1996 Mazda MX-6 Problems
- Complaints
- 12filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 110,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 23 mpgcombined, 2.0L 4-cyl FWD · 20 city / 28 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Mazda MX-6 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mazda MX-6. The part named most often is air bags, with 7 complaints (58% of the total), followed by brakes (2) and other or unknown (2). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 110,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 2 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the sensor/control module-inactive filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Air bags7 58%
- Brakes2 17%
- Other or unknown2 17%
- Seat belts1 8.3%
- Body and structure1 8.3%
- Wheels1 8.3%
Example complaints
Air bags: “Consumer was involved in an accident. Point of impact was drivers side, front at 60 to 65 MPH, in which there was no deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags. Cause unkown. Also brake rotors have excessive wear and tear. Cause also unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #827030, filed 1998-08Brakes: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #821950, filed 1998-03Seat belts: “Air bag warning light illuminates with cause not known. Second time dealership replaced a clock spring. Now for the third time air bag warning light is flashing again. Consumer was told this means air bag is disfunctional. Please describe details. .”
NHTSA complaint #800840, filed 1996-08Mileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 110,000 and 110,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1996 Mazda MX-6. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-6 · coupe | not rated | 5 / 4 | — | — | — |
Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1996 Mazda MX-6 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-6 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,600 |
| MX-6 FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 20 | 28 | 23 | $2,900 |
| MX-6 FWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
| MX-6 FWD | 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 18 | 24 | 20 | $4,100 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 15V674000Oct 19, 2015Electrical system › Ignition › SwitchCovers: Mazda MX-6 1993–1997, MPV 1989–1998, Protege 1990–1998 +4 more
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…
- 98V249000Oct 8, 1998Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactiveCovers: Mazda MX-6 1995–1996, 626 1995–1997
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the sas sensor unit. These vehicles can experience air bag deployments in minor undercarriage impacts.
Recall details for the 1996 Mazda MX-6 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 2 on record; the latest 2 are shown.
- 10170661Jan 9, 2020Equipment, Electrical system. In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State…
- 10213425Feb 17, 2016Electrical system. Speedometer replacement procedure
Other model years of the Mazda MX-6
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 12 | 110,000 | 2 | — | 23 | — | Not enough data |
| 1995 | 33 | 96,000 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 46 | 80,113 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 54 | 112,435 | 2 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 7 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1991 | 13 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1990 | 14 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1989 | 28 | — | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 16 | 140,000 | 5 | — | — | — | Stable |
All Mazda MX-6 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1996 Mazda MX-6 have?
NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 1996 Mazda MX-6 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1996 Mazda MX-6 is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 7 complaints (58% of the total), followed by brakes with 2.
Has the 1996 Mazda MX-6 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Mazda MX-6 get?
The EPA rates the 1996 Mazda MX-6 (MX-6, 2.0L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Mazda MX-6 reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 110,000 miles and the middle half falls between 110,000 and 110,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.