2006 Mazda Mazdaspeed6

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. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

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 systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016 four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016 four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The investigation now includes all manufacturers and vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

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 systems.During the course of PE14-016, ODI determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by Takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.Nonetheless, at ODI's insistence, all 10 vehicle manufacturers initiated a regional recall within approximately two weeks of the opening of the investigation.The regions recalled initially included Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, areas with consistently high absolute humidity and climatic conditions believed to be a significant factor in the inflator ruptures.As part of the recall actions, inflators removed from remedied vehicles are to be returned to Takata for testing.Takata's initial test results on passenger inflators from remedied vehicles indicated a much higher than anticipated rupture frequency for inflators returned from Florida.Accordingly, ODI requested all 10 manufacturers expand the regional recalls for passenger inflators to include other geographic areas where high absolute humidity conditions exist, including the Gulf States and other coastal areas.Takata's testing of the passenger inflators to date continues to indicate this geographic area as having the highest risk, with no ruptures occurring from inflators returned from outside the expanded recall regions.During PE14-016, four additional passenger inflator field events occurred, all in vehicles from the same expanded geographic region.Also during PE14-016, four additional driver inflator field events occurred including two in vehicles from regions not known for high absolute humidity, specifically California and North Carolina.Accordingly, ODI requested all five of the affected vehicle manufacturers currently using the subject Takata driver inflators expand to nationwide recalls.Significantly, neither of the affected vehicle manufacturers or Takata provided any explanation to account for these two driver air bag inflator ruptures outside the area of high absolute humidity.Takata testing of returned driver inflators indicates a lower rupture frequency as compared to passenger inflator testing.All test ruptures reported by Takata to date have occurred on inflators returned from high absolute humidity areas.The PE is now closed/upgraded to an Engineering Evaluation (EA15-001) to include all manufacturersand vehicles known to be affected at this time.ODI's EA investigation will focus on, among other things, root cause analysis, other potential defect consequences, identification of affected vehicles scope, and adequacy of the remedy.The recalls related to this PE are: 14V343, 14V344, 14V348, 14V351, 14V353, 14V655, 14V700, 14V701, 14V752, 14V763, 14V770, 14V773, 14V787, 14V802 and 14V817.The number of vehicles affected are an estimate since some vehicles may have both the driver and passenger side inflators recalled. The five ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers: 10537899, 10568848, 10585224, 10605877, 10651492

TAKATA RECALL DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY SPEED 55 MPH DROPPED VALVE BLOW HOLE IN BLOCK WHICH ALSO BLEW BIG PIECES OF THE PISTON AND BLOCK ON THE HIGHWAY WHICH COULD HAVE BOUNCED BACK INTO TRAFFIC CAUSING INJURY TO ON COMING DRIVERS OR DRIVERS FOLLOWING VEHICLE. I COLLECTED PIECES OF THE PISTON AND BLOCK ABOUT THE SIZE OF A MEDIUM SIZE HAND WELL OVER 50 YARDS BEHIND THE VEHICLE AFTER I DID AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS FOLLOWING ME OR ON COMING TRAFFIC SO NO ONE GOT HURT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM IN THE MAZDASPEED6 OR MAZDASPEED3 VEHICLES. I WOULD RECOMMEND HAVING THESE MOTORS REPLACED WITH A BETTER BUILT ONE BEFORE SOME ONE GETS HURT OR WORSE DIES.

NHTSA ID

10981088

Incident

Mar 11, 2017

Mileage

115,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL 8 MONTHS SINCE THE FIRST LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO ME NOTIFYING ME THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I HAVE NOW RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT NO ONE SHOULD RIDE IN MY PASSENGER SEAT DUE TO THE RECALL. MAZDA HAS NOT PROVIDED THIS FIX IN A TIMELY MANNER AND NOW I HAVE LOST THE ABILITY TO DRIVE A PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10893521

Incident

Aug 5, 2016

TAKATA RECALL I GET A LETTER EVERY YEAR THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT THAT THE "REMEDY" IS NOT AVAILABLE. THERE IS NO PROJECTION OF WHEN MY REMEDY WILL BE AVAILABLE. MEANWHILE MY VEHICLE HAS LOWER RESALE VALUE, IS GETTING OLDER AND I REMAIN AT RISK. WHILE 31% OF AT RISK VEHICLES HAVE RECEIVED SOME KIND OF REMEDY, THE RATE OF REMEDY APPEARS TO BE SLOWING DOWN. FIVE YEARS AFTER THE RECALL, I MIGHT HAVE A 50/50 CHANCE OF GETTING A REMEDY. I BELIEVE THERE IS A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT MY VEHICLE WILL BE IN THE JUNK YARD BEFORE A REMEDY IS OFFERED. SEEMS LIKE A GOOD PLAN IF YOU HAVE TO PAY TO MAKE THE REPAIR. WHERE IS THE DIRECTIVE TO SERVE THE PUBLIC? YES, 7 MILLION AIRBAGS SOUNDS BUSY. KENNEDY'S MOON PROGRAM WAS COMPLETED IN 8 YEARS 2 MONTHS.

NHTSA ID

10849875

Incident

Mar 15, 2016

Mileage

133,000 mi

LOST CLUTCH TO THE FLOOR WHILE DRIVING NEARLY HAVING AN ACCIDENT. TOOK OFF CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER AS SYMPTOMS WOULD SUGGEST THE REPAIR WOULD BE. FOUND OUT THAT THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IS BROKE AND THAT THE FIREWALL IS "CRACKED" I CAN SEE LOTS OF POSTS ONLINE WHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY COMMON AND VERY DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID

10780823

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

5 MONTHS AGO, TOOK CAR TO MAZDA DEALER FOR TIMING CHAIN, VVT NOISE AND WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. LAST MONTH STARTED TO FEEL INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER DURING QUICK ACCELERATION FOLLOWED BY PLUME OF SMOKE AT THE TAIL PIPE. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS HEAVY CARBON BUILDUP AT THE VALVES AS WELL AS MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR, O2 SENSOR, AND OTHER ENGINE COMPONENTS. THE BILL WAS FOR ABOUT 1800 WORTH OF PARTS AND LABOR FOR DEEP CLEANING THE VALVES (INTAKE MANIFOLD REMOVED). AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, TOOK CAR HOME AND DROVE FOR ABOUT 25 MILES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND I SMELLED BURNT OIL AND SMOKE INSIDE THE CABIN. I WAS ABLE TO STEER THE CAR TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED UNDER THE CAR TO FIND LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SAME MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD A ROD SHEARED AND BLEW A HOLE THROUGH THE BLOCK AND PUNCTURED THROUGH THE TRANSFER CASE HOUSING. THERE WAS NO ROD BEARING FAILURE, THE ROD JUST SNAPPED IN HALF. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THE ENTIRE REPAIR COST AND WILL NOT COVER THE TRANSFER CASE DAMAGE. READING THROUGH SEVERAL FORUMS, THE SAME ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO SEVERAL OTHER MAZDASPEED 6 OWNERS. THIS TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10662596

Incident

Nov 5, 2014

Mileage

135,500 mi

THE MOUNTS AND THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MOUNTS KEEP BREAKING. THIS HAS OCCURRED OVER 5 TIMES AND IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10610306

Incident

May 1, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY VEHICLES IS CLOUDING OF THE PLASTIC LENSES OVER HEADLIGHTS. THIS PROBLEM IS EXCEEDINGLY SEVERELY BAD ON THE MAZDASPEED 6. THE CLOUDING CANNOT BE REPAIRED VIA HEADLIGHT RESTORATION KITS AS ONCE IT'S REMOVED, IT COMES BACK EVEN WORSE AFTER. THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. SINCE THESE ASSEMBLIES INCLUDE THE HID HEADLIGHTS ELECTRONICS (BALLAST) THEY ARE INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE. THESE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO CLOUD AND BECOME COMPLETELY WORTHLESS WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO. ON MY 8 YEAR OLD VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE COMPLETELY USELESS AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS PRODUCE LESS LIGHT THAN LOW BEAMS ON MOST OTHER VEHICLES. THE EASY SOLUTION FOR MAZDA WOULD BE TO RECALL THE HEADLIGHTS AND RETROFIT A LENS (GLASS OR OTHERWISE) THAT WILL NOT CLOUD. MY CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT DUE TO THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE LOW BEAMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597586

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi

I OWN A 2006 MAZDA SPEED6 WITH 96,600 MILES, PURCHASED DECEMBER 2005. MY SPEED6 HAS ALWAYS HAD A TURBOCHARGER SMOKING PROBLEM. AT ONE POINT, IT LOOKED LIKE A MOSQUITO SPRAYING TRUCK GOING DOWN THE ROAD. BUT THAT ISSUE SEEMED TO ABATE, AND APPEARED TO BE UNDER CONTROL ON ITS OWN. NOW THE CAR IS BURNING A QUART OF OIL EVERY 300 MILES. THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, AND AFTER A YEARLONG ATTEMPT TO WATCH THE PROBLEM, TO SEE IF IT COULD BE CONTROLLED, I FINALLY CAME TO THE CONCLUSION, THAT IT COULD NOT, AND THAT THE TURBOCHARGED HAD TO BE REPLACED. I THUS MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE MAZDA DEALER CLOSEST TO MY CURRENT RESIDENCE, PADUCAH MAZDA, IN PADUCAH, KY. I TOOK THE CAR IN YESTERDAY, AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM MY TURBOCHARGER SEALS. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN AND PREVALENT, SUBJECT TO A NHTSA INQUIRY #10043874. AND AS A RESULT MAZDA ISSUED A LETTER EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM TO 84 MONTHS OR 70,000 MILES. I DO NOT RECALL RECEIVING THIS LETTER, OR IF I DID, AT THAT TIME DID NOT BELIEVE I HAD A PROBLEM WORTHY OF A NEW TURBOCHARGER. SO YESTERDAY, THE MAZDA CONFIRMED THE PROBLEM, AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2500 TO REPLACE THE TURBOCHARGER. SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN WELL KNOWN, DOCUMENTED, AND SUBJECT OF A MAZDA WARRANTY CONSIDERATION, I CALLED MAZDA CONSUMER SERVICE TO SEE IF MAZDA COULD OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ON THIS SERVICE ISSUE. I OFFERED TO WORK WITH THEM, TO PAY SOME PORTION OF THE REPAIR, MEET THEM IN THE MIDDLE IF POSSIBLE. MY REQUEST WAS DENIED IN TOTAL; ?NO ASSISTANCE?. NATURALLY, I AM DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS RESULT, GIVEN THAT I HAVE BEEN A LOYAL MAZDA OWNER. I AM VERY SURPRISED WITH THIS ABRUPT AND NEGATIVE TREATMENT FROM MAZDA, GIVEN THE HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10565914

Incident

Feb 25, 2014

Mileage

96 mi

In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer’s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mileage. Prior to speedometer removal, complete the information required on the “Speedometer Replacement Label”. Labels can only be ordered through Mazda eStore. In an effort to achieve a higher level of Customer Experience and retain the value of Mazda’s vehicles, MNAO Warranty Operations is allowing all Mazda dealers to utilize a third party, SPECMO Enterprises, Inc., for Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) odometer setting service. With the use of SPECMO’s services, it is possible that the odometer will be set between 10 to 31 miles over the odometer mileage at the time of replacement for both warranty and customer pay repairs. Please make sure that the customer is aware that there may be a slight variance to the odometer, in which case the customer may have to accept the slightly higher mileage. Since odometer setting service is not part of the warranty repair, it is not warrantable nor required, but optional. However, Mazda Warranty policy provides after- warranty assistance (AWA) or DSA that can be utilized to cover this service expense.

Speedometer replacement procedure

This service bulletin provides information regarding the proper use of the driver’s floor mat to avoid any potential interference with the foot pedals. The following are possible causes of floor mat interference, which can be avoided with proper usage.

Subject: ** UPDATE** - Takata Inflator Special Service Program (Extended Warranty) Special Service Program SSPB3: In December 2017 Special Service Program SSPB3 - Takata Inflator Extended Warranty was announced. The extended warranty was a result of the Takata airbag inflator class action settlement. Mazda will provide supplemental warranty coverage for all repairs and replacements (including parts and labor) to correct any defects in the materials or workmanship of Takata airbag inflators and the replacement inflators installed pursuant to the Takata airbag recalls. The program covers defects in the Inflator only and does not cover other items in the airbag system. Additionally, the program also does not cover airbags that have properly deployed as a result of a collision.

The Mazda DCA-8000PM is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000PM is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batteries and to generate a Warranty Code.

This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, inspect and maintain the battery periodically according to the repair procedure.