RoadVitals

1989 Mazda MX6

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest Dec 11, 2003
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest May 24, 1995
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mazda MX6, most frequently naming the seat belts, interior & seats and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts1641.0%
  • Interior & seats717.9%
  • Electrical37.7%
  • Engine37.7%
  • Body & structure37.7%
  • Driver assistance37.7%
  • Visibility25.1%
  • Other / unspecified12.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
95V103005

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

May 24, 1995
360,433 units potentially affected
The defect: THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
The risk: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.
MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INCView on NHTSA.gov
93E035000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:DRUM

Oct 13, 1993
300 units potentially affected
The defect: THE GROOVE FOR THE REAR WHEEL BEARING RETAINER RING WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.
The risk: IF THE RETAINING RING DOES NOT SIT CORRECTLY IN THEGROOVE, THE AXLE LUG NUTS WILL BREAK, CAUSING THE BRAKE DRUM, WHEEL, AND TIREASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: MIDAS SHOPS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE DRUMS WITH OTHER BRAKE DRUMS FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER.
MIDAS INTERNATIONAL CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA95005ClosedEngineering Analysis

TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE

Opened Mar 10, 1995
Closed Aug 1, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLYLed to recall 95V103005
PE91088ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THROTTLE STICKING

Opened Jun 18, 1991
Closed Oct 21, 1991

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE89167ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIRE

Opened Sep 15, 1989
Closed Dec 21, 1989

There is no summary currently available

POWER TRAIN

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 28
BrakesElectricalInterior & seats+2 more
Filed Dec 11, 2003

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS:EAT ASSEMBLY WELDS BROKE OFF CAUSING THE SEAT TO WOBBLE. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I CANNOT FIND ANYONE THAT IS WILLING TO REPAIR IT. IF IN AN ACCIDENT, I COULD BE HARMED ALONG WITH ANY PASSENGER I MAY HAVE IN BACK (MY KIDS). *AK WINDSHIELD WIPERS JUST STOPPED WORKING. MOTOR FAILURE?? ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FAILING. FUSES ARE NOT BLOWN. INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK SPORADICALLY, RADIO LIGHTING HAS NEVER WORKED SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. (4 YEARS AGO) . *AK EMERGENCY BRAKE IS "UNFIXABLE" I HAVE HAD THIS SERVICED TWO TIMES AND IT STILL WILL NOT WORK.

NHTSA ID
10049570
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jul 15, 1999

THE SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOES NOT RETRACT BACK INTO THE HOLDER, LEAVING THE BELT USELESS. I WONDERED IF THIS WOULD BE A RECALL OR IF I NEED TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
708650
Incident
Mar 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Mar 8, 1999

WHIL.E DRIVING THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS TO GET DIMMER. ALSO,ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NO BRAKING AND STEERING ABILITY AT ALL, HAD TO USE THE EMERGENNCY PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
835555
Incident
Mar 7, 1999
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 1997
1 injury reported

TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRINVING CAUSED ACCIDENT. YH

NHTSA ID
604400
Incident
Sep 12, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 23, 1997

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN IN REVERSE THEN IN DRIVE. DEALER BLAMES THE RUG. *AK

NHTSA ID
813394
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 23, 1997
Crash reported

OWNER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS AND HIT A VEHICLE, THEN IT ACCELERATED FORWARD HITTING ANOTHER PARKED CAR; THEN RAN ONTO THE SIDEWALK. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN TURNED OFF, BUT DID THE SAMETHING WHEN TURNED BACK ON AND PUT INTO GEAR. DEALER SAYS MAY HAVE BEEN THE RUG. *AK

NHTSA ID
813393
Incident
May 1, 1997
Body & structureElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Apr 14, 1997

DRIVER'S SEAT PINS BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO WOBBLE.

NHTSA ID
516383
Seat belts
Filed Mar 21, 1997

NO PARTS. THE DEALER HAS NOT ORDERED THE PARTS SINCE THE CONSUMER INITIALLY CALLED ON MARCH 3, 1997. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
810287

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

97102300397

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SUBJECT PERTAINING TO MTX OVERHAUL INFORMATION. *YC

97102302097

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC

008/97

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW

007/97T

AIR BAGS

PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW

001/97G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW

003/97G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mazda MX6 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001000—
2000000—
1999010—
1998010—
1997230—
1996123262.9
1995333265.9
1994464157.2
1993543155.3
1992710—
1991131245.5
1990141246.4
1989Viewing282358.3
1988165363.2
1987101—
1986201—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.