2003 Mazda MAZDA6: jerking or lurching

Filed Aug 3, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 159,185 miles · IN

When I take my foot off the gas it stays at the same speed or it speeds up on its own. When I press on the break sometimes it feels like it's not going to stop and just keep going or it jerks forward when I stop. This happens when I am driving on the road and the cruise control is not on when this happens.

Filed Oct 14, 2014 · Acceleration, Electrical · DE

My vehicle has been having an issue with the throttle position sensor. As well as the PCM, usually connected as noted by my mechanic. 3 things can come from this he said. I could be having an issue with the gas pedal, the computer, or I need a new throttle body. From my understanding so far the issue causes the computer to incorrectly read, causing the check engine light as well as a few others to abruptly turn on while car is in full motion, for me this is typically at 55 MPH. The car then looses the ability to properly accelerate, or decelerate. I have to quickly pull my car to the shoulder, put in park while the car seems to be lurching forward, and turn off the engine. If I do not do this quick enough the engine begins to rev high and low continuously. My RPM gauge bounces around as it is doing so. After leaving the car off for a few moments I can then restart. My check engine light will now stay on for about 50 miles and turn itself off. Once the light has gone off usually within 15 miles my car will do it all over again. After calling my dealer, because I still owe 2 more years of payment on the car, I am told that they can fix it if I have my warranty intact. Unfortunately it has run out as of july. The part alone from the dealership is $700. Why is there no recall on this issue if so many people are having it?

Filed May 25, 2010 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · CA

The transmission is slipping, not wanting to shift into 2nd gear and then when it does shift it jerks the car really hard. This used to occur very seldom but since the car now has 98,000 miles on it, this has been happening almost all the time. I have heard that the car needs to be reflashed, but I have also read that this does not help. Many people with the same car have the same exact problem. Also this transmission is not able to be rebuilt. The transmission needs to be recalled.

Filed Apr 6, 2010 · Acceleration, Engine · GA

Over a period of 1-1/2 hours, our 2003 mazda 6 quickly lost all acceleration power on 5 different occasions while driving out of town on the highway. Following a 'slight bump' the car went from 70 MPH to 35 MPH to 10 MPH, quickly, regardless of pressure applied to the accelerator. Getting to the side of the road in traffic going 70mph+ was in itself a challenge and after pulling to a complete stop the car began jerking fiercely. Only turning off the engine completely was the system 'reset'. The mazda dealership hooked it up and determined the throttle body must be replaced for a quoted cost of $534.41 (macon, ga). The sensor itself, the likely culprit for this issue, is not offered or available for sale by mazda without its 'body', unlike countless other makes, which is outrageous, but the most disgusting part of this issue is that although there are a critical number of complaints logged about this issue, the tps has not been listed as a recall. The dealership stated they did not have to replace it since there were only 'service bulletins' listed and no actual recalls for the parts. They are very aware of the situation. From my own experience and my daughter's with this issue, I can guarantee that this has definitely caused serious injuries, if not fatalities, that just haven't been reported or possibly identified. I will continue to hunt down the sensor as I will not fall prey to mazda's 'racket'. The car will sit until I locate the part, or end up being parted out.

Filed Feb 9, 2010 · Acceleration, Brakes · 71,000 miles · OH

While driving home from my chardon, oh office on either aug 5 or 6, 2009 at 35 MPH my car's RPM needle started jumping and the car's "gas pressure" felt like it was hicupping. The RPM needle jumped from @2 to 4 twice, then the car started steadily accelerating in speed. The brake pedal at this time felt "hard" and the car was "fighting against my attempt to slow down" and the RPM's were still trying to accelerate. I imagine if I pushed on the brake and the gas pedal at the same time, it would simulate the way it felt. I also have a manual shift mode on my car and used it to more effectively slow down (vs using the brake) but at the same time the car was still trying to accelerate, but couldn't because I was in a lower gear/manual mode. And I remember while in manual gear 1, my car was lurching me back and forth in my seat as I drove through my neighborhood to get home, and my foot was off the gas pedal! On aug 12th, 2009 I mentioned this event to a mitsubishi dealer's mechanic (friend of my father) who was replacing my power steering line, he took a look at my car but said it seemed fine. My husband has been driving that car since that event, because I am afraid of it happening again. The car has not done this while my husband has been driving it. Not to sound like an oddball, but if I didn't know better I would have said my car was acting possessed, like the movie "christine". I have to think that there is some correlation to what my car did and what is going on with toyota. My husband is an electrical engineer and he used to work for grob systems, who does engineering for multiple automobile manufacturers, and I wonder if mazda has some same system in their automobile's as toyota and if it was engineered by the same supplier. I would swear on a bible that this happened to me with my car. (my husband left grob to move to cleveland and marry me). It sucks having this car now, it is paid off, I'm afraid to drive it, and I don't want to sell to an innocent stranger.

Filed Aug 28, 2007 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

My car has had all of it's routine maintenance done. At 30k I had to replace the transmission at 20 I had to replace the alternator. At 60k I have had to replace the transmission again! At 60k I had to replace a transaxle something or another . Now at 66k it is doing all of the same things that it was doing before the transmissions went out, and it's because "I need a new air filter, spark plugs, and fuel filter" the car jerks very hard when slowing down on the freeway the RPM race, like it won't gear down. When I put it in park it's as if I am pressing the gas pedal down and revving the engine. But the car is in park, and there is no pressure on the gas pedal what so ever! I hate this car, and recommend no one to buy one! I will be voicing my opinion of the car in the car windows, and telling everyone I know about the poor quality of this car. You would think that paying 27k for a vehicle that it would last!

Filed Jul 1, 2005 · Engine, Fuel system · 10,000 miles · NJ

Check engine light came on car was hesitating in middle of highway felt like it wanted to shut off made it home next day car did not start had it towed to the dealer car kept in shop for a month dealer could not figure out the problem said it was a sensor in the engine that was defective got the car back but it since then continued to give me problems brought the car back to original dealer crystal mazda for 3 recalls in july04 and other problems, in april05 check engine light suddenly turns on in the middle of a busy highway car starts to jerk and just died car was towed to the dealer and they called me weeks later to tell me the engine seazed I have had a lemon law case with kimmel and silverman for a year now dealership have been very nasty to me as well as the manufacturer they do not want to fix the vehicle or give me a replacement I also requested a copy of an invoice describing the cause of the engine dying and diagnosis they refuse to do so I have become so ill because of this and have a child to think about I just want a reliable car that me and my daughter will be safe in can you help.

Filed Apr 21, 2004 · Transmission · 7,000 miles · MN

I bought my car march 6, 2003. In may of 2003 it started making a howling noise when turning left at low speeds or into a parking space. I have brought it in 4 times and they cannot find the noise. For the last 2 months my transmission has been hesitating at around 25-35 MPH. It is like it doesn't know what gear to shift into and when it does it makes a loud clunking noise and my car jerks forward. I have had it in twice for that and they cannot find the source of that either.

Filed Mar 3, 2004 · Acceleration, Engine · 300 miles · IN

I purchased my 2003 mazda 6s in october 2003. Since I have owned the car I gets poor gas mileage on it (about 16-18 miles per gallon). I do plenty of city driving but I still feel that this is not adequate. Even when I drive on the highway the gas mileage averages poorly. There is also a smell coming from the exhaust when vehicle is in motion. The vehicle also rev's up higher before switching from lower gears to higher gears. I do not 'jack rabbit' start or stop the vehicle. There is also alot of brake dust on the rims of the front wheels. Acceleration is very poor. There is also a jerk when the vehicle switches from first gear to second. Don't get me wrong I love the way the vehicle looks, which is the main reason why I bought the vehicle, but the overall quality has turned out to be much poorer than I had expected.

Filed Dec 16, 2003 · Acceleration · LA

Was left stranded when check engine light and at light came on. Car would not accelerate above 20 MPH and had some jerking. Had car towed in. Service dept replaced throttle body and sensor. Car still repeatedly has a jerk/hesitation when holding steady between the speeds of 40mph and 50mph. Have brought the car in three times for the jerking/hesitation and the service mechanic does not know what else to do. They tried redownloading the computer which worked for about 1 week and then the jerking/hesitation proceeded. My service dept has spoken to customer service of california and they say they have not heard of any of these problems with any other mazda 6's and they have no idea what it is. I have also experienced a water leak in my vehicle about a month after I bought it which flooded my whole passenger side. Carpet had to be replaced. My brakes have a squeaky, grinding noise when turning. My back seat seams are coming unsewed. Will have to get the fabric replaced. My question is, "what's next?" I have already recieved legal advice and my lawyer thinks I have a pretty good case. If nothing can be done, then why not replace the vehicle. I am fed up with spending my time at the mazda dealership. I bought a new vechicle to stay away from mechanical difficulities.

Filed Sep 4, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · 13,000 miles · PA

The engine light and transmission light indicated a problem to me, as well as the car jerking upon acceleration. After taking the car to the dealer for service it was determined that knock sensor had malfunctioned. Since the first visit to the dealership for service regarding this problem, it has happened 5 times. I have contacted my dealer and the manufacturer and am still dealing with this issue. My dealer has made no attempt to rectify the situation other than replacing the engine sensor over and over. The car was out of commision for over a week each time. I have gone to the dealer asking for their help in contacting mazda about a new engine and or car and they are completly uncooperative.