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CarsLore / Mazda / Mazda6 / 2003

2003 Mazda Mazda6

174 owner complaints — #3 of 20 Mazda6 model years. 6 recalls, 25 service bulletins.

174complaints · 11 crashes, 2 fires
6recalls · 3 park/do-not-drive
25manufacturer bulletins
24,991 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Mazda Mazda6, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Engine and engine cooling36
  • Power train36
  • Air bags30
  • Service brakes, hydraulic18
  • Electrical system18
  • Vehicle speed control18
  • Structure11
  • Engine10
  • Suspension9
  • Fuel system, gasoline9

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’02’03’05’08’11’14’17’20174’02’03’05’08’11’14’17’20174

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

Fatal crashes in the US

From 2020 to 2023, 14 2003 Mazda6 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 13 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.

NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)

Engines

The most common engines in 2003 Mazda Mazda6 cars on Dutch roads are the 1.8 petrol (88 kW, 118 hp), 2.0 petrol (104 kW, 139 hp) and 2.3 petrol (122 kW, 164 hp).

EnginePowerCarsShare
1.8 petrol88 kW 118 hp22952%
2.0 petrol104 kW 139 hp17539%
2.3 petrol122 kW 164 hp409%

RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars

In the Netherlands

450 first registered in 2003 are on Dutch roads; 4% arrived later as imports.

77.8%had an APK defect recorded since June 2022
94.4%logical odometer history
17.1%with a recall still open

Most common APK defects

Colours

Grey 66%Blue 15%Black 10%Red 5%Green 2%

RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording

In the United Kingdom

97 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 794 more were declared off the road (SORN).

97licensed, end of 2025
11%of those still registered are on the road

Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0

MOT test results in Great Britain

In 2023, 269 of these cars first registered in 2003 took their annual MOT test. 55% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2003 the figure was 57%.

55%passed first time
57%all cars from 2003
100,200 miaverage mileage at the test (all cars 108,200 mi)

DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail

In Finland

554 of these cars first registered in 2003 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 257,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.

Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0

In New Zealand

877 2003 cars are on the New Zealand register; 2% arrived as used imports, 96% were sold new in New Zealand.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Recalls

19V781000 · Air bags31 Oct 2019 · 47,006 vehicles

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.

18V402000 · Air bags15 Jun 2018 · 308,591 vehicles

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.

17V474000 · Air bags26 Jul 2017 · 308,992 vehicles

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.

03V531000 · Fuel system, gasoline16 Dec 2003 · 56,700 vehicles

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL SENDER UNIT (FSU) MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE FUEL TANK, PRODUCING AN INADEQUATE SEAL, AND FUEL MAY LEAK.

03V206000 · Exterior lighting5 Jun 2003 · 64,000 vehicles

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS AND PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE SOCKET HOLDER IN THE FOG LIGHTS IS INSTALLED IN THE LAMP CASING USING PRESSURE. DURING OPERATION OF THE FOG LIGHT, THE HEAT FROM THE BULB CAN EXPAND THE SOCKET HOLDER. THE EXPANSION CAN FORCE THE SOCKET HOLDER REARWARD. AFTER REPEATEDLY BEING SUBJECT TO THIS EXPANSION, IF THE FOG LIGHT IS ALSO SUBJECTED TO VIBRATION DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SOCKET HOLDER WITH THE BULB HOLDER AND THE WIRING HARNESS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FOG LIGHT CASING.

03V207000 · Parking brake5 Jun 2003 · 45,600 vehicles

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." DURING PRODUCTION, THE FLOAT IN THE FLUID LEVEL SENSOR IN THE BRAKE RESERVOIR CAN BE FORCED OFF OF THE GUIDE RAIL DURING THE FILLING OF THE MASTER CYLINDER.

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Mazda told its dealers about the 2003 Mazda Mazda6: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
11007022Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.
11006987In 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 laws. It is the dealers responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mi
11005671Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
11003398Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
10251387Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers.
10244679If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices.
10243569Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.
10240496Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.
10232299Speedometer replacement procedure
10226814Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal. Follow the inspection guidelines below to determine if the condition is a result of the normal sweeping process or a failure of the shaft seal.
10225724Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.
10217209In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer.
10215274This service bulletin provides testing and charging procedures in order to promote proper battery maintenance, to deliver new vehicles with fully charged batteries, and to reduce unnecessary battery replacement cost. For new vehicles in stock at the dealer, inspect and maintain the battery periodically according to the repair procedure.
10213429Paint damage Mazda pocket paint guide
10213425Speedometer replacement procedure
10213423Siriusxm satellite radio registration transfer after unit replacement
10213422PROPER USAGE OF DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT.
10213421Condensation/Fog in front and rear combination lights
10213399Brake noise, judder and dragging diagnosis and servicing
10213387SHOCK ABSORBER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES
10213333Battery test procedure requirements using the GR81291
10213332Battery Maintenance
10213331SULFUR SMELL FROM EXHAUST SYSTEM.
10209778The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing. If the Mazda DCA-8000 is not used, incorrect battery testing may result in unnecessary battery replacement. Use the following test procedures in this Service Bulletin to test Mazda vehicle batteries and to generate a Warranty Code.
10209761Accessory instructions can be found on OneMazda under Dealer Resources - Parts & Accessories.

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)

NHTSA investigations

EA21002 · Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator moduleopened 17 Sept 2021

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA15001 · Air bagsopened 24 Feb 2015

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

PE14016 · Air bagsopened 11 Jun 2014 · closed 2 Mar 2015

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

PE03047 · Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pumpopened 14 Oct 2003 · closed 24 Dec 2003

FUEL TANK SENDING UNIT SEAL LEAK

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation