Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
15–23 mpgcombined; city 14–21, highway 18–27; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$14,120–$21,660U.S. average; Ohio $12,620–$19,350 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2006 B, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 B. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Air bags
9
0
0
0
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
0
0
0
Power train
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Suspension
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2006 B over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2006 B-Series vehicles that received replacement front passenger air bag inflators under a previous recall. The replacement front passenger air bag inflators may have been installed incorrectly.
Risk: An incorrectly installed inflator may not properly inflate the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the front passenger air bag inflator, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 1, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6423L.
Mazda is recalling certain 2006 B-series vehicles. Mazda requests owners NOT TO DRIVE these vehicles until they have been remedied. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. On January 11, 2018, Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 160 model year 2006 B-Series vehicles built with driver-side air bags. As of February 9, 2018, Mazda is expanding the recall to a total of 2,205 model year 2006 B-Series vehicles built with driver-side air bags. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the front driver side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 2218A.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2006 B-Series vehicles. Mazda is requesting owners to NOT DRIVE these vehicles until they have been remedied. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode. On January 11, 2018, Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 160 model year 2006 B-Series vehicles built with driver-side air bags. As of February 9, 2018, Mazda is expanding the recall to a total of 2,205 model year 2006 B-Series vehicles built with driver-side air bags. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with sharp metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners instructing them to not drive their vehicles, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 2318A.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2006 Mazda B-series trucks. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1817L. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-346. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2006 B-Series trucks. Upon deployment of the driver side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Owners are advise not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on January 17, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1917L. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V-048. Vehicles that received a replacement air bag inflator under the previous campaign need to return to a dealer to have an alternate inflator installed.
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.
Risk: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TEETH TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 28, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 77 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2006 B, the latest on Aug 20, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: equipment (30), electrical system (19), power train (11), engine and engine cooling (9), service brakes (7).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2006 B.
EPA class: standard pickup trucks. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
B2300 Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
21 / 27 / 23
B2300 Rear-Wheel Drive
2.3 L, 4 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
19 / 24 / 21
B3000 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 21 / 18
B3000 Rear-Wheel Drive
3.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 21 / 17
B4000 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
16 / 21 / 18
B4000 Rear-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
15 / 20 / 17
B4000 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Manual 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 18 / 16
B4000 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
4.0 L, 6 cyl
Automatic 5-spd
Regular Gasoline
14 / 18 / 15
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data