There are 7 owner-reported body & structure complaints for the 2003 Mazda Mazda6in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, AFTER CLOSING THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT WAS JAMMED AND COULD NOT BE OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 4/1/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPRING FOR THE DOOR LOCK ACUTUATOR WOULD FAIL, TRAPPING OCCUPANTS IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 04/19/2013 *JS
WE HAVE OWNED OUR MAZDA 6 SINCE 2003. THIS YEAR THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL RUST IN BOTH REAR FENDERS. RESEARCHING THIS IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM, SUCH A PROBLEM THAT IT WAS A RECALL IN ENGLAND. WE CONTACTED MAZDA TO SEE IF A RECALL WAS AVAILABLE TO AMERICA, BUT ONE WAS NOT. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY MODIFIED THEIR DESIGN TO CHANGE THE REAR FENDER ON FUTURE MODELS. WE FEAR THAT THE STRUCTURE HAS DEGRADED GREATLY THAT A SIDE IMPACT WOULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO REAR PASSENGERS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PAINT WAS BLISTERED ON THE FENDER ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE CORROSION ON THE REAR FENDER. THE DEALER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A BODY SHOP FOR REPAIR; HOWEVER, HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HIS BODY SHOP INSTEAD. THE MECHANIC INSPECTED THE FENDER AND PIECES OF IT CAME OFF IN HIS HAND. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THREE HOLES IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE FENDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000. UPDATED 08/23/08. LJ THE FENDER RUSTED IN 3 PLACES. UPDATED 08/25/08 *JB
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
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
THERE IS A RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN 3 TIMES, AND THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. THEY REPLACED SOME PADDING AND TIGHTENED A CHARCOAL FILTER. IT IS VERY ANNOYING HAVING A BRAND NEW CAR WITH A LOUD RATTLE.*AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026