The 1996 Mazda Mx-6 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,581,500 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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…
Consequence
If the ignition switch overheats there would be an increased risk of a fire.
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.
AIR BAGS98V2490001998-10-08213,000 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE SAS SENSOR UNIT. THESE VEHICLES CAN EXPERIENCE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENTS IN MINOR UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Consequence
UNEXPECTED AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT CAN RESULT IN OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SAS UNIT TO REDUCE THE PROBABILITY OF UNNECESSARY DEPLOYMENTS IN LOW SPEED UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
2crashes1injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
AIR BAGS
1
SEAT BELTS
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1
1crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
1
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
1
WHEELS
1
Total complaints14
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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”
“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”
“Head-on crash at 35-40 mph, and neither airbag deployed. Driver sustained injuries. *ak”
“No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak”
“False/violent deployment of air bag, resulting in injuries.”
“While driving on good road conditions, no rain, driver applied the brakes in a regular stopping situation and the pedal went to the floor, causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a truck. The vehicle is being repaired. The dealership could not find a problem with the brake system. *ak”
“Both air bags deployed spontaneously.”
“False deployment of driver's and passenger's air bags. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA97012 Opened 1997-05-23 · closed 1998-10-09
OVERSENSITIVE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
IN MAY OF 1997, ODI UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS WITH 51 COMPLAINTS.ODI IS NOW AWARE OF 88 COMPLAINTS OF ALLEGED INAPPROPRIATE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS.TYPICAL COMPLAINTS ALLEGE THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AT BETWEEN 20 AND 45 MPH, OR THAT THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT BETWEEN…
InvestigationRQ99022 Opened 1999-12-20 · closed 2000-08-30
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Mazda Mx-6 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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