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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2006 Mazda MAZDA6 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
20about this part
Share
12%of 173 total for the year
Median mileage
51,500miles
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 20 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2006 Mazda MAZDA6, 12% of the 173 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 51,500 miles.

Example complaints

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

“Transmission roughly jerks itself into 2nd-3rd gear. When the car has come to a stop and is then accelerated, engine stalls for a few seconds, then slams itself into 2nd or 3rd gear. This poses as a rear-end threat, as the car is forcefully put into gear, causing the car to jerk forward suddenly. For me this only occurs at lower speeds (10-30 MPH). I have researched this problem and many others have come across the same thing.”

NHTSA complaint #11256471, filed 2019-09, 99,000 miles

“When accelerating, the car suddenly has no power, then shifts hard down, typically it happens shifting into 3rd or 4th gear. Under about a half pedal, it basically feels like a stall, then jerks you backwards, hard as it kicks into gear and accelerates. I'm told there is a service bulletin that there are transmission failures for this car. Unfortunately, we are out of warranty.”

NHTSA complaint #10427774, filed 2011-09, 50,000 miles

“Please can someone put in a recall for this my transmission is having problems again and this is my second madza 6... This doesn't make any sense we spend money of vehicles that suppose to run well... So why are there so many people having problems with these madza's and know one is doing anything about it.... I was on the highway with my kids when the car just cut off and wouldn't move and when it did it was started grinding when I put it in gear.... That was a scary thing... The same happened to me in my first madza 6 with only 89000 miles on it... Something needs to be done....”

NHTSA complaint #11394758, filed 2021-02, 163,000 miles

“My transmission fails and revs high when I accelerate too hard or am going up a hill causing a downshift. This is most common when switching between the 5th and 6th gears. This is a very dangerous problem common in many vehicles of this model year. If I suddenly can't accelerate going 60 MPH on the highway and drop down to 40mph as I wait for the rpms to go back down, there is a serious risk of being rear ended or side swiped depending on the situation. There is a service bulletin but it should be a recall. The fix would cost thousands of dollars.”

NHTSA complaint #10521865, filed 2013-06, 80,000 miles

“The issue has been ongoing, but originally started in the summer of 2008 (car had roughly about 42,000 or so miles on it). Initially the car would increase the RPM up to 7000r in 5th gear (going to 6th) and then decrease causing it to do a hard jerk (someone else described it as being rear ended and that's exactly what it feels like). I took my car to the Mazda dealership in marlow heights, md (while it was still under warranty) and the service person and I went for a drive (I was driving) he told me that he didn't notice anything off about it so I went back home. …”

NHTSA complaint #10604922, filed 2014-06, 42,500 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2018915%
201735%
20161114%
2015813%
20141914%
201314%
201132%
201052%
200972%
200898%
20071711%
20062012%
20051913%
20041912%
20033621%
20021243%

Other parts of the 2006 Mazda MAZDA6

Air bags
93 complaintsElectrical system
11 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsEngine cooling
9 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsExterior lighting
7 complaintsSteering
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaintsTires
7 complaintsFuel system
6 complaintsVehicle speed control
5 complaintsSuspension
4 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA6

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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