KnownCarProblems2004 Mazda Mazda6 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Mazda Mazda6, most often about the air bags (34% of complaints, typically around 110,500 miles). It is 5th of 20 Mazda6 model years by number of complaints and has 4 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory3 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2004 Mazda Mazda6 problems
Air bags
55 complaints · 34%Half of these problems showed up before 110,500 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that air bag warning indicator had illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 15v382000 (air bags) however the parts to do the repair were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable…
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 6. After the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v382000 (air bags) and 16v354000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The…
Transmission
19 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission, clutch assembly.
Kept put its self in gear which is a safety mode !!! So I went to change the battery and smelled something burning and the fuse for the radio was blown and every time I went to change the fuse it would blow.so I took it to the shop to see what was wrong and they had to replace the radio some wiring alternator was…
Shift shock when the automatic transmission changes gears. This is an intermittent, ongoing occurrence. Mazda has issued a "technical service bulletin (tsb)" (#05-005/05) to the dealers to repair this using a "flashing" of the computer system. Warranty won't cover it because it involves the computer. It should be a…
Engine
18 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 71,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
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.
The way the catalytic converter is designed on cylinders 1, 3,and5 it gets clogged but buy than your rings and bearing have overheated destroying your engine with in a thousand miles of replacing the catalytic converter you find this out. I was driving home the engine was at normal temp driving fine.. Than the car…
Body and structure
15 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 93,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
While traveling on interstate at 70 MPH, a piece of chrome plated trim from the top of the grill (roughly 3" x 24") flew off striking the front windshield on the driver's side directly in front of my face (the dealer provided Mazda part number for the trim is gk2a50710c). The piece either exploded on impact or was…
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda 6. The contact stated that the driver side door was defective and could not be opened from the interior or exterior of the vehicle or with the keyless remote. The dealer was contacted and referred the contact to a local specialist for further assistance. The manufacturer was contacted yet…
Electrical
13 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles. Parts named most often: ignition, wiring.
Kept put its self in gear which is a safety mode !!! So I went to change the battery and smelled something burning and the fuse for the radio was blown and every time I went to change the fuse it would blow.so I took it to the shop to see what was wrong and they had to replace the radio some wiring alternator was…
Ignition coils keep failing on Mazda 6 which could cause an accident because of loss of power. Other people we know with mazdas have the same problem.
Brakes
11 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Car makes a noise from brakes when turining all the way to the left and applying pressure to the brakes. It's not a normal brake squeal, it's more of a moaning noise. It is definately coming from the driver's side front brake. It does not happen when it turns to the right. It also normally occurrs when the…
While parking on an incline I attempted to set the caras parking brake. With my foot on the brake pedal, I pulled the brake handle fully upward without holding the button. When I released my hand from the parking brake, I found the handle to still be in my hand because it had fallen back down as a result of never…
Doors and locks
10 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: doors.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Mazda, Mazda6. The front driver side door would not open from the outside. The contact entered the vehicle from the front passenger side door and noticed the front driver side door also would not open from the inside. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but they were unable to…
The door locks on the vehicle failed. As a result, I am unable to enter the car from the drivers side door. Furthermore, the remote control, key, interior latch, door handle will not open the door. As a result, I have to enter the car through the passenger side door and climb over the center console. This is a problem…
Speed control
7 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 26,000 miles. Parts named most often: throttle.
I am the original owner of the vehicle, I complained of engine surge on several visits to Mazda, and they would always say they were unable to duplicate the problem. I was recently driving the vehicle when it accelerated on it's own, the RPM's would fluctuate between 2 and 4. The vehicle accelerated uncontrollably, I…
While pulling into a parking space, the brakes disengaged, almost causing consumer's vehicle to crash into other vehicles. The dealer inspected the vehicle, and stated that the brakes were not defective. The consumer stated that the vehicle lunged forward during the incident.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Mazda Mazda6 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began december 3, 2019. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618f. Note: this recall supersedes recalls 13v130, 14v362, 14v773 and 15v869.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 mazda6, 2004-2005 mpv, 2004 rx-8, and 2006-2007 mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began july 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected rx-8 owners began july 6, 2019. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618f. Note: with the addition of the rx-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16v354.
Full defect summary
Mazda north america operations (mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 mazda6, 2006-2007 mazdaspeed6 and 2004 mpv vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 mpv vehicles in alabama, arizona, arkansas, california, delaware, the district of columbia, florida, georgia, hawaii, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, louisiana, maryland, mississippi, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, south carolina, tennessee, texas, virginia, west virginia, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands. On july 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 rx-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16v-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2017. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417g. Note: this recall supersedes recall 15v-382.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 mazda6, 2004-2008 rx-8, and 2006-2007 mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk: The locking mechanism of the seat belt retractor may malfunction, increasing the risk of death or serious injury to the rear seat passengers in the event of a crash. Passengers should not sit and child seats should not be used in the right or left rear seats until this defect has been corrected.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear seat belts and replace defective seat belt retractors. The recall began on december 27, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500, option #4.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the right and/or left rear seat belts may not lock properly due to missing retaining pins on the housing.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 in
Questions about the 2004 Mazda Mazda6
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Mazda Mazda6?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (55 complaints, typically around 110,500 miles); transmission (19 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); engine (18 complaints, typically around 71,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Mazda Mazda6 have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 31, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Mazda Mazda6?
- It is 5th of 20 Mazda6 model years by number of complaints, with 160 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.