1988 Mazda MX6: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED AND WITH NO WARNING REAR SUSPENSION COLLAPSED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER. *AK THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO SALT CORROSION. THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND, SLID ACROSS THE LEFT LANE AND INTO THE MEDIAN. *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 140,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053508 at NHTSA ↗

SEAT BELT LOCK AND RELEASE MECHANISM JAMMED RENDERING SEATBELT USELESS. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550825 at NHTSA ↗

INITIALLY WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, I DISCOVERED THE DOOR HANDLE MECHANISM IS MADE OF POT METAL AND NOT OF A VERY STRONG NATURE FOR THE FREQUENT USE IT GETS. CHECKING WITH THE DEALER I FIND IT WILL COST $300 TO FIX. TO SAVE MONEY I RESEARCHED USED PART PLACES. I DISCOVERED THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM AND DOOR HANDLES ARE RARE TO COME BY AS MOST ARE ALREADY BOUGHT UP. I HAVE SEARCHED NORTHERN AS WELL AS SOUTHERN CA, AND WILL NOW TRY IN TX. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY 2 YEAR OLD WAS LOCKED IN THE CAR THE OTHER DAY AND THE H…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 712667 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT DRAINS THE BATTERY IN AS LOW AS HALF AN HOUR AFTER THE BATTERY HAS BEEN CHARGED, THE ALTERNATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES ALONG WITH THE BATTERY, MAIN FUSE AND DISTRIBUTOR, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 786035 at NHTSA ↗

HAD PARKED VEHICLE & PUT WINDOWS DOWN. WHILE PUTTING POWER WINDOWS DOWN, STARTED TO MAKE NOISES & GOT STUCK. POWER WINDOWS HIT A ROD. THE DOOR BECAME UNLOCKED & OPEN. TRIED CLOSING DOOR, BUT DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALER TO HAVE DOOR & WINDOWS CHECKED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 848447 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER BOUGHT FOUR TIRES, AND THREE HAD TREAD SEPARATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 893758 at NHTSA ↗

MODE NO 524, LAP/SHOULDER BUCKLE WILL NOT SNAP, PLASTIC INSIDE BUCKLE BROKE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960253 at NHTSA ↗

SEAT LATCH ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS PROBLEM LATCHING AND STICKS WHEN YOU TRY TO UNLATCH IT. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960257 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1987-09-17 (September 17, 1987)

FLOOR MAT COULD INTERFERE WITH RELEASE OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL DUE TO IMPROPER SHAPE OF MAT.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL ANDCREATE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REMOVE PRESENT MAT AND REPLACE WITH NEW IMPROVED MAT.

Reported: 1987-12-07 (December 7, 1987)

FUEL TANK FIXING BAND RETENTION IS NOT SUFFICIENT, ALLOWING THE BAND TO RUB AGAINST THE FUEL TANK BY VEHICLE VIBRATIONS.

Consequence: THIS COULD WEAR A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK WHICH COULDRESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Remedy: REPAIR FUEL FIXING BAND BY INSTALLING A RUBBER SHEET.

Reported: 1987-12-29 (December 29, 1987)

VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REAR BRAKE DRUMS TRANSPORTED BY TRAIN MAY EXPERIENCE SEPARATION OF THE BRAKE SHOE FROM THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER PISTON.

Consequence: SHOULD SEPARATION OCCUR, REPEATED BRAKE OPERATION MAYDAMAGE THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT, ALLOWING WATER OR DUST INTRUSION ANDSUBSEQUENT PISTON CONTAMINATION.

Remedy: ALL VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND IF NO SEPARATION IS FOUND GREASE WILL BE APPLIED TO THE COMPONENT INTERFACE TO LOWER FRICTION AND AVOID SUBSEQUENT RELATIVE MOTION. IF SEPARATION IS FOUND THE WHEEL BRAKE CYLINDER DUST BOOT WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1988-02-22 (February 22, 1988)

AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURES BELOW 0 DEGREE F, FROST MAY ACCUMULATE WITHIN THE THROTTLE BODY UNDER EXTENDED CONSTANT SPEED OPERATION.

Consequence: FROST ACCUMULATION ON THE THROTTLE VALVE MAY PREVENT THEVALVE FROM RETURNING SMOOTHLY.

Remedy: INSTALL A NEW TYPE THERMOSTAT DESIGNED TO RAISE THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND WARM THE THROTTLE BODY TO A LEVEL ABOVE FREEZING.

Reported: 1995-05-24 (May 24, 1995)

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED, FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER IS DEVELOPING A REMEDY DESIGNED TO PREVENT FAILURE OF THE BUTTONS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY BROKEN.