPSHIFT OR THE ENGINE HITS THE REDLINE ON THE RPM MODULE. *TC
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .