Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RQ99022MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS12/20/199908/30/2000HEADLIGHT FAILURE99V184000
 Subject:mazda north american operations filed a defect information report dated december 17, 1999, concerning approximately 40,000 1994model year 626 and mx-6 cars in which the headlights can fail.the recalled cars were built from january through may 1994.mazda attributes failure of the headlights to the routing of the headlight wire through the turn signal switch.operation of the turn signal switch causes the soldered connection to the headlight switch to fail without any prior warning.dealers are to inspect the vehicles and replace the headlight switch if necessary.mazda reports that in october 1999 it . . . conducted an investigation of possible problems that might occur in combination switches. in november 1999, reliability testing revealed that the headlight lead wire for the subject vehicles may break at the point where it is soldered to the headlight switch under certain conditions.we [mazda] were able to confirm that this was responsible for the high warranty rate in vehicles produced between january and may 1994.however, a search of odi's complaint database has provided seven reports of headlight failure on 1993-1996 models not included in the recall. the purpose of this rq is to obtain clarification on the nature of the defect, scope, problem experience, and remedy associated with this recall.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS - SWITCH
07/07/200107/01/2001
 My problem is exactly the same as recall #99v358000 on the 1994 mazda mx6. the headlights go out intermittently because of a loose/broken wire at the headlight switch on the turn signal lever. the sudden unanticipated loss of the headlights poses a severe hazard.*ak