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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1996 Mazda MX-6 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1996 Mazda MX-6 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns and 12 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mazda dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1996 Mazda MX-6, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

1996 Mazda MX-6 owner complaints

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Mazda MX-6, describing incidents dated February 2, 1997 to January 1, 2006.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 7 complaints
  • Service Brakes 2 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 2 complaints
  • Seat Belts 1 complaint
  • Structure 1 complaint
  • Wheels 1 complaint

Of the 12 complaints on file, 3 report a crash; across all 12 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10154972 · Filed

    ALL 4 WHEELS ARE CRACKED ON THE OUTSIDE, AND BAC SIDE OF THE RIMS. THEY LOOK DEEP AND THE WHEELS MIGHT BREAK AT ANY TIME. *NM

  • ODI #893255 · Filed

    VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH , AND CONSUMER WAS NOT SURE WHAT VEHICLE RAN OVER, BUT AIR BAG DEPLOYED. NOTHING WAS HIT, AND NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. NO INJURIES. CONSUMER IS CONTACTING MANUFACTURER. *AK

  • ODI #884467 · Filed

    HEAD-ON CRASH AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK

Read all 12 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1996 Mazda MX-6 in 2 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Ignition Switch may Overheat

NHTSA #15V674000 · Electrical System — Ignition — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported October 19, 2015 · Mazda North American Operations

Potentially affected: 1,368,500 vehicles

Repair completion: 0.62% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Mazda campaign 8715J · Owners notified December 17, 2015 · Vehicles built September 1, 1992 – May 30, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 1989-1998 MPV, 1990-1995 323, 1990-1998 Protege, 1992-1993 MX-3, 1993-1995 929, 1993-1997 MX-6, and 1993-1998 626 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, grease applied to the contact points inside the ignition switch may become conductive and overheat.

Safety consequence

If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800-222-5500, option#6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8715J.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

FUEL FILTER LEAKS

NHTSA #05E065000 · Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA notice

Reported October 5, 2005 · SPX FILTRAN

Potentially affected: 42,962 vehicles

Owners notified September 27, 2005

Defect description

CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 45-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F350-S1, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 1993-1997 FORD PROBE,1993-2001 MAZDA 626 AND MX-6, AND 1983-1994 LOYAL, 3-DOOR COUPE, HATCHBACK, SEDAN, WAGON, BRAT, DL, GL, GL-10, RX, XT, AND XT6 PASSENGER VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. CERTAIN SPX FILTRAN FUEL FILTERS WITH A 90-DEGREE ANGLE INLET TUBE, MODEL 800F300-S2, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT FILTERS FOR 19983-1994 SUBARU VEHICLES WITH EFI OR TURBO ENGINES. THESE FILTERS ARE PACKAGED AS WIX, NAPA, AND CARQUEST BRAND FUEL FILTERS. FUEL MAY LEAK FROM THE FILTER DUE TO NON-CONFORMING BRAZING WELDS WHERE THE INLET TUBE IS CONNECTED TO THE FILTER CAN.

Safety consequence

IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

SPX WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MR. CHRIS GREESON AT 704-869-3733 OR CONTACT THE WIX INFORMATION HOTLINE AT 800-949-6698.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

MAZDA/AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT

NHTSA #98V249000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Sensor/Control Module-Inactive · NHTSA notice

Reported October 8, 1998 · MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

Potentially affected: 213,000 vehicles

Owners notified January 4, 1999 · Vehicles built June 1, 1994 – September 10, 1996 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Safety consequence

UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACTMAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Mazda MX-6 model years

Check your 1996 Mazda MX-6 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MX-6 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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