The 1993 draws 2.38 complaints per run and the 1992 1, a 2.4-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 81.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Service Brakes, with 19 complaints, typically at 4.7 years.
Mazda MX-6 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 8 | 6 | yes | |
| 1994 | 39 | 23 | yes | |
| 1993 | 38 | 16 | yes | |
| 1992 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 1991 | 10 | 7 | yes | |
| 1990 | 11 | 9 | yes |
Among the 6 Mazda MX-6 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 1993, 1994, 1991; the three worth hunting are 1992, 1990, 1996.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 1.3% | covered | |
| 1 year | 9.2% | covered | |
| 2 years | 18.4% | covered | |
| 3 years | 31.6% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 42.1% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 59.2% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 64.5% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 71.1% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 78.9% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 84.2% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 89.5% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 94.7% | you pay | |
| 13 years | 97.4% | you pay | |
| 15 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 18.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 81.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 31% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Mazda MX-6, the early trouble is Air Bags — reported at around 2.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Service Brakes at 4.7 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4.7 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Hydraulic | 4.7 yrs | 4 | — | |
| Power Train | 5.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6.2 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 4.7 yrs | — | — | |
| Seat Belts | 5.8 yrs | 2 | — | |
| Air Bags | 2.5 yrs | 5 | — | |
| Suspension | 7.7 yrs | 1 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the MX-6's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Camry draws 5.65, the Honda Accord 4.02 and the Dodge Challenger 3.27, against 1.72 for the MX-6. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the MX-6 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Camry | 161 | 1983–2026 | |
| Honda Accord | 415 | 1981–2026 | |
| Dodge Challenger | 77 | 1981–2026 | |
| Toyota Prius | 109 | 2001–2026 | |
| Hyundai Elantra | 117 | 1992–2026 | |
| Nissan Altima | 148 | 1993–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Mazda MX-6 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.72 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which MX-6 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 1993, 1994, 1991. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1992, 1990, 1996. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do MX-6 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Service Brakes, typically at 4.7 years, followed by Hydraulic.
Will the warranty cover MX-6 problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 18.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 31% of the complaints here.
Is the MX-6 more reliable than the Toyota Camry?
Yes: 1.72 complaints per production run for the MX-6 against 5.65 for the Toyota Camry.
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