2003 Mazda Mazda6 Complaint Log

THE CLUTCH ON A STANDARD TRAMISSION HAS GONE OUT AND STATED TO BE ABUSED. THE CLUTCH HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED THE CAR IS 15 MONTHS OLD AND HAS 14000 MILES ON IT. *AK

THE CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO FAIL. THE DEALER INDICATED THAT IT WOULD BE FIVE MONTHS BEFORE ONE BECAME AVAILABLE. *NM THE CLUTCH, STARTER, CD CHANGER, AND PANEL COVER WERE DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS RUST ON THE DOOR SASHES. THERE WAS A SMELL FROM THE EXHAUST THAT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THERE WERE VIBRATIONS AND RATTLES IN THE DOOR, WHICH HAD BEEN ADJUSTED. THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND THE LEAKING FUEL SENDER UNIT IN THE GAS TANK. THE STARTER WOULD GRIND AND THE CLUTCH SHUDDERED. *SC *JB

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SWERVED TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, THE AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT RAIN CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. *AK *JB

I HAVE A MAZDA 6I.AT 8500 MILES AFTER HAVING MY CAR I HAD THE CLUTCH GO OUT. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I WAS SEVERLY STEREOTYPED AS A STREET RACER WHICH I AM IN NO WAY , IF THAT WERE THE CASE I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT THE 6S . THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM , WHICH I IMMEDIATELY DISPUTED AND WAS TREATED AS A CHILD.EVENTUALLY THEY FIXED IT AND I QUOTE "NOT UNDER WARRANTY BUT FIXED OUT OF KINDNESS" AND THAT WAS THE END OF THAT. NOW AT 13000 MILES MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR I TOOK IT IN AND THE FIRST RESPONSE I GOT FROM THE SERVICE CLERK WAS " WHATS WRONG WITH THE CAR?" AND THAT IF THEY FIND I CAUSED THE PROBLEM IT WOULD BE ESTIMATED $1000 TO FIX IT IF IT WASN'T COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I FEEL THAT BECAUSE MY AGE I AM DISCRIMINATED AGAINST EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED THE CAR MYSELF IN MY NAME AT 18. I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER AS TO WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT.*AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WORE OUT EXCESSIVELY WITHIN 8,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO TURNED BOTH FRONT ROTORS. *AK

I HADN'T HAD THE CAR TOO LONG AND WAS TAKING OFF FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN THE HARD SHIFT FIRST OCCURRED. I REALLY THOUGHT I'D BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND BY ANOTHER CAR, BUT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN TOO OFTEN FOR AWHILE, THEN IT STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY SO I TOOK IT IN. I TOOK IT TO MULTIPLE MAZDA DEALERS, WHERE I WOULD LEAVE IT OVERNIGHT FOR THEM TO TRY AND REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THEY ALWAYS INSISTED THAT THEY COULD NOT SO I GAVE UP FOR AWHILE. IT GOT WORSE AND THEN I SAW A TSB ONLINE ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE SUPPOSED FIX IS TO FLASH THE COMPUTER CHIP. EVERY DEALER I CONTACTED ABOUT IT SAID THEY'D CHARGE AN HOUR LABOR TO DO THIS, AND MY PRIVATE MECHANIC COULDN'T DO IT AS IT'S SOME MAGICAL THING ONLY THE DEALERS CAN DO. ANYWAY I HAVE NOT HAD IT FLASHED YET, THE CAR IS COMING UP ON 147K AND THE PROBLEM IS NOW SO BAD THAT IT'S DANGEROUS. I WILL HAVE THE FLASH DONE IN THE NEXT COUPLE DAYS BUT I DON'T THINK IT WILL HELP. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED A YEAR AGO AS I WAS NEARLY HIT BY A BIG RIG WHEN THE CAR SHUT DOWN IN THE FAST LANE. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS AND SIMILAR REALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEMS, THIS CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED YEARS AGO. *TR

IT WAS AT 7,000 MILES ON VEHICLE, THAT I EXPERIENCED THE BRAKES ACTING LIKE THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. IT WAS AT 11,000 MILES THAT I HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 DISK BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE RESURFACED. DEALERSHIP SAID IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD TAKEN MY CAR TO A CAR WASH AND THAT ALL 4 ROTORS HAD WARPED. *JB

THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE BRAKES LOCKED, THEN STARTED SMOKING. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

IN EARLY JUNE MY MAZDA 6 MTX BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHENEVER I WOULD ACCELERATE THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE BY 1K THEN DECREASE BY ABOUT THE SAME AMOUNT BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD CATCH AND THE POWER WOULD BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE WHEELS. NOW A LITTLE OVER A MONTH LATER MY CLUTCH IS ALMOST COMPLETELY WORN OUT. I'M TAKING MY CAR IN TO GET THIS CHECKED OUT, BUT THE CAR SHOULDN'T BE EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH/TRANSMISSION WHEN IT'S STILL UNDER 26,000 MILES. THE CAR IS NOT IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC NOR IS IT UNDER ANY HEAVY LOAD. *NM

WHILE WAITING IN MY CAR AT THE BANK WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ON I NOTICED AN ODD SMELL AND THEN THE TEMP GAUGE STARTED RISING FAST. I PULLED TO THE SIDE IMMEDIATELY AND TURNED MY CAR OFF AND WAITED 30 MINUTES. I TOOK MY CAR IN THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED MY COOLING FAN CONTROL UNIT NEEDED REPLACING, WHICH THEY DID. I HAD TO ASK FOR MY INVOICE WHICH WAS GIVEN TO ME. IT IS WORKING FINE NOW, BUT I FIND IT ODD THAT SUCH A NEW CAR COULD HAVE SUCH A PROBLEM.

I DRIVE A 2003 MAZDA 6S, WHICH I PURCHASED FROM BIGGER'S MAZDA IN ELGIN, IL. THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THEM. MY AREA OF CONCERN INVOLVES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON MY VEHICLE, AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS LIGHT IS ON. ON APRIL 2, 2004 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED FOR THE THIRD TIME. WHEN I OPERATE MY VEHICLE WITH THE LIGHT ON IT PERFORMS ERRATICALLY AND UNUSUAL. THE LAST TIME THE LIGHT CAME ON, I WAS PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, AND MY VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN. IN TURN, THE DRIVER BEHIND ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME. WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE YESTERDAY, I WENT TO PASS A CAR ON THE EXPRESSWAY, AND AGAIN MY CAR BOGGED DOWN. EVERY TIME THAT I TAKE MY CAR TO THE DEALER, I PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I HAVE PAPERWORK TO SHOW THAT I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THREE TIMES. AFTER A RECENT VISIT TO MY DEALER, THEY STATED, "WE HAVE NO FIX FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE LIGHT WILL ALWAYS COME BACK ON. IF YOU ARE LUCKY, OUR MAZDA ENGINEERS WILL HAVE A REMEDY BY AUGUST 2004 (TODAY IS 4/6/04). THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS CAUSED BY A MISFIRE IN THE FOURTH CYLINDER". WHAT AN AWFUL RESPONSE FROM THE DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY CAR. I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE OTHER DRIVERS AROUND MY CAR. AFTER THREE VISITS TO MY DEALER, I FEEL LOST AND HELPLESS. PLEASE ADVISE. *LA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WITH AN SEMI- TRACTOR TRAILER. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE FLIPPED TWICE LANDING IN A DITCH. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

MY CAR HAS BEEN GIVING OFF A ROTTEN EGG ODO FOR 8 MONTHS NOW SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED THS VEHICLE. EVERYONE WHO RIDES IN MY CAR INCLUDING MYSELF GET PHYSICALLY SICK DUE TO THE SMELL.*AK

I HAVE BEEN IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE SAME SYMPTOM BEING A SQUEALING LOW PITCH TO A HUM WHEN I TURN LEFT INTO ANY PARKING SPOT. MY BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ALONG WITH A CALIPER SPRING. THEY KEEP ON SAYING THAT THEY HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME AND IT COMES BACK. I HAVE BEEN IN FOUR TIMES FOR THIS. ALSO I HAVE HAD AN ECU COMPUTER REPLACED DUE TO A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING. LASTLY, MY GLOVE BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS INSTALLED WITH THE LIGHT ON PERMANENTLY. THIS PROBLEM STILL EXISTS BECAUSE THE DASH BOARD IS NOT PERFECTLY FLUSH WITH THE EDGE OF THE GLOVE BOX, THEREFORE THE LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON AND I CAN SEE IT WHEN I DRIVE AT NIGHT. *AK

WHEN COMING TO A STOP BRAKES FAILED. CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND USED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER DETERMINED THAT BRAKE LINE LEAKED. *AK

FAILURE OF THE RACK & PINION STEERING TWICE IN THE LAST 1.5 YEARS; MARCH 2004 AND AGAIN SEPT. 2005. NEEDED TO BE REPLACED EACH TIME.REPLACEMENT WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME[ AT 20,000 MILES]; THE SECOND TIME MAZDA PAID FOR THE PART EVEN THOUGH THE CAR HAD 54,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY; I PAID FOR THE LABOR.

BRAKE ROTORS ON THE 2003 MAZDA 6 SEEM TO BE PRONE TO EARLY WARPING. I HAD A SET MACHINED, THEN REPLACED 3 MONTHS LATER AND NOW WARPED AGAIN AFTER ONLY TWO MONTHS.*AK

VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR IN THE MAZDA6S WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. FEELS AS IF THE CAR HAS BEEN HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE REAR. FRONT TIRES MOMENTARILY LOSE TRACTION AND CHIRP SOMETIMES. THESE VIOLENT SHIFTS ONLY HAPPEN DURING MILD ACCELLERATION. *AK

2003 MAZDA 6 2.3L A/T WITH 10,450 MILES: RIGHT FRONT DISC BRAKE COMPONENT(S) FAILURE. TOOK THE CAR TO A MAZDA SERVICE CENTER AND WAS TOLD A SPECIAL REPAIR KIT WAS REQUIRED BUT THAT MAZDA WAS ONLY AUTHORIZING THE DEALERS TO REPAIR THIS UNDER WARRENTY, ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE AT THIS TIME, AND I HAVE SCHEDULED SERVICE TO EXAMINE AND REPAIR. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND HESITATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT ROUGHLY FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. HE EXPERIENCED FAILURE WITH THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WERE POSSIBLY THE CAUSES OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO REPLACED THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS: ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, EXTERIOR LIGHTS, AND FOUR WINDOW OPERATING MECHANISMS. ALSO, THE COMPUTER MODULE, TRANSMISSION, AND AIR CONDITIONER MODULES WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

I PURCHASED MY MAZDA 6S IN FEBRUARY OF 2003. I HAVE LOVED THIS CAR SINCE THE DAY I FIRST SAW IT. IN DECEMBER OF 2003, I BEGAN HEARING GRINDING/MOANING SOUNDS FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION AREA WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY 3-4 WEEKLY. I TOOK MY 6S IN FOR IT'S REGULAR SERVICE IN DECEMBER (OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION), AND ADVISED MY DEALERSHIP OF THE NOISE I WAS HEARING. I WAS TOLD THAT MY ONE FRONT TIRE WAS 2 LBS LOW, AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSED THE NOISE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD 12000 MILES AT THIS TIME, AND I KNEW THE SERVICE TECH WAS SUGAR COATING THE PROBLEM. ON JANUARY 9, 2004, I WAS LEAVING WORK TO GO HOME WHEN I HAD SOME SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE ON THE WAY HOME. AS I WAS GETTING ON THE EXPRESSWAY, I EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND ALSO UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT, ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 3,000 RPM NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE HOME IN THIS CONDITION, BUT I HAD NO CHOICE AT THIS TIME. BY THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS ACTING, I THOUGHT I EITHER HAD A FLAT TIRE OR THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH MY ENGINE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER, WHICH IT TOOK THEM 4 DAYS TO CONFIRM THE PROBLEM. THE CONCLUDED THAT MY FRONT AXLE WAS FAULTY, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT TOOK 10 DAYS TO GET MY VEHICLE BACK, AND SO FAR THE ISSUE HAS BEEN RESOLVED. I JUST WISH THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TAKEN ME MORE SERIOUSLY BACK IN DECEMBER AND MAYBE THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. *LA

STEERING WHEEL DEFECTIVE. *AK

STILL HEARING THE BRAKES GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPING. WENT BACK TO THE DEALER, IT WAS HEARD BY THE MASTER TECH THERE AT THE DEALER. HE STATED THAT MAZDA WAS LOOKING INTO A SOLUTIONS.

CANNOT TURN OFF HEAT TO WINDSHIELD NOR UPPER VENTS. EXCESSIVE HEAT TO FACE CAUSES DROWSINESS AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO REMAIN ALERT WHILE FEET ARE STILL COLD. A CONTINUING PROBLEM REPORTED TO TWO MAZADA DEALERS WHO WERE NOT HELPFUL.*AK

AFTER HAVING MY 2003 MAZDA 6 FOR NO MORE THAN A WEEK, I NOTICED MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT BLOWING OUT COLD AIR. ALSO, THE AIR CONDITIONER LIGHT SHUT OFF ON ANY SETTING HIGHER THAN "1". I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO MY DEALER FOR SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEW SWITCHBOARD FOR MY DASH. I WAITED A WEEK FOR THE PART TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD THE PART MAY OR MAY NOT BE IN WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. I BECAME FRUSTRATED AND PICKED UP MY CAR AND ASKED THE DEALER TO CALL ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN. I WAITED FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS THEN RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL STATING MY PART HAD ARRIVED. AS I AM PART OF THE WORKING CLASS, I DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE TO RESPOND BACK TO THE LETTER. I RECEIVED ANOTHER LETTER STATING THAT IF I DID NOT MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE PART INSTALLED WITHIN 10 DAYS, THE DEALER WAS REQUIRED TO SEND THE PART BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. I MADE MY APPOINTMENT. I WAS GIVEN YET ANOTHER RENTAL CAR. AFTER REPLACING THE PART I WAITED SO LONG TO COME IN, I WAS INFORMED THAT PART DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER PART TO ARRIVE. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THERE WERE 3 RECALLS THAT CONSUMERS HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF YET THAT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO MAKE AN INSPECTION OF MY VEHICLE TO ENSURE THE RECALLS WERE FIXED. NOW, RIGHT BEFORE THE NEW YEARS HOLIDAYS, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT THEY HAVE TO ORDER A NEW GAS TANK FOR MY VEHICLE AND THE PART WILL BE ORDERED AND SHOULD ARRIVE "WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS". I HAVE BEEN PROMISED MY VEHICLE NEXT WEEK. I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATHE. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAR WAS HESITATING IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY FELT LIKE IT WANTED TO SHUT OFF MADE IT HOME NEXT DAY CAR DID NOT START HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER CAR KEPT IN SHOP FOR A MONTH DEALER COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM SAID IT WAS A SENSOR IN THE ENGINE THAT WAS DEFECTIVE GOT THE CAR BACK BUT IT SINCE THEN CONTINUED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO ORIGINAL DEALER CRYSTAL MAZDA FOR 3 RECALLS IN JULY04 AND OTHER PROBLEMS, IN APRIL05 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY TURNS ON IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY CAR STARTS TO JERK AND JUST DIED CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY CALLED ME WEEKS LATER TO TELL ME THE ENGINE SEAZED I HAVE HAD A LEMON LAW CASE WITH KIMMEL AND SILVERMAN FOR A YEAR NOW DEALERSHIP HAVE BEEN VERY NASTY TO ME AS WELL AS THE MANUFACTURER THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX THE VEHICLE OR GIVE ME A REPLACEMENT I ALSO REQUESTED A COPY OF AN INVOICE DESCRIBING THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE DYING AND DIAGNOSIS THEY REFUSE TO DO SO I HAVE BECOME SO ILL BECAUSE OF THIS AND HAVE A CHILD TO THINK ABOUT I JUST WANT A RELIABLE CAR THAT ME AND MY DAUGHTER WILL BE SAFE IN CAN YOU HELP.

I HAVE A 2003 MAZDA 6S WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SINCE IT WAS NEW IT MADE NOISES AND DID NOT FEEL AS THOUGH IT WAS SHIFTING RIGHT. IT HANGS BETWEEN GEARS AND THERE IS A CONSIDERABLE HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER FOUR TIMES, WENT THROUGH THE LEMON LAW, AND EVEN THOUGH WITH THE TECH IN THE CAR I GOT THE CAR TO GLITCH AND HANG, HE INDICATED NORMAL OPERATION. HE INSISTED THAT THE SWITCH TO SYNTHETIC TRANSMISSION FLUID IS THE CULPRIT; HOWEVER, QUALITY OF OPERATION HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE DEALER FLUSHED THE FLUID AND WENT BACK TO CONVENTIONAL TRANSMISSION FLUID. *LA

RATTLES INSIDE PASSENGERS COMPARTMENT WITH 2003 MAZDA 6 SEDAN. RATTLES COME FROM FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE CLOSE TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHERE THE ORIGIN OF THE RATTLES, IT IS BECOMING LOUDER EACH DAY. WORRY IT MAY CAUSE FAILURE OF AIRBAG DURING AN ACCIDENT. INCIDENT DATE WAS THE ORIGINAL DATE WHEN WE NOTICED THE RATTLES.

RUST HAS BEGUN TO FORM UNDER THE WEATHER STRIPPING OF THE DOORS AS WELL AS ON THE SASH ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH 2003. IN A SERVICE BULLETIN (09-020/02) MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS CLAIMS IT IS NOT RUST BUT A ORANGE/YELLOW SURFACE STAIN CAUSED BY NEGATIVE REACTION WITH A LUBRICANT USED AT THE FACTORY. HOWEVER THE FOLLOWING EMAIL IS FROM MAZDA OPERATIONS STATING IT IS INDEED RUST. SO WHICH IS IT? "OCTOBER 22, 2003 OWNER NULLUNIT2000" RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING E-MAIL FROM MAZDA AND POSTED IT IN THE RUST PROBLEM TOPIC AT MAZDA6CLUB.COM. THANK YOU FOR CONTACTING MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RESPOND TO YOU. MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS HAS BECOME AWARE OF A SURFACE RUST SITUATION ON THE DOORS OF CERTAIN MAZDA6 SEDANS BUILT AT THE COMPANY'S AUTO ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION FACILITY IN FLAT ROCK, MICHIGAN. WHEN THE DOOR-SASH WEATHER-STRIPPING IS INSTALLED ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE, A SOAPY WATER SOLUTION IS USED TO EASE INSTALLATION OF THE STRIPPING INTO A CHANNEL ON THE DOOR. DURING THE AFFECTED TIME PERIOD, THAT SOAPY SOLUTION WAS FOUND TO HAVE INCLUDED A SUBSTANCE THAT HAS CAUSED SURFACE RUST TO APPEAR ON THE CHANNEL UNDERNEATH THE DOOR WEATHER-STRIPPING ON A NUMBER OF VEHICLES. THE SOLUTION HAS SINCE BEEN REPLACED, AND VEHICLES BUILT AFTER JULY 22, 2003 ARE NOT AFFECTED. MAZDA IS WORKING ON A SERVICE PROCEDURE TO CORRECT THE SITUATION AND WILL BE NOTIFYING OWNERS OF AFFECTED VEHICLES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO GIVE US YOUR OPINION ABOUT OUR E-MAIL SERVICE. CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO COMPLETE A BRIEF, ONLINE SURVEY. HTTP://WWW.ZOOMERANG.COM/SURVEY.ZGI?F3TSHLV0X57GC4NHRSHLSH44 REGARDS, LISA LASKY" I CERTAINLY DID NOT INTEND TO PURCHASE A CAR THAT WILL EVENTUALLY RUST THROUGH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THE MATTER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE. THE FRONT, SIDE, AND REAR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A BROKEN ARM AND THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOST. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

SULFUR ODOR COMING FROM CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE GASOLINE BEING USED AND IT WOULD EVENTUALLY GO AWAY. WELL, NOW THERE IS 26,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE SMELL IS STILL EVIDENT, IF NOT EVEN WORSE.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA6 2 WEEKS AGO, THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A TOTAL OF 100 MILES AND HAS BEEN COVERED SINCE PURCHASE. LAST NIGHT, I FOUND RUST AROUND THE WEATHER STRIPS IN ALL 4 DOORS. I CALLED MAZDA AND APPARENTLY THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM BEFORE SELLING THE CAR TO ME. THE CAR HAS BEEN ON THE DEALER LOT FOR 5 MONTHS AND THEY NEVER TOOK CARE OF THAT PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS SITTING ON THE LOT....I HAD TO FIND AND POINT THE PROBLEM OUT TO THEM. NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY MONEY FOR A "NEW" VEHICLE WITH RUST ON IT. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, CAUSING IT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK PRIOR TO ACCIDENT, LEFT FRONT TIRE KEPT LOOSING AIR. DEALER RE-BEADED IT BUT DIDN'T FOUND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE TIRE. DEALER TOLD CONSUMER TO COME BACK IF TIRES STILL LOSSES AIR. *LA

5-SPEED MANUAL IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT IN LOWER GEARS. VERY NOTICEABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR. WHEN VERY COLD, YOU CANNOT GET INTO 2ND GEAR WHEN UPSHIFTING. HAVE TAKEN INTO DEALER 3 TIMES WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES MAKES A GRINDING NOISE WHEN STOPPING.

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE REAR INNER SIDE CAME OUT, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND VEHICLE ENDED ON THE SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY. MICHELIN RADIAL XSE, P205/60R16-914 , DOT# UNKNOWN. *AK

THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION AS IF IT DOES NOT KNOW WHICH GEAR IT SOULD BE IN. THERE IS A SEVRE BUCKING FROM 1ST INTO 2ND GEAR WHERE THE TIRES CHIRP AND THE CAR JUMPS. THIS HAPPENS UNDER LIGHT THROTLE AND IT HAPPENS ALOT. IT COULD BE A PROBLEM WITH THE PCM OR ECU OR THE TRANSMISSION ITSELF. I HAVE NEVER HAD A CAR THAT HAS DONE THIS. WHEN YOU SPEND 25K ON A CAR YOU WOULD EXPECT QUALITY BUT NOT WITH THE 6.*AK

ROTTEN EGG SMELL FROM EXAUST. DEALER SHOWED ME MAZDA'S SERVICE BULLITEN WHICH STATES IT COMES FROM HIGHER SULFER GAS, AND WILL DISSIPATE BY 10,000 MILES. NOW HAVE ALMOST 8,000 MILES WITH NO LESSENING OF SMELL REGARDLESS OF GAS USED. (SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT WITH AMOCO) SOMEONE INKY HAD NEWER CATLYSTS INSTALLED BY MAZDA WITH GOOD RESULTS. THIS SHOULD BE DONE ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ANYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.*AK

HEARD RUBBING NOISE FROM THE REAR END WHILE DRIVING. THIS WAS CAUSED BY 18" INCH RIMS RUBBING ON THE WHEELS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE TIRES TO WEAR OUT OR BLOW OUT, PER THE DEALERSHIP. THESE WERE AFTER MARKET RIMS BUT WERE ON THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF PURCHASE. THE RIMS MODEL NAME WAS LE COLLECTION LM. *AK

THE "NEW" VEHICLE HAD 900 UNEXPLAINED MILE ON IT UPON PURCHASE. WITHIN 4 MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE KICKS BACK WHEN CHANGING GEARS. TOOK TO DEALER IN PENNSYLVANIA, WAS ADVISED THAT NEEDED KNOCK SENSOR REPLACED, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE PART. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER IN VIRGINIA, DID NOT LOOK AT IT, ALTHOUGH I TOLD THEM WHAT OTHER DEALERSHIP SAID, AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. TOOK TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE ARE 2 RECALLS, AND THEY WERE FIXED. NOW THE FAN RACES MINUTES AFTER THE VEHICLE IS OFF. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE LACKING IN POWER DESPITE THE ENGINE IS 220 HORSE POWER. *LA

I PURCHASED A 2003 MAZDA SIX ON 6-28-03. 2 MONTHS LATER THE ENGINE AND OTHER DASH LIGHTS APPEAR AND CAR SHUTS OFF. I PICK UP THE CAR 6 DAYS LATER ONLY TO RETURN IT A WEEK LATER WHEN THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. A WEEK LATER I PICK IT UP ON FRIDAY AT 11:00 A.M. AND BY 7:00 P.M. ALL DASH LIGHTS COME ON, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, SPEED ODOMETER ERRATIC, AND LOSS OF POWER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 12 MORE DAYS AND THEY CAN NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. MY PIECE OF CRAP HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 26 DAYS, THEY HAVE DAMAGED NUMEROUS THINGS(SPOILER HAS CRACK, PAINT NICKS ON HOOD AND DOORS)ALL I WANT IS MY MONEY BACK AND I WALK AWAY!

2003 MAZDA6(S) MANUAL TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED SHUDDER WHEN LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH IN 1'RST GEAR. SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE DRIVE TRAIN HAS WARMED UP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO ATTRIBUTED IT TO THE TRACTION CONTROL BEING ON. WHEN I TURNED THE TC OFF THE PROBLEM WAS THE SAME. I WILL TAKE IT BACK AGAIN AND REQUEST THE DEALERSHIP RIDE WITH ME TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM DID NOT DEVELOP UNTIL 13K MILES (500 MILES AGO). *AK

WE BOUGHT OUR NEW 2003 MAZDA 6 IN JULY 2003. FEW MONTHS LATER MY WIFE NOTED A LOUD SCRAPING/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WHEN MAKING SHARP SLOW LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS WITH BRAKES APPLIED. THE NOISE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. THIS HAPPENED 3-4 TIMES WEEKLY. FINALLY , WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THE PROBLEM, BUT THE NOISE COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED CONSISTENTLY. A ENGINE BELT WAS REPLACED IN 12/03, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. DURING THE LAST VISIT IN 2/14/04 TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE BRAKES COULD BE AT FAULT AND MAZDA IS LOOKING FOR A SOLUTION. *JB

I PURCHASED MY 2003 MAZDA 6S IN OCTOBER 2003. SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR I GETS POOR GAS MILEAGE ON IT (ABOUT 16-18 MILES PER GALLON). I DO PLENTY OF CITY DRIVING BUT I STILL FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE. EVEN WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY THE GAS MILEAGE AVERAGES POORLY. THERE IS ALSO A SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE ALSO REV'S UP HIGHER BEFORE SWITCHING FROM LOWER GEARS TO HIGHER GEARS. I DO NOT 'JACK RABBIT' START OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE IS ALSO ALOT OF BRAKE DUST ON THE RIMS OF THE FRONT WHEELS. ACCELERATION IS VERY POOR. THERE IS ALSO A JERK WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHES FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND. DON'T GET ME WRONG I LOVE THE WAY THE VEHICLE LOOKS, WHICH IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, BUT THE OVERALL QUALITY HAS TURNED OUT TO BE MUCH POORER THAN I HAD EXPECTED.*AK

CAR DOES NOT HAVE IGNITION LOCK SYSTEM. AFTER STOPPING CAR, TURNING OFF AND REMOVING KEY, CAR ROLLED BACKWARD WHILE STILL IN "DRIVE" POSITION CAUSING DAMAGE TO DRIVER SIDE BACK DOOR. SON WAS WITHIN INCHES OF BEING SLAMMED INTO CONCRETE POLE THE CAR ROLLED INTO. *LA

WHEN TURNING STEERING A GRINDING NOISE IS PRODUCED.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

SULFUR (ROTTEN EGG) SMELL IN VEHICLE CABIN. DEALER SAID NO FIX FROM MAZDA RELATED TO EXHAUST ISSUE, SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, ISSUE LASTS UP TO 8K MILES. CAR HAS LESS THAN 800 MILES.*AK

MY FOUR YEAR OLD SON GOT HIS FINGER CAUGHT IN THE DOOR HANDLE OF MY 2003 MAZDA6. THE DOOR HANDLES DIFFER FROM OTHER HANDLES IN THAT A SECTION OF THEM PULL OUT AND THEN RETRACT BACK.*AK

I PURCHASED THE MAZDA6 I IN LATE AUGUST OF 2003, EXPECTING AT LEAST ROUGHLY, THE 25 - 32 MPG THAT WAS ADVERTISED ON MY CAR WINDOW. FROM THE START I WAS GETTING 18-20 MPG REGULARLY, I DO A LOT OF CITY DRIVING, BUT EVEN WHEN I DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HIGHEST IT HAS EVER BEEN WAS 27-28 AND THATS PUTTING 300 MILES ON IT IN ONE STRAIGHT SHOT. I COMPLAINED TO A DEALER IN TOLEDO WHEN I HAD ABOUT 2200 MILES ON MY CAR, AND HE TOLD ME THAT WAS NORMAL FOR A BREAK IN PERIOD AND TO COME BACK WHEN I HAD 3500 MILES ON MY CAR. I WAITED AND WAITED, CONTINUING TO GET THE SAME POOR GAS MILEAGE. FINALLY, WITH 3800 MILES ON MY CAR I SENT AN E-MAIL TO THE DEAL ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS STILL GETTING THE SAME GAS MILEAGE. THE DEALER RESPONDED 3-5 DAYS LATER (THOUGH THE WEBSITE SAID SAME DAY OR NEXT DAY RESPONSE) AND HE SAID, THAT WAS NORMAL AND MAZDA DOESN'T CONSIDER THAT EXCESSIVE. 23 - 29 WAS WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR MY ENGINE, BUT THAT WAS WHAT WAS EXPECTED FOR THE 6 CYLINDER, THAT I DON'T HAVE. HE WAS RUDE AND COULDN'T TAKE THE TIME TO READ MY EMAIL AND RESPOND WITH ACCURATE INFORMATION. I ALSO COMPLAINED TO A DIFFERENT DEALER NEAR MY HOMETOWN WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND WHEN I TRIED TO DESCRIBE THE PROBLEM THE LADY ASKED ME WHAT I WANTED THEM TO DO ABOUT IT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM AFTER I SPEND THAT MUCH MONEY ON A NEW CAR? *AK