2005 Mazda MAZDA6 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 17, 2021 · 147 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other MAZDA6 years
More complaints than other years 7th of 20 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Mazda MAZDA6. That ranks 7th out of 20 MAZDA6 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (76 complaints, 52%), typically at around 88,000 miles. Complaints mention 12 crashes, 5 fires, 10 injuries. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2005 Mazda MAZDA6 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags76 · ~88,000 mi
Power Train19 · ~27,100 mi
Electrical System13 · ~92,000 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling11 · ~40,000 mi
Exterior Lighting7 · ~20,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control7 · ~75,200 mi
Structure5 · ~86,000 mi
Engine4 · ~142,071 mi
Suspension4 · ~106,000 mi
Tires4 · ~16,899 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags problems7652%88,000“numbers air bags” (28%)—
Power Train1913%27,100——
Electrical System139%92,000——
Engine and Engine Cooling117%40,000——
Exterior Lighting75%20,000——
Vehicle Speed Control75%75,200——
Structure53%86,000——
Engine43%142,071——
Suspension43%106,000——
Tires43%16,899——
Unknown or Other43%106,000——
Visibility43%64,174——
Equipment32%57,250——
Service Brakes32%137,600——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic32%32,900——
Seat Belts21%47,500——
Seats21%86,650——
Traction Control System21%47,500——
Electronic Stability Control (esc)11%47,500——
Fuel System, Gasoline11%19,000——
Fuel System, Other11%19,000——
Steering11%90,000——
Visibility/wiper11%190——
Wheels11%15,655——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2016, with 43 complaints
2005: 6200562006: 11112007: 9200792008: 442009: 3200932010: 12122011: 5201152012: 112013: 3201332014: 662015: 292015292016: 43432017: 8201782018: 112019: 5201952020: 11

n = 147 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2005 Mazda MAZDA6 recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveOct 31, 2019 · NHTSA campaign 19V781000 · 47,006 vehicles

Problem: 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 occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

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

Fix: 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. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleDo not driveJun 15, 2018 · NHTSA campaign 18V402000 · 308,591 vehicles

Problem: 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, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

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

Fix: 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 contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleDo not driveJul 26, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V474000 · 308,992 vehicles

Problem: 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, could cause the inflator to rupture.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA15001) — opened Feb 24, 2015, still open, led to recall 14V668.
  • Air Bag Inflator Rupture (PE14016) — opened Jun 11, 2014, closed Mar 2, 2015, led to recall 13V172000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

I noticed my vehicle was starting to drive funny. I keep up on it very well, routine maintenance, wash it often, fresh alignments, new tires when needed. So i thought something was up and took it into a garage. I was called the next day and was told i had a hole in my passenger side right subframe…

Structure · received Jun 25, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11330730

Tcm unit faulty, car only has 82k miles, reading online this seems to be a far too common problem, i believe the unit is faulty!

Electrical System · received Nov 4, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11278138

I received a paper saying it was recalled

Air Bags · received Oct 2, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11265728

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda 6. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to new england motors of fitchburg (located at 71 john fitch hwy, fitchburg, ma 01420) where it was diagnosed that unknown wires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was…

Electrical System · received Sep 12, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11255163

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CUTS, BURNS AND BRUISES ON THE LEFT ARM. THE CONTACT DROVE HIMSELF TO AN…

Air Bags · received Aug 5, 2019 · NHTSA complaint 11241820

Other Mazda MAZDA6 years

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Mazda MAZDA6?

Owners most often report air bags, power train, electrical system problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 76 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2005 Mazda MAZDA6?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2005 Mazda MAZDA6 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MAZDA6 model years, the 2005 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.