2003 Mazda MAZDA6 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
6 safety recalls list the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6, and owners have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
6 safety recalls for the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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…
Remedy: 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…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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,…
Remedy: 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…
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Inflator module (air bags) Do not drive
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,…
Remedy: 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…
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Delivery (fuel system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel sender unit (fsu) may have been improperly installed in the fuel tank, producing an inadequate seal, and fuel may leak.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the top of the fuel tank, and if necessary, repair or replace it. Owner notification began february 9, 2004. Owners should contact mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
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Fog lights (exterior lighting)
On certain MINI vans and passenger vehicles, the socket holder in the fog lights is installed in the lamp casing using pressure. During operation of the fog light, the heat from the bulb can expand the socket holder. The expansion can force the socket holder rearward. After repeatedly being subject to this expansion, if the fog light is…
Remedy: Dealers will install a spring to prevent the socket holder from separating from the lamp case. Owner notification began on july 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service…
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Indicator light (parking brake)
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." during production, the float in the fluid level sensor in the brake reservoir can be forced off of the guide rail during the filling of the master cylinder.
Remedy: Mazda has not yet provided a remedy for this campaign. Owner notification began july 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
174 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 have filed 174 complaints with NHTSA; 11 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 55,032 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 42 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2003 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the odor of fuel was present inside the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 25, 2022 · Fuel system, gasoline
“In 2018, the car was part of a trade in for a certified used car at my dealership. The car had over 350,000 miles and could no longer run.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 24, 2021 · Air bags
Compare Mazda MAZDA6 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda MAZDA6 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Mazda MAZDA6 | 1 | 28 |
| 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 | 6 | 174 |
| 2004 Mazda MAZDA6 | 4 | 160 |
| 2005 Mazda MAZDA6 | 3 | 147 |
| 2006 Mazda MAZDA6 | 3 | 173 |
| 2007 Mazda MAZDA6 | 4 | 156 |
| 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 | 4 | 111 |
| 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 | 9 | 386 |
| 2010 Mazda MAZDA6 | 9 | 225 |
| 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 | 6 | 135 |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 | 6 | 99 |
| 2013 Mazda MAZDA6 | 4 | 23 |
| 2014 Mazda MAZDA6 | 4 | 137 |
| 2015 Mazda MAZDA6 | 3 | 60 |
| 2016 Mazda MAZDA6 | 1 | 77 |
| 2017 Mazda MAZDA6 | 1 | 60 |
| 2018 Mazda MAZDA6 | 2 | 58 |
| 2019 Mazda MAZDA6 | 1 | 6 |
| 2020 Mazda MAZDA6 | 0 | 2 |
| 2021 Mazda MAZDA6 | 0 | 17 |
Checking a specific 2003 Mazda MAZDA6
How do I know if my 2003 Mazda MAZDA6 has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Mazda dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V206000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Mazda models
- 6263,130 complaints
- MAZDA32,987 complaints
- CX-52,451 complaints
- Tribute2,102 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Protege1,076 complaints
- Mpv938 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.