MAZDA MX-6 · model year

1994 MAZDA MX-6

71 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1994MAZDAMX-6 carries 71 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1994 MX-6 is power train:automatic transmission with 10 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (5) and electrical system (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1994 MX-6, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

71
Complaints
11
Crashes
0
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

71 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
SEATS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20161122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 MAZDA MX-6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V674000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 01/04/17*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE CALLED ANOTHER DEALER AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED IN 20 MINUTES. UPDATED 03/08/17.*JB

20090124POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

1994 MAZDA MX6 AUTO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 93,000

20071217FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TRYING TO GET A RECALL DONE FROM POTAMKIN MAZDA 7400 BIRD RD MIAMI, FL 33155. I CALLED SO THAT I COULD GET SOME INFORMATION, THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT THE TOWING WOULD BE FREE FOR THE RECALL BEFORE HE GAVE ME THE TOWING COMPANY'S PHONE NUMBER. WHEN MY CAR GOT TO THE SERVICE STATION (POTAMKIN MAZDA) THEY CALLED ME SAYING THAT THE CAR WAS NOT A RECALL AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TOWING COMPANY. THE TOWING COMPANY (BLACK EAGLE) FIRST TOLD ME THAT IT WAS 55 DOLLARS WHEN I FIRST CALLED THEM ....BUT THEN, WHEN THEY CALLED THE STORY CHANGED THE PRICE WAS 75 DOLLARS THEN EXPLAINED I HAD 15 MIN TO GET FROM MY HOUSE TO THE DEALERSHIP (POTAMKIN MAZDA) WHICH WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO IN 15 MINS AND THEN IF IN THE EVENT THAT I DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN 15 MIN. IT WOULD BE TOWED BACK TO THE COMPANY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY 135 DOLLARS PLUS 35 ADDITIONAL DOLLARS FOR EVERYDAY THE CAR IS IN THERE LOT. *TR

20071205FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

ON MY WAY TO WORK ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE 8:00 A.M. TRAVELING ON THE FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE SOUTH ABOUT TO EXIT, ON TO MIAMI DADE COLLEGE, ON THE WAY TO WORK THEN CLASS. I PROCEEDED TO YIELD THEN STOP AT THE INTERSECTION AT 107TH AND 104TH. THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN, AFTER WAITING ABOUT SEVERAL MINUTES MORE A RANGER TOWED A PASSENGER AND MYSELF A VERY SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE INTERSECTION. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE, THAT IM AWARE OF, ALL OLD PARTS ARE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS OF TODAY. *TR

Mileage: 88,226

20071205FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

ON MY WAY TO WORK ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE 8:00 A.M. TRAVELING ON THE FLORIDA'S TURNPIKE SOUTH ABOUT TO EXIT, ON TO MIAMI DADE COLLEGE, ON THE WAY TO WORK THEN CLASS. I PROCEEDED TO YIELD THEN STOP AT THE INTERSECTION AT 107TH AND 104TH. THE CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF AND WOULDN'T START AGAIN, AFTER WAITING ABOUT SEVERAL MINUTES MORE A RANGER TOWED A PASSENGER AND MYSELF A VERY SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE INTERSECTION. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THIS FAILURE, THAT IM AWARE OF, ALL OLD PARTS ARE STILL INSIDE THE VEHICLE AS OF TODAY. *TR

Mileage: 88,226

20060927TIRES

1994 MAZDA MX6 RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT FRONT FENDER, RIGHT FRONT DOOR, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL AND RIM. *NM

20060520ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I WAS COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL ONE NIGHT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ABOUT 5-6 MINUTES LATER I WAS GETTING OFF OF THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED. I WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON ALTHOUGH THE RADIO AND ALL OF MY INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. I DROVE IT ABOUT 5 MINUTES UP THE ROAD TO THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF MY APARTMENT AND IT STOPPED AGAIN. BY THIS TIME, IT WAS SMOKING BADLY! SO I GOT SOME HELP AND PUSHED OUT OF THE WAY ACROSS THE STREET. I WAS TOLD TO GET MY STUFF OUT BECAUSE IT LOOKED AS IF THE CAR WAS GOING TO BLOW. I GOT MY STUFF OUT AND CALLED THE POLICE. THE CAR EVENTUALLY COOLED DOWN. I LATER FOUND OUT THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY COOLANT RESERVOIR AND COOLANT WAS SQUIRTING AND SPLASHING ALL OVER THE PLACE. MY CAR HAD BLOWN A HEAD GASKET FROM RUNNING HOT. *NM

20050617TIRES:SIDEWALL

MY NEW REMINGTON BRAND TIRE (ON MY MAZDA MX-6), BOUGHT LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO, RIPPED TWICE IN THE SIDEWALL AFTER I DROPPED INTO A POTHOLE LAST NIGHT. I WROTE IT OFF TO BAD LUCK. HOWEVER, WHEN AT THE TIRE PLACE, NOT ONE BUT TWO OTHER CUSTOMERS SAID THEY HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR TIRES, THAT THE SIDEWALL OF A RELATIVELY NEW TIRE SEEMED RATHER WEAK, AND GAVE WAY UNDER SEEMINGLY GENERAL CIRCUMSTANCES. I REALIZE YOU MAY NOT TAKE ACTION ON THIS LETTER, AND I UNDERSTAND. HOWEVER, IF YOU SEE A PATTERN OR RECEIVE MORE COMPLAINTS, I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU CONSIDER FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

20041209EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

FAILURE OF VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTION.*MR THE VEHICLE HEADLIGHT SWITCH INITIALLY FAILED JANUARY 1999. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED. THE REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED FEBRUARY 2004, 5 YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT PART WAS INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSE TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER FOR THE REPAIR OF THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH. *NM

20031221POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1994 MAZDA MX-6 (4 CYLINDER, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BECAUSE OF WHAT I BELIEVE MAY BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT OR DESIGN FLAW, I'VE BEEN FORCED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN THIS VEHICLE TWICE OVER THE COURSE OF ABOUT THREE YEARS. BASICALLY, AN ELECTRONIC OVERDRIVE SWITCH WILL RANDOMLY BEGIN IT'S FUNCTION WITHOUT HAVING ANY CONTROL OVER IT. A LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD WILL FLASH "HOLD" CONSTANTLY UNTIL THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED OR THE COMPUTER IS RESET. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, WHICH QUITE FRANKLY HAS BEEN VERY FREQUENT, THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND STRUGGLES TO OPERATE PROPERLY. THIS ALSO RESULTS IN SOMEWHAT OF A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS MAINTAINING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TAKING SMALL TURNS CAN FEEL VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE THE CAR GIVES THE IMPRESSION THAT IT'S NOT HOLDING THE ROAD VERY WELL. NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT I'VE HAD TO SPEND A TOTAL OF ROUGHLY $5000.00 FOR TWO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND I HAVE FOUND THAT I AM OBVIOUSLY NOT THE ONLY

Mileage: 70,000

20030827SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED INADEQUATE BRAKING AND RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

Mileage: 72,000

20030827SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED INADEQUATE BRAKING AND RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

Mileage: 72,000

20030827SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER LOCKED UP WHICH CAUSED INADEQUATE BRAKING AND RESULTING IN PREMATURE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. *AK

Mileage: 72,000

20030212UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REPLACED REAR CALLIPER DUE TO CALLIPER STICKING. FOUND WEBSITE THAT STATED THIS IS A DESIGN FAULT FOR PRE JAN 5, 1995 MAZDA MX6 VEHICLES. I CONTACTED MAZDA MANUFACTURING AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE WEBSITE STATES THAT WE CAN RECEIVE A REFUND FOR AT LEAST THE PRICE OF THE CALLIPER.

20030204POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

20030131POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILED TO WORK. *AK

20021010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE SPEED OF 45 MPH ENGINE STALLS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

20020226SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

E-BRAKE REAR CALIPER SEIZED LOCKING BRAKE AND CAUSING OVERHEATED PADS/ROTORS. *AK

20020110POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO ANOTHER GEAR ,CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION. AK

20010910SUSPENSION

WHENEVER TURNING STEERING WHEEL WOULD HEAR A POPPING NOISE. TEMPERATURE IS NOT A FACTOR. TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO TRY TO CORRECT PROBLEM OF POPPING NOISE. *AK

Compare 1994MAZDAMX-6 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1994 MAZDA MX-6 have?
The 1994 MAZDA MX-6 has 71 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 0 fires, 15 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 MAZDA MX-6?
The most-complained component for the 1994 MAZDA MX-6 is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 10 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 1994 MAZDA MX-6 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.