1988 Mazda MX6 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 1988 Mazda MX6, and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
5 safety recalls for the 1988 Mazda MX6
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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Buckle assembly (seat belts)
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Remedy: Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating…
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Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
At ambient temperatures below 0 degree f, frost may accumulate within the throttle body under extended constant speed operation.
Remedy: Install a new type thermostat designed to raise the coolant temperature and warm the throttle body to a level above freezing.
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Shoes/linings (service brakes)
Vehicles equipped with rear brake drums transported by train may experience separation of the brake shoe from the wheel brake cylinder piston.
Remedy: All vehicles will be inspected and if no separation is found grease will be applied to the component interface to lower friction and avoid subsequent relative motion. If separation is found the wheel brake cylinder…
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Fuel tank fixing band retention is not sufficient, allowing the band to rub against the fuel tank by vehicle vibrations.
Remedy: Repair fuel fixing band by installing a rubber sheet.
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Linkages (vehicle speed control)
Floor mat could interfere with release of accelerator pedal due to improper shape of mat.
Remedy: Remove present mat and replace with new improved mat.
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1988 Mazda MX6 have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 140,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While driving at an undetermined speed and with no warning rear suspension collapsed. The consumer had the vehicle towed to the service dealer. *ak the failure was due to salt corrosion. The vehicle s”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 19, 2003 · Suspension
“Consumer states that there is an electrical short that drains the battery in as low as half an hour after the battery has been charged, the alternator has been replaced three times along with the batt”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 7, 2002 · Electrical system
Compare Mazda MX6 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Mazda MX6 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 Mazda MX6 | 0 | 2 |
| 1987 Mazda MX6 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 Mazda MX6 | 5 | 16 |
| 1989 Mazda MX6 | 1 | 28 |
Checking a specific 1988 Mazda MX6
How do I know if my 1988 Mazda MX6 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. 5 campaigns currently list the 1988 Mazda MX6; 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 87V149000).
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
- MAZDA62,234 complaints
- Tribute2,102 complaints
- CX-91,438 complaints
- CX-71,132 complaints
- Protege1,076 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.