Recalls & faults: Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 (2002-07)

Recalls: Mazda GG/GY Mazda6

Overview

Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.

Recalls: Mazda GG/GY Mazda6

• In July 2003, a recall was issued for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles due to potential brake fire as the level sensor float inside the brake reservoir could become dislodged and jammed, rendering the low fluid level warning light inoperative (PRA 2003/6323).
• In July 2003, a recall was issued for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles due to a potential fire hazard as the fog lamp bulb sockets could come adrift from their mountings; this could enable the globes to make contact with the inner portion of the front bumper bar (PRA 2003/6324).
• In June 2004, a recall was issued for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 models manufactured from 1 July 2002 to 14 February 2004. For these vehicles, the fuel tank may melt or deform as a result of radiant exhaust heat caused by insufficient clearance between the exhaust pipe and the fuel tank (PRA 2004/7088).

The affected vehicles were in the following VIN ranges –

• Sedans and hatches: JM0GG103100101238 to JM0GG103100144336; and,
• Wagons: JM0GY103100100008 to JM0GY103100102388.
• In July 2004, a recall was issued for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 models manufactured from 01 July 2003 to 13 February 2004 due to possible malfunctioning of the front indicator lamps (PRA 2004/7097). The recalled vehicles had VINs in the following ranges –
  • Sedans and hatches: JM0GG103100126460 to JM0GG103100144294; and,
  • Wagons: JM0GY103100101347 to JMGY103100102383.
• In May 2013, a recall was issued for GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles due to the front passenger-side airbag having potentially been assembled with an improperly manufactured propellant. In the event of a collision, the inflator may rupture and cause the airbag to deploy abnormally, increasing the risk of injury (PRA 2013/13570). The VIN ranges of the recalled vehicles were:
  • Sedans and hatches (GG): JM0 GG1031 00 101259 to JM0 GG1031 00 116497; and,
  • Wagons (GY): JM0 GY1031 00 100009 to JM0 GY1031 00 100741.
• In June 2014, a recall was issued for GG and GY Mazda6 vehicles that were available for sale from 22 August 2002 to 27 February 2004. In these vehicles, inappropriate production/storage of the propellant in the inflator of the passenger-side airbag could result in insufficient propellant density. The propellant may therefore ignite abnormally at the time of airbag deployment, causing extremely high inner pressure of the inflator and rupture of the inflator case. If the case ruptured, the airbag may not deploy as designed – reducing its effectiveness – and fractured parts may cause injury to a passenger (PRA 2014/14172). These recalled vehicles had VINs in the following ranges –
  • For the GG Mazda6 sedans: JM0 GG1031 00 101238 to JM0 GG1031 00 119402; and,
  • For the GY Mazda6 wagons: JM0 GY1031 00 100008 to JM0 GY1031 00 100877.
• In June 2015, a recall was issued for Mazda GG and GY Mazda6 vehicles that were available for sale after 22 August 2002. In these vehicles, the front passenger air bag inflator may have been assembled with improperly manufactured propellant wafers. In the event of a collision, the combustion rate of the propellant may increase inside the inflator, causing internal pressure to rise suddenly during airbag deployment. Such deployment could cause the inflator housing to rupture and disperse metal fragments, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant (PRA 2015/14760, PRA 2015/14761 and PRA 2015/14762). The recalled Mazda6 vehicles had VINs in the following ranges –
  • GG Mazda6 (22 August 2002 to 19 November 2007): JM0 GG1031 00 101238 to JM0 GG1031 00 177625;
  • GY Mazda6 (22 August 2002 to 19 November 2007): JM0 GY1031 00 100008 to JM0 GY1031 00 104582;
  • GG Mazda6 (29 July 2005 to 19 November 2007): JM0 GG1032 00 500011 to JM0 GG1032 00 522282;
  • GY Mazda6 (29 July 2005 to 19 November 2007): JM0 GY1032 00 300007 to JM0 GY1032 00 301989;
  • GG Mazda6 (28 April 2006 to 30 March 2009): JM0 GG1032 00 522007 to JM0 GG1032 00 554710;
  • GG Mazda6 (28 April 2006 to 30 March 2009): JM0 GG10R2 00 531178 to JM0 GG10R2 00 554710;
  • GY Mazda6 (28 April 2006 to 30 March 2009): JM0 GY1032 00 302020 to JM0 GY1032 00 306600; and,
  • GY Mazda6 (28 April 2006 to 30 March 2009): JM0 GY10R2 00 303070 to JM0 GY10R2 00 306480.

Search online for recalls by VIN

To see if a Mazda vehicle has been recalled, you can conduct a search on the Mazda Australia website using its VIN.

Problems and faults: Mazda GG/GY Mazda6

Overview

This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.

To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.

GG/GY Mazda6: VVT ticking noise

In December 2011, Mazda USA issued a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 01-010/11) for Mazda6 vehicles with 2.3-litre L3-VE petrol engines that were produced prior to 2008. In these vehicles, there may be a loud ticking noise from the variable valve timing (VVT) actuator when the engine was started – this was caused by:

• The lock pin of the variable valve timing actuator not fully engaging; or,
• A worn lock pin hole.

To fix, the cylinder head had to be removed and the VVT actuator replaced. Subsequently, heat treatment was applied to the area around the hole of the variable valve timing rotor lock pin to prevent this from happening.

GG/GY Mazda6: steering shaft noise

In February 2007, Mazda USA issued service bulletin 06-001/07 for 2003-07 Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles because the steering shaft may make an unusual clunking during acceleration while the steering wheel is turned – this may be caused by a lack of lubrication of the intermediate shaft splines in the steering column.

GG/GY Mazda6: engine stalls at low-speed

In February 2008, Mazda USA issued service bulletin 01-003/08 for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles with 2.3-litre petrol engines that were manufactured before 5 February 2007. In these vehicles, the engine may stall when driving at low speed, the accelerator pedal was lightly depressed and then released. To overcome this problem, the powertrain control module (PCM) software was revised.

GG/GY Mazda6: variable idle speed and stalling

In February 2009, Mazda USA issued service bulletin 01-007/09 for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles because of variable idle speed and, in some rare cases, stalling after the vehicle had stopped. The service bulletin attributed this behaviour to the accumulation of carbon deposits inside the throttle body which caused air flow to decrease. To fix, the throttle body needed to be removed, cleaned and re-installed using a new gasket.

GG/GY Mazda6: squeaking seat

In October 2009, Mazda USA issued service bulletin 09-064/09 for Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles. In some of these vehicles, there may be a squeaking noise from the front seatback due to contact between the seat frame and seat frame spring. To fix,

• The headrest was to be removed;
• The seat trim and seatback pad were to be removed;
• Clamp B was to be widened to remove Spring A (see bulletin);
• Vinyl tape was to be wrapped around the clamped portion of the spring;
• The spring was to be fitted back into the clamp and the clamp squeezed to secure the spring; and,
• The seatback pad, seat trim and headrest were to be re-installed.

GG/GY Mazda6: automatic transmission shift shock

In August 2010, Mazda USA issued service bulletin 05-010/10 for 2006-08 Mazda GG/GY Mazda6 vehicles with 2.3-litre engines that were manufactured prior to 4 March 2008; please note that this service bulletin applied to US-built vehicles and it is unclear whether the problem also occurred in Australian-delivered Mazda6 vehicles that were manufactured in Japan.

In vehicles fitted with automatic transmission, the driver may experience excessive transmission shock when shifting from third to fourth gear and driving uphill or with some load applied. The service bulletin attributed this shift shock to uneven wear on the servo piston bore which resulted in oil leakage from the bore. This, in turn, caused mistimed engagement of the 2/4 band and 3-4 shift shock. To prevent the problem from recurring, the servo piston hardness was changed. To fix, however, the transmission had to be replaced since the servo piston was inside the transmission case and could not be repaired.

Mazda GG/GY Mazda6: Other problems and faults

• The Mazda6’s engine may run rough or fail to start if the cam timing changes due to incomplete engagement of the key in the crankshaft sprocket.
• The air conditioning system may not enter its recirculation mode due to an electrical problem in the climate control unit.
• If the wrong type of oil filter wrench is used, the oil filter cartridge housing may be damaged, causing a leak in the housing.
• The front brakes may chatter, oscillate and make a groaning sound in low-speed turns – this may be fixed by machining the rotors and installing revised brake pads.
• A popping noise from the front end of the vehicle when the steering wheel is turned may be attributable to spring insulators which require replacement.