1988 Mazda MX6: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1988 Mazda MX6. The newest campaign is 95V103005. NHTSA received the report on 24 May 1995. The NHTSA record gives the component Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly. NHTSA has 16 complaints on file for this model year. 3 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 95V103005, in the NHTSA record

Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

5 campaigns, newest first. 482,391 units in total.

95V10300524 May 1995Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
88V02200022 Feb 1988Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal
87V19600029 Dec 1987Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Shoes/Linings
87V1860007 Dec 1987Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
87V14900017 Sep 1987Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages

95V103005Received 24 May 1995. 360,433 units.
Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The front safety belt buckle release buttons can break. These red plastic release buttons are marked "press." if a button breaks, pieces can fall into the buckle assembly causing the buckle to operate improperly.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The safety belts would not provide adequate protection to an occupant in a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Owners should promptly check the condition and operation of both front safety belt buckles and carefully inspect the red release button for any breaks or cracks. They should ensure that both buckles are operating properly by inserting each latch plate into its buckle, tugging on the belt to make sure the latch is securely locked, and then pressing the release button. The latch plate should pop out of the buckle when the button is pressed. If either release button shows a sign of breaking or cracking or if either buckle fails to operate properly, owners should promptly contact their authorized dealer to schedule an appointment to have the buckle replaced or repaired, free of charge. The manufacturer is developing a remedy designed to prevent failure of the buttons that are not currently broken.
Report filed by MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Dec 1995.
88V022000Received 22 Feb 1988. 72,883 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Accelerator Pedal
Defect, in the NHTSA record
At ambient temperatures below 0 degree f, frost may accumulate within the throttle body under extended constant speed operation.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Frost accumulation on the throttle valve may prevent thevalve from returning smoothly.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install a new type thermostat designed to raise the coolant temperature and warm the throttle body to a level above freezing.
Report filed by MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 22 Apr 1988.
87V196000Received 29 Dec 1987. 14,807 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Drum / Shoes/Linings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicles equipped with rear brake drums transported by train may experience separation of the brake shoe from the wheel brake cylinder piston.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Should separation occur, repeated brake operation maydamage the wheel brake cylinder dust boot, allowing water or dust intrusion andsubsequent piston contamination.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
All vehicles will be inspected and if no separation is found grease will be applied to the component interface to lower friction and avoid subsequent relative motion. If separation is found the wheel brake cylinder dust boot will be replaced.
Report filed by MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jan 1988.
87V186000Received 7 Dec 1987. 33,868 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Fuel tank fixing band retention is not sufficient, allowing the band to rub against the fuel tank by vehicle vibrations.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could wear a hole in the fuel tank which couldresult in fuel leakage.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Repair fuel fixing band by installing a rubber sheet.
Report filed by MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jan 1988.
87V149000Received 17 Sep 1987. 400 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Floor mat could interfere with release of accelerator pedal due to improper shape of mat.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could result in loss of accelerator control andcreate potential for an accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Remove present mat and replace with new improved mat.
Report filed by MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Sep 1987.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

16 complaints, 16 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1988 Mazda MX6: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Seat Belts		9
Electrical System		2
Power Train		1
Visibility		1
Structure		1
Tires		1
Suspension		1

Complaints that report a crash: 1
Complaints that report a fire: 1
Injuries in the complaints: 1
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 19 Feb 2003

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1988 Mazda MX6, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1995, with 7 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1988 Mazda MX6
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
EA95005	Engineering analysis	TAKATA SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE	Seat Belts / Front / Buckle Assembly	10 Mar 1995	1 Aug 1995	95V103005
PE91088	Preliminary evaluation	THROTTLE STICKING	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	18 Jun 1991	21 Oct 1991
PE89167	Preliminary evaluation	TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FIRE	Power Train	15 Sep 1989	21 Dec 1989

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19860
19870
19885
19891

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1988 Mazda MX6The recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1988 Mazda MX6: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/mazda/mx6/1988/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1988 Mazda MX6?: 482,391 units in 5 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Mazda MX6 have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the Mazda MX6, model years 1986 to 1989. 5 of them name the 1988 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1988 Mazda MX6 name most often?: Seat Belts: 9 of 16 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1988 Mazda MX6 open?: No. Each of the 3 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.