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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2003 Mazda MAZDA6 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
36about this part
Share
21%of 174 total for the year
Median mileage
24,490miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6, 21% of the 174 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 24,490 miles.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Transmission kicks really hard making the car feel like it was hit from behind. The car is hard to control at the time this happens. I've seen numerous complaints about this. It is a serious problem,especially when our 90lb daughter is driving this vehicle. I feel that Mazda needs to take care of this issue before someone is injured or worse!”

NHTSA complaint #10649347, filed 2014-10, 105,000 miles

“After two years of driving this car the clutch pedal assembly completely broke puncturing through the fire wall and brake reservoir, luckily I was starting the vehicle in a hospital parking lot when I pushed the clutch in it went completely to the floor and did not come back up. It was completely inoperable, I had to have the car towed after patching the firewall and replacing the clutch pedal assembly for $1800 I was told that part was faulty on this vehicle and if it happened once it would probably happen again. …”

NHTSA complaint #11268685, filed 2019-10, 50,000 miles

“2003 MAZDA6 6.0 atx - car suddenly loses power while accelerating. The engine revs but no power to wheels. I have contacted local dealer without any resolution to why this is occurring. Upon a brief internet search I find this is not an isolated case. I have noticed it happens more often with AC unit on.”

NHTSA complaint #10404535, filed 2011-06, 125,000 miles

“Clutch pedal assembly cracks causing it to be difficult to shift gears, clutch will stick and not spring back. Eventually the car is unusable due to the clutch. I did research to see there are many complaints on this problem concerning mazda3, MAZDA6 and the rx8. I had to buy a new clutch pedal assembly but seems the problem is happening again. Mazda needs to make a stronger bracket to reinforce the pedal assembly.”

NHTSA complaint #10348913, filed 2010-08, 87,000 miles

“The transmission is slipping, not wanting to shift into 2nd gear and then when it does shift it jerks the car really hard. This used to occur very seldom but since the car now has 98,000 miles on it, this has been happening almost all the time. I have heard that the car needs to be reflashed, but I have also read that this does not help. Many people with the same car have the same exact problem. Also this transmission is not able to be rebuilt. The transmission needs to be recalled.”

NHTSA complaint #10332257, filed 2010-05, 98,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2018916%
201735%
20161114%
2015813%
20141914%
201314%
201132%
201052%
200972%
200898%
20071711%
20062012%
20051913%
20041912%
20033621%
20021243%

Other parts of the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6

Engine cooling
36 complaintsAir bags
30 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsElectrical system
18 complaintsVehicle speed control
18 complaintsFuel system
15 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsSuspension
9 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsEquipment
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Mazda MAZDA6

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology