Selling an old Mazda MX-6 that's done

An MX-6 today is a 29-to-33-year-old coupe. If yours has a slipped timing belt, a dead V6 or air bags that already fired, you can sell the whole car as it sits. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and pickup is free anywhere in the US.

What sits under an MX-6

Every MX-6 in EPA data, 1993 to 1997, is the second generation, which Wikipedia dates to 1991-1997. It came with a 2.0-liter FS-DE four, a 2.0-liter KF-ZE V6 or a 2.5-liter KL V6. It shares its platform family with the 626 and the Ford Probe. US cars were built in Flat Rock, Michigan, at the plant Mazda opened for the Probe and the 626. The first generation, 1987-1992, had 1.8 and 2.0-liter fours and is not in the EPA years covered here.

Owners filed 147 complaints in all. Power train leads with 24, then air bags with 19, then hydraulic service brakes and engine and engine cooling with 18 each.

1993: brakes, and a ball joint recall

The first EPA year has the most complaints, 54. For the MX-6, hydraulic brakes top the list at 11. Engine and engine cooling have 8, and suspension has 6. The one death in the MX-6 records is on a 1993.

Recall 92V045000 covers 2,450 1993 cars whose front lower ball joint bolts may not have been torqued to spec. Dealers inspected the bolts and tightened any that were loose.

1994: power train and a headlight wire

46 complaints. Power train leads with 11, then electrical and brakes tie at 6. Recall 99V358000 is about a headlight wire inside the turn signal lever. The solder joint at the switch can give out. Dealers replace the lever. The 40,000 figure counts every vehicle in it, so other models could be part of that.

1995-1996: the air bag years

The SAS sensor recall, 98V249000, says these cars could deploy air bags in minor undercarriage impacts. Dealers reprogram the unit to make that less likely. There are 213,000 vehicles in the campaign, and some may be other models. The 1995 also holds all 3 MX-6 fire complaints and the most injuries of any year, 10.

1997: the tensioner

Only 2 complaints, both power train. Recall 98V206001 covers a timing belt tensioner whose outer spring can break and catch in the belt. That campaign lists 40,000 vehicles and may include other models.

Every year: the ignition switch

All 1993-1997 MX-6s are in recall 15V674000 for the ignition switch, which began December 17, 2015. A dealer swaps the switch at no cost. Seven Mazda lines make up the 1,368,500 vehicles, including the 626 and MPV.

MX-6 complaints and recalls at a glance

Source: NHTSA complaint records, October 10, 2026. Later cars have been around a bit less, but on cars this old that hardly matters. An MX-6 recall is counted once per year it covers.

Should you put money into it?

1. Look up open recalls with your VIN at NHTSA. The ignition switch work may never have been done.
2. Timing belt trouble? On some engines a broken belt does far more than stop the car. Our broken timing belt guide explains how to tell.
3. Air bags already out? See airbags deployed for how that changes a car's value.
4. Brakes or suspension worn through? Weigh the repair against the car's value with repairs cost more than it is worth.

Selling an MX-6 as it sits

1. Write down the VIN and which engine it has, the four or the V6, if you know.
2. Get an offer online or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Say where your MX-6 is parked and if it rolls, so the driver can load it.
4. Keep it complete. Pulling the V6 or the wheels first changes the offer.
5. At pickup, sign the title over. Plate rules depend on your state; see after you sell.

Other Mazdas of the same years: the 626 and the MX-3. Or browse every Mazda.