2002 Mazda Mazda6 recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-18. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
1 safety recall, most serious first
1. Brakes — fix not yet available
What's wrong, in plain English: Anything that slows the car down. Treat brake recalls as urgent. 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.
What could happen: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.
The fix: MAZDA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2002 MAZDA6.
- The fix is not available yet. Register your contact details with the dealer so they call you when parts arrive.
- Ask the dealer to confirm the repair is free of charge — safety recall repairs are free by US law.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-222-5500.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT
Summary: 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.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE FLOAT WILL NOT RETURN TO THE GUIDE RAIL AND THE BRAKE FLUID LEVEL WARNING INDICATOR MAY NOT FUNCTION.
Remedy: MAZDA HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 14, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Notes: MAZDA RECALL NO. 1203F. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Transmission / drivetrain (12), Engine (10), Equipment (4), Unknown Or Other (3), Brakes (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
01/10/2008 · Transmission / drivetrain
I WAS DRIVING MY WELL-MAINTAINED 2002 MAZDA MPV (ODO 66,000MILES) ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WAS AS IF IT WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. HAD CAR TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY, WHICH DIAGNOSED FAILED TRANSMISSION. HAD IT TOWED TO MAZDA DEALER, WHO CORROBORATED THE DIAGNOSIS, AND PUT IN A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. COST TO ME:…
01/07/2008 · Seat belts
DRIVER'S SIDE CAR SEAT BELT LATCH BROKE. DEALER REQUIRED PREPAYMENT TO ORDER PART FROM MANUFACTURER. MANUFACTURER DOES NOT INVENTORY THIS PART. IT HAS TO COME FROM JAPAN. UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR SINCE THE SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN. THIS IS A "SAFETY ISSUE" PART. *TR
12/28/2007 · Engine
THE 2002 MPV HAS HAD RECURRING PROBLEMS WITH THE FAN CONTROL MODULE. THEIR HAS BEEN A RECALL ON THIS ITEM, BUT AFTER HAVING HAD THE FAN CONTROL MODULE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY THE SAME PROBLEM RESURFACED AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES -- AND THIS TIME WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE REPAIR COST $233.35. *TR
10/23/2007 · Transmission / drivetrain
MY 2002 MAZDA 626 ONLY HAD 88,000 MILES ON THE CAR BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR
10/11/2007 · Engine
MAZDA USA MAZDA MPV 2002 DEAR SIRS: I OWN A MAZDA MPV 2002 MODEL WHICH HAS BEEN HAVING MINOR SPORADIC TROUBLE FOR SOME TIME. BETWEEN 1500 AND 1800 RPM IT WOULD SOMETIMES JERK AND SPUTTER AND THEN IT WOULD SETTLE DOWN AND CONTINUE. I'VE TAKEN THIS TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS DURING ROUTINE SCHEDULED SERVICE AND THEY SAID THAT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHI…
08/21/2007 · Engine
FROM THE DAY I DROVE MY NEW 2002 MPV HOME THE TRANSMISSION MIS-SHIFTED AND BUCKED. I CALLED THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT "THE TRANSMISSION COMPUTER WAS LEARNING MY DRIVING HABITS AND IT WOULD GO AWAY. AFTER 3 MONTHS THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND BEGAN STALLING AT LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM. WHEN I AS…
08/19/2007 · Brakes
VEHICLE HAS A PCV HOSE FAILURE FACTORY RECALL. ITS FAILED FOUR TIMES - THE HOSE IS NOT RESISTANT TO OIL. IT EATS ITSELF OUT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. IT THAN SUCKS ITSELF IN AND GETS A GROWING HOLE. VACUUM PRESSURE GETS SO LOW THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER BEGINS TO FAILURE CAUSING BREAK FAILURE. MAZDA HAS SINCE UPGRADE THE "NEW" IMPROVED PART TO A MORE "IMPROVED…
07/31/2007 · Transmission / drivetrain
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 MAZDA 626 SEDAN BURNED OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE BEING OPERATED DURING NORMAL HIGHWAY CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL-MAINTAINED DURING MY PERIOD OF OWNERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA MECHANICS THAT THE 626 WAS "NOTORIOUS" FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS, AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT ADVISE ANY ATTEMPT TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSI…