Vehicle: 2006 Mazda6, 4 cylinder (160hp) FWD, purchased new in 06, 61,000 miles.
Driving from South Carolina to Georgia and I notice a check engine light and slight grinding noise whenever engine rpm goes above 4000 RPM. My Mazda has a 4 cylinder engine, so I have to go into that power range on the highway. Try to get the dealer to look at it en route, but they are too backed up with other broken Mazdas. Continue to drive car another 300 miles because I had to finish my trip and get back home.
Take car to dealer following monday for initial diagnostic. Takes two days to determine that the bolts on the flywheel of my vehicle somehow worked themselves loose. This resulted in the flywheel becoming unstable and damaging the transmission to the point flywheel and all adjoining parts had to be replaced.
Problem happened right outside the 60,000 mile warranty, which left me footing the bill. Cost roughly $2,500 to get fixed including a dealer discount, with an additional $500.00 for a rental car while the vehicle was being fixed.
Overall Impression: Like the vehicle, relatively fuel efficient (26 mpg on highway), great interior, handles well. Prior to transmission problem was completely loyal to the brand. Now that this problem has occurred, I'm more weary towards mazda's in general, materials appear to be cheap. The problem seems to be the integration of Ford motors into import sedan, wasn't engineered to handle regular driving strain, resulting these kinds of problems. On the plus side, the vehicle did not leave me stranded, definite plus with regards to transmission problems.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Vehicle: 2006 Mazda6, 4 cylinder (160hp) FWD, purchased new in 06, 61,000 miles.
Driving from South Carolina to Georgia and I notice a check engine light and slight grinding noise whenever engine rpm goes above 4000 RPM. My Mazda has a 4 cylinder engine, so I have to go into that power range on the highway. Try to get the dealer to look at it en route, but they are too backed up with other broken Mazdas. Continue to drive car another 300 miles because I had to finish my trip and get back home.
Take car to dealer following monday for initial diagnostic. Takes two days to determine that the bolts on the flywheel of my vehicle somehow worked themselves loose. This resulted in the flywheel becoming unstable and damaging the transmission to the point flywheel and all adjoining parts had to be replaced.
Problem happened right outside the 60,000 mile warranty, which left me footing the bill. Cost roughly $2,500 to get fixed including a dealer discount, with an additional $500.00 for a rental car while the vehicle was being fixed.
Overall Impression: Like the vehicle, relatively fuel efficient (26 mpg on highway), great interior, handles well. Prior to transmission problem was completely loyal to the brand. Now that this problem has occurred, I'm more weary towards mazda's in general, materials appear to be cheap. The problem seems to be the integration of Ford motors into import sedan, wasn't engineered to handle regular driving strain, resulting these kinds of problems. On the plus side, the vehicle did not leave me stranded, definite plus with regards to transmission problems.
- Roger G., Del Rio, TX, US