Mazda MAZDA6 problems by model year
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
NHTSA has 434 owner complaints and 22 recalls on file for the Mazda MAZDA6 (2005–2021). The 2016 MAZDA6 has the most serious complaints, most often about brakes.
- Complaints
- 434
- Recalls
- 22
- Model years
- 17
- Worst year
- 2016
Complaints by model year
Newer model years have had less time on the road, so they naturally have fewer complaints. Compare a year against its neighbors rather than against brand-new models.
Worst Mazda MAZDA6 years to buy
Ranked by our severity-weighted complaint score (crashes, fires and injuries count extra — how it works).
- 2016 Mazda MAZDA6 — 36 complaints, 4 crashes; top problem: Brakes
- 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 — 57 complaints, 3 crashes; top problem: Suspension
- 2009 Mazda MAZDA6 — 76 complaints, 1 crash; top problem: Suspension
- 2014 Mazda MAZDA6 — 34 complaints, 4 crashes; top problem: Electrical System
- 2017 Mazda MAZDA6 — 52 complaints; top problem: Electrical System
Fewest serious complaints among years at least 3 years old: 2005 (1 complaints).
Every Mazda MAZDA6 model year
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Recalls | Top problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 MAZDA6 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Engine |
| 2020 MAZDA6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Body & Structure |
| 2019 MAZDA6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Engine |
| 2018 MAZDA6 | 52 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine |
| 2017 MAZDA6 | 52 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Electrical System |
| 2016 MAZDA6 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | Brakes |
| 2015 MAZDA6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Brakes |
| 2014 MAZDA6 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 4 | Electrical System |
| 2013 MAZDA6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | Suspension |
| 2012 MAZDA6 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | Suspension |
| 2011 MAZDA6 | 57 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | Suspension |
| 2010 MAZDA6 | 41 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | Suspension |
| 2009 MAZDA6 | 76 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | Suspension |
| 2008 MAZDA6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Suspension |
| 2007 MAZDA6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | Airbags |
| 2006 MAZDA6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion |
| 2005 MAZDA6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | Body & Structure |
Most common Mazda MAZDA6 problem areas (all years)
- Suspension123 complaints
- Body & Structure69 complaints
- Electrical System62 complaints
- Engine59 complaints
- Airbags31 complaints
- Steering28 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain27 complaints
- Brakes26 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion24 complaints
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech15 complaints
Complaint trend
Mazda MAZDA6 recalls
Risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Risk: Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: If the wiring becomes damaged, there may be a loss of power steering assist and the deactivation of the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of a crash and the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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 driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: A vehicle continuously driven with the turn signal flashing may result in confusion to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: Failure of the ACU would illuminate the air bag warning light and prevent the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Risk: A vehicle that is driven with under inflated tires may experience a sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: If the tank is overfilled, gas may flow into the charcoal canister (an evaporative emissions component) and possibly leak from the canister's external vent, increasing the risk of a fire.
Risk: Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Risk: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Risk: If all three door latch mounting screws become excessively loose the door latch mechanism would not engage and the door might open while the vehicle is in motion increasing the risk of accident or injury.
Risk: As the canister is purged repeatedly during normal operation, the stress on the fuel tank may eventually result in a crack, potentially leading to fuel leakage ad an increased risk of fire.
Other Mazda models
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. Methodology