How many recalls does the 2003 Mazda 6 have?

The 2003 Mazda 6 has 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns on record.

How do I check if my 2003 Mazda 6 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA's official recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see open, unrepaired recalls for your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free.

What do owners complain about most on the 2003 Mazda 6?

Of 245 NHTSA complaints on file, the most-reported component is air bags.

2003 Mazda 6 Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2003 Mazda 6 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 830,889 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 245 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

AIR BAGS 19V781000 2019-10-31 47,006 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. …

AIR BAGS 18V402000 2018-06-15 308,591 affected

Defect

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,…

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may…

AIR BAGS 17V474000 2017-07-26 308,992 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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 recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. …

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 03V531000 2003-12-16 56,700 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

A FIRE COULD OCCUR IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

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.

PARKING BRAKE 03V207000 2003-06-05 45,600 affected

Defect

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.

Consequence

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.

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 WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 03V206000 2003-06-05 64,000 affected

Defect

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…

Consequence

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE BULB SOCKET AND THE HARNESS CAN DROP INSIDE THE BUMPER AND POSSIBLY BUT RARELY, THE HEAT GENERATED BY THE BULB CAN CAUSE THE BUMPER TO BURN.

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 DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT…

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

POWER TRAIN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Total complaints245

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously repaired for the same failure under the…”

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · reported 2022-01-16

“When I take my foot off the gas it stays at the same speed or it speeds up on its own. When I press on the break sometimes it feels like it's not going to stop and just keep going or it jerks forward when I stop. This happens when I am driving on the road and the cruise control is not on when this…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2020-08-02

“When I take my foot off the gas it stays at the same speed or it speeds up on its own. When I press on the break sometimes it feels like it's not going to stop and just keep going or it jerks forward when I stop. This happens when I am driving on the road and the cruise control is not on when this…”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2020-08-02

“I hit a deer at 45 miles an hour then hit the hit totalling the car, the airbag did not come out, the seat belt did not lock causing me to be slammed into the steeling wheel, now I suffer great pain, can't move my neck, can't lay down bc of such bad headache I throw up, I sleep sitting up,…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2019-08-19

“I hit a deer at 45 miles an hour then hit the hit totalling the car, the airbag did not come out, the seat belt did not lock causing me to be slammed into the steeling wheel, now I suffer great pain, can't move my neck, can't lay down bc of such bad headache I throw up, I sleep sitting up,…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2019-08-19

“I hit a deer at 45 miles an hour then hit the hit totalling the car, the airbag did not come out, the seat belt did not lock causing me to be slammed into the steeling wheel, now I suffer great pain, can't move my neck, can't lay down bc of such bad headache I throw up, I sleep sitting up,…”

SEAT BELTS · reported 2019-08-19

“Takata recall - I have notified mazda at least 5 times that this car has been junked, yet I keep getting harassed with mailings. Please stop! This is harassment!”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2019-07-27

“On 01/18/2019 I took vehicle I purchased, to mock ford in grant's pass oregon for takara airbag recall. This is when I became aware of safety issue that vehicles aur bags had been cut out and removed. The service guy at mock ford explainedand gave estimate which was greater than what cars value…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2019-01-18