NHTSA — Power Train Problems

CarComplaints.com Seal Of

2.6

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
57,690 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2006 Mazda MAZDA6 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2006 Mazda MAZDA6 Owner Comments

problem #17

Feb 042021

MAZDA6

  • 163,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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....

- Lancaster, PA, USA

problem #16

May 182018

MAZDA6

  • 99,000 miles
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.

- Pikesville, MD, USA

problem #15

May 302008

MAZDA6

  • 15,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. while driving various speeds, the clutch would shift automatically into neutral and the engine revved. After a few seconds, the gear would forcefully shift into any gear without warning. The failure occurred more often while on inclines or when the vehicle was in fourth, fifth, or sixth gear. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed, but the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was still under warranty at the time. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

- Big Oak Flat, CA, USA

problem #14

Jun 032008

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 35,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. while driving uphill at approximately 68 mph, the vehicle slipped out of gear without warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle landed in a ditch. The failure recurred several times. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was taken to a dealer. The technician diagnosed that the trans-axle slippage was due to poor design. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000. MA 08/05/2015 updated 10/23/2017

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #13

Mar 032015

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 133,000 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. the contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the vehicle jerked backwards without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000...updated 04/23/15 updated 04/24/15

- Egg Harbor City, NJ, USA

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problem #12

Jul 192008

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 42,500 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. Fast forward to 2013 (the problem persisted through the entire time) when I took the car the arlington Mazda dealership. This is where they did a test drive on it and came to the conclusion that my car's transmission is going bad (the car had about 49,604 or so miles on it). To date, the vehicle (which now has 58,360 miles on it) has trouble picking up speed is extremely laggy and in 5th to 6th gear will pull a hard jerk before it catches up with itself. I agree with the other owners who have this problem. Mazda needs to recall and replace the transmission because there's clearly a safety issue. After all, if another vehicle is following too closely behind the vehicle(s) having this issue they are going to undoubtedly be involved in a serious collision and there probably will be a fatality. Please note: I included the mileage the car has so that those considering purchasing this car will know they may not have long to enjoy it before they have a really dangerous and expensive problem on their hands.

- Upper Marlboro, MD, USA

problem #11

Nov 302011

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 75,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The transmission seems to lock up and rev at a high rate, then the cars bucks and either engages at a lower gear or you have to slow to a crawl before the transmission engages. This has happened at low speed and traveling on the interstate with traffic all around, including a semi-truck right behind my vehicle. This is a definite problem and safety hazard.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #10

May 102012

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 82,000 miles
When accelerating or climbing enough to invoke a downshift, the transmission occasionally slips or disengages causing very high RPM, followed by a sudden downshift and very hard jerk. It almost feels like being hit from behind. This failure poses an extreme rear end collision hazard. Mazda has issued tsb 05-016/06 to deal with this problem but my dealer informed me that Mazda now recommends a complete transmission change in lieu of a valve body change recommended by the tsb. This transmission should be recalled, it's unsafe.

- Port Angeles, WA, USA

problem #9

Jun 262013

MAZDA6

  • 80,000 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.

- Rochester, MN, USA

problem #8

Jan 312013

MAZDA6 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Pressed clutch in loud noise heard then grinding. Pedal stuck to floor while in traffic. Car I had happily owned 2 Mazda 6 2006 sedan and wagon and was considering another when the diesel comes out. That was last week. This week without warning the clutch pedal went to the floor and made a loud bang grinding noise. Car has extended warranty from Mazda we had told Mazda for over a year hard to get into reverse and 1-2 chatter noise but never got any resolution on this. Took car in dealer said it would be a clucth which is not covered I was not happy but somewhat ok with that. It turns out that went the part failed throwout bearing it destroyed the transmission and that is not covered (Mazda customer service must know about the problem as they tell you not covered and basically hang up on you. Same with mepp which I paid a great deal of money for bumper to bumper extended total care which is supposed to cover manual trans but somehow does not. Getting rid of both cars and may have to junk my other car which went from being worth 10K to 0. in an instant by a bearing which should be covered. Don"T buy Mazda they don't stand behind the product. Always dealer serviced and just was serviced and passed Mazda (green light thing they give you every time it's serviced making you feel like it's all good which is a lie. $3000 to replace the clutch is insane it's not a skyline gtr.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

problem #7

Apr 022012

MAZDA6

  • 60,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Internal transmission/differential problem caused hole in bell housing, causing transmission fluid to leak out. Apparently from the message boards, this is happening a lot. And consumer reports shows a black circle for the drive train on the 2006 model year. Why no recall?

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #6

Jan 042012

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 36,000 miles
When accelerating or climbing enough to invoke a downshift, the transmission occasionally slips or disengages causing very high RPM, followed by a sudden downshift and very hard jerk. It almost feels like being hit from behind. This failure poses an extreme rear end collision hazard. Mazda has issued tsb 05-016/06 to deal with this problem but my dealer informed me that Mazda now recommends a complete transmission change in lieu of a valve body change recommended by the tsb. This transmission should be recalled, it's unsafe.

- Prospect, KY, USA

problem #5

Aug 102011

MAZDA6

  • 50,000 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.

- Rumford, RI, USA

problem #4

Dec 022010

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • 30,000 miles
Potential rear end collision: I own a 2006 Mazda 6 VIN [xxx]. I have experienced frequent times when I have accelerated onto the highway (or any other need to avoid a collision) and have experienced a severe loss of power/acceleration. This could have easily resulted in a rear-end collision had the cars behind me not reacted immediately. I have notified the local dealership and "Mazda customer satisfaction" of this problem and was told that my vehicle is "out of warranty. I also found that Mazda has issued a tsb #05-016-06 that explains the potential cause. Mazda is aware of this problem. Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #3

Jun 012006

MAZDA6 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 8,228 miles
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda 6. while driving 55 mph in sixth gear, the vehicle makes a loud noise and suddenly downshifts into third gear. The vehicle has been to the dealer several times and they replaced the valve body and flushed the system. The failure was temporarily solved for a few months. The manufacturer informed the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer. They stated that if the dealer could not permanently correct the failure, they would replace the vehicle. The current mileage was 30,000 and failure mileage was 8,228.

- Keokee, VA, USA

problem #2

Jun 012006

MAZDA6 4-cyl

  • miles
2006 madza 6 with transmission problems customer states that the car has been sitting at the dealership for a month and the car is still in disrepair** the consumer stated a few months after purchasing the vehicle, the vehicle began making a grinding metal sound. The consumer parked the vehicle looked under it and noticed fluid was spilling out. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealership and after 2 weeks the dealer stated the repair work was finished, however 3 days later, the consumer began to hear the same metal sound as before only this time, the consumer had no gears and no clutch. The consumer then received a call from he dealership stating the vehicle had blown a rod and there was a problem with the engine and not the transmission. The consumer was told he would need to provide receipts of oil changes or the vehicle would not be fixed.

- Blue River, OR, USA

problem #1

Jul 132006

MAZDA6 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 12,000 miles
I leased my fully loaded 2006 Mazda A6 back in December of 2005. Ever since then, I have had trouble with the car. First, the driver side window was not going down. A few days after I bought the car, I realized that the turbo kept giving out on me. Then I came across a huge dilemma, where the limited slip differential, drive shaft, and all the bolts and hinges had to be replaced because of a bolt which was not torque enough. Then, the brakes kept making an annoying noise even without the brakes applied at low and high speeds. Subsequently, the tires wear and tear was horrible at 6,000 miles, to the point where I should have replaced them, and Mazda didn't do anything about it. Later I found out that the air pressure in the tire was too low. After that, the keyless entry/keyless start remote stopped working, and had to open the car manually, which got fixed after 2 attempts, and just replaced the whole thing. Now, there is a problem with the rear axle, and how it has to be replaced, because when the limited slip differential problem came across, they neglected to look or fix the axle from the start. Now they have the courage to tell me that I have to pay for the axle, and rent a car, and all the expenses, because they were negligent of looking at it from the start. They are blaming the axle issue on the tires, when they were bad to start with and the tires that were going bad were the front ones, not the rear.

- Sterling, VA, USA

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