My cylinder head is leaking coolant. There is a well known and well documented issue with these cylinder heads cracking due to poor casting. This has become such a big issue that Mazda has even recalled the cylinder heads, BUT, only if the engine is equipped with Turbo. However, this issue is becoming enormous even for non turbo owners and is a huge safety issue as it can lead to overheating, stalling, and further damage to other components. I feel very strongly that it is time for Mazda to take some responsibility and extend the cylinder head recall to the non turbo engines.
Mazda MAZDA6 stalling problems
59 of the 2,239 owner complaints about the Mazda MAZDA6 describe engine stalls while driving, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 59
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical mileage
- 50,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Check engine light 15Transmission failure 4Jerking 4Loss of power 3Hesitation 3Fuel pump 3Warning lights 2Power steering loss 2
What owners say
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the engine choked, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that when the vehicle accelerated to 60 MPH, the choking and stalling failure ceased. The contact stated that the instrument panel was inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was diagnosed as PCM failure. The contact was informed that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and crossing a bridge, the vehicle stopped unexpectedly after driving over several expansion joints. The contact stated that the vehicle had not stalled. The contact exited the vehicle and noticed that the passenger’s side front wheel was slanted into the wheel well. The contact inspected the wheel well and noticed that the control arm had sheared off at the cross member. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the steering wheel had turned slightly to the right. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 19V323000 (Structure, Suspension), which included the VIN. The contact stated that the vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the contact was advised that the VIN was included in a recall, and the contact was advised that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed to determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that the dealer had not diagnosed vehicle in a month. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and advised the contact to work with the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer and dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 188,000.
Software error/loss of engine power. No warning of this before it happens. The car completely loses power, and stalls or stops in the middle of me driving. This has happened on the freeway and risked my life as well as my husbands, and children. This same issue has been a previous recall and fixed in 2019 for my car, and now it is happening again.
My car has stalled out on me 6 times in traffic and wouldn’t restart for hours. I took it to the Mazda dealership and they told me nothing was wrong but it continues to happen. I need something done as soon as possible
Start engine when cold and it knocks/ taps from the valve cover very loud, found a tab for valve lifters. Mazda said I’m out of warranty and it would be a 2k fix on a car I just bought second hand. A lot of other drivers have experienced the same issue and have even said it’s a safety issues as when it happens for long enough it could cause the cams to wear down causing the car to stall out in traffic or in a dangerous road situation. Very dangerous imo and should be fixed for free as Mazda admitted that it’s a design flaw of the HLA
The Shifter Park Switch failed, causing the vehicle to say on when turning the vehicle off. This causes the battery to drain and created a bad cell battery. This caused the vehicle to turn off while in motion driving multiple times putting the driver and surrounding vehicles at risk. This vehicle has been inspected by the Mazda dealership/manufacturer.
The engine has developed an oil leak that is a known manufacturing defect of Mazda 2.5 litre engines TSB #SA-031-21. The oil drips on the hot exhaust and sends smoke into the cabin and probably could start a fire. Also if the engine runs out of oil, it will cause the car to shut off and stall in traffic.
The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that on multiple occasions, the vehicle would stall upon the depression of the accelerator pedal as a fuel odor would emit from the vehicle. The check engine light would also appear on the instrument panel. The vehicle had been taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the fuel line O-ring seal on three separate occasions. The manufacturer nor the dealer had been notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated when the vehicle was started, the engine made a loud ticking noise. The contact stated that once the vehicle had warmed up, the would drive normal; however, while driving 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the Variable Valve Timing Actuator (VVTA) was not functioning as needed causing the engine stall and loud ticking sound. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 123,000.
Related recalls
Engine
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
- Risk
- An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
Recall number 19V497000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mazda MAZDA6 stalling
Which Mazda MAZDA6 years have engine stalls while driving problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (9 complaints), 2014 (9 complaints) and 2018 (7 complaints).
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