2006 Mazda 6 MazdaSpeed6 GT from North America - Comments

I have had problems with my mazda 6. It's a 2004 and I bought it brand new november 2004. I had the clutch replaced at 3500 miles. I also had the seat covers replaced as they wore out. Calling Mazda corp gets you nowhere. They listened to me and did nothing about other issues. My battery died and I had to call AAA for a charge. I have again had the seat covers replaced; brakes have always made noise. Dealer cannot figure out the problem. The paint chips too easily and scratches. This will be the only mazda that I buy.

I am having the same problem with the squeaking noise when making sharp turn to park at low speed. The noise was hard to explain, but it was like screwing pipes with no lubrication or the noise that comes out of the water faucet when no water is coming. As I said before, it was hard to explain, but the noise was annoying and definitely loud. I've complained about it and the dealer replaced some sort of a padding around the break, but not exactly the break pad, it was covered under my warranty, so I ended up paying for it. Until now, I still here the noise intermittently and most of the time, it was really loud. I have been thinking of replacing my Mazda6 and no more Mazda after this one. Just like the original writer, I've been having problems with my Mazda6 since I bought it in 2004.

You have 2 problems...one, you sound like you beat your cars and expect others to pay when you break parts and second, you listen to a Jiffy Lube employee and call him a mechanic, now that explains it all. Jiffy Lube??? that's funny!

I purchased a 2005 Mazda 6s MTX 5-door in September 2005. I've noticed the following issues:

- Break pad squealing at about 12k miles, apparently due to the type of pad material in the oem brake pads - replaced under warranty (note that brake pads are not a warranty part)

- At about 22k I began to get clutch shudder if driving cold. there is a TSB stating that the clutch will be replaced if this is encountered within 12k miles. I've heard of a few other people getting theirs replaced up to 40k miles under warranty. I've not yet gotten it replaced, but plan to mention it the next time I'm at the dealer.

- at about 27k noticed breaks squealing at low speed while turning sharply, just as other posters have said. I mentioned this to the dealer, but was told that it is nothing to be concerned about mechanically. For now I've taken them at face value on this.

- at 30k I began to notice a sort of a chirp while shifting under hard acceleration. The dealer said it was a bad ball joint that was sliding a bit with rapid changes in torque. They replaced the joint under warranty, but the noise is still there. Other 6 owners have suggested a synchromesh that is starting to fail. I plan to take it back to the dealer and get them to ride with me to witness the sound. At the same time as the chirp I brought up a rattle that I had noticed since I bought the car, but had trouble pinning down. This turned out to be a stripped screw near the sun roof. Fixed under warranty even though I was FAR outside the bumper to bumper warranty period.

I currently have 42k on the car and overall I am very satisfied and my dealer experience has been good. They may have misdiagnosed the chirp, but I was not charged a dime for it. Every time I've been to the shop, they have had a free rental car for me and I've always been treated with respect. I'm currently considering upgrading to a mazdaspeed6. More power + AWD = :-)

I suspect that the first poster may have simply had an incompetent dealer. All dealers are independent, and Mazda only has so much they can do about a poorly performing one. Then again, we know nothing about how this person approached the dealer about these problems. We've only seen one side here. This customer could have been very confrontational, which is definitely not going to make the dealer want to help.

Regards,

-Al.

Hi all. I took delivery of my Speed6 GT 3/14/06, build date on car is 9/05. OK, here are the things Mazda replaced.

Dealer replaced 2 front tires due to cupping/ bald on one side. Only 4000 miles on tires.

Dealer aligned wheels.

Dealer replaced front rotors and pads. The pads were cutting into the rotors bad, and making a bad noise. The dealer called the Mazda rep and was told to change the rotors.

Went for an oil change; a kid was under car and told me the gear box was leaking. The car had about 7000 miles at this point. Took the car to the dealer; I was told it was a loose bolt. OK, great. Next oil change same thing; gear box leaking. Back to dealer; Mazda rep told the dealer to replace the gearbox.

Next issue was rear diff bolts; bolt shear. Great noise that made, dealer replaced bolts. I was told they put in new upgraded bolts. Well they didn't put in the upgraded bolts cause I snapped them again.

Today is 11/20/07 and rear diff is making a loud humming noise; well back to the dealer again.

And this isn't my first new car either. Like others here I had a few new and a few old. The other cars I owned I leased and I abused the hell out of them for three years each lease, and never had a problems like I am now.

Oh yeah, I own this Mazdaspeed6 and I don't beat it half as bad as my other cars, and it still breaks.

Sorry this is so long; kinda venting / and getting the word out.

If it smells like crap it is crap. Good luck Speed6 owners.

Here I was thinking that Mazda was a premium Japanese brand (above Toyota/Mitsubishi, but equal to Honda) but most of the reviews of the Mazda 6 have been bad.

I was thinking about buying a second hand Mazda 6, but I think I will stick with my Mitsubishi Magna. It has not done me wrong for almost 5 years now.

I purchased a SPEED6 Grand touring last Oct. and it's been a great car. It's my wife's daily driver and she has racked up 52,000 miles thus far. I get to rip around in it on the weekends around town so I wouldn't say it's been babied.

Just last weekend I noticed a clicking sound coming from the rear of the car. It only makes the noise when turning so I figure it's the rear diff. I've made an appointment to have the dealer check it out tomorrow.

Hope they extend the warranty since the cut off is 50,000 miles.

P.S. Installing an intake really turns heads of tuners. They snap their neck, scanning the crowd and they never expect the inconspicuous sedan. I love it.

1st year of a new model is never really a good purchase. Especially when you throw a small 4 cylinder engine and turbocharge it. Seems like a great deal at first and I'm sure most people got one. But like any car, there's bugs to be worked out and a number of recalls will be issued. Just sell it and buy an Audi or BMW AWD system.

I purchased a 2005 model Mazda Speed 6 GT for my wife after trading in my Speed 3, (size was the main reason, but second to that was the fact that the handbrake didn't work properly on it and it rolled backwards in to a tree and they never matched the paint properly) I've had several problems with the 6 such as...

:- Power window problems

:- Leak between gear box and engine

:- Sheared off axle, rear right.

:- Severe harmonic in rear end

:- Engine using more than 1 ltr of oil between services

:- Bald insides of rear tires (poor camber)

Now, I'd like to say that if I'm going to spend big bucks on a turbo 4wd car (and there are a few in its league) that I expect to be able to drive it firmly when the need arises (why else would there be a switch that turns off the traction control). Unfortunately if you drive this car firmly it WILL break, it is very weak in the drive train and this is Mazda's fault not ours the owners... we purchased a high performance sports car with a great business man look, that's not our fault, Mazda need to pull their finger out and realize they're at fault and send out some upgrades for their poor attempt at a good turbo 4wd sports car...

I have a 2005 Mazda 6 (4 cyl) and it has 80K miles on it. Absolutely no problems at all. Nothing, not even under warranty.

I change the oil every 6 months and I changed the tires recently. No squeaks, no breakdowns, no failures whatsoever.

The leather interior still looks fantastic and it is a sharp car. I have been nothing but pleased with it and it looks a LOT better than a Honda or Toyota.

Plus, the nimble handling is great.

There is a dealership in my town that has a MS6 and I figured I would check around and do my homework before giving the car a more serious look. I want to thank owners for being candid about their issues. I did just pick the Consumer Reports Auto Edition for 2009 and noticed that the MS6 was on the list of used cars to avoid, so clearly there are deep issues with the car. The thing that puzzles me is that the MS3 uses the same motor and I don't hear the same complaints. Oh well, I think I will pass on this car even though I have a good Mazda dealership right around the corner, literally.

Yeah that kinda sucks to be you guys. I bought my Speed 6 with 14,xxx miles and only problem was I broke the bolts mounting the rear diff. to the subframe. And I'll admit I do drive mine pretty hard and then sometimes REALLY hard, yet still no major problems except the rear diff.

The problem with the electronic key can be solved by not keeping it in pocket with your cell phone, and change out batteries with ones at autozone... energizer...it works wonders. Changing batteries in it is not a big deal. Yet everyone cries about it. Love this car!

Oh, and dealership had no problem fixing problems with the rear diff, or putting new batteries in my remote. LOL.

I am in BC, Canada. I bought my Mazdaspeed6 with 15000 Kms on it in 2008 Jan. I had no problems of any kind whatsoever yet.

I had the clutch replaced because I complained about it. Actually I really liked the stock clutch, it's just that when I can get a new clutch for free, then why not? I took it in to service department and complained about it being jerky, they test drove it and told me that (I forgot exact terminology they used) it needs to be replaced. It took them 7 hours and I didn't had to comeback some other day. they did it the same day. Sweet. I love the new clutch too.

No other problems. I bought all season high performance tires with RX8 rims for winter. And ms6 rims with original tires for summer. I now have 38000Kms on it and very happy with it. And I'm looking for a second Mazda car for my brother.

After having gone through the original posters car review, I believe he was handed a SUPER lemon vehicle. This guy is an ideal candidate to invoke the LEMON LAW.