Mazda MAZDA6 Problems by Year
Mazda MAZDA6 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MAZDA6 year: 2009, 2010. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2009 MAZDA6: 386 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2010 MAZDA6: 225 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2003 MAZDA6: 174 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2020 MAZDA6: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2019 MAZDA6: 6 complaints, 1 recall
- 2021 MAZDA6: 17 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Mazda MAZDA6 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags problems | 636 | 16 | 80 |
| Structure problems | 296 | 17 | 16 |
| Electrical System problems | 228 | 18 | 5 |
| Suspension problems | 226 | 15 | 7 |
| Power Train problems | 198 | 16 | 5 |
| Engine problems | 139 | 18 | 4 |
| Steering problems | 136 | 16 | 14 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 114 | 15 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 95 | 10 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 93 | 15 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 63 | 13 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper | 57 | 12 | 1 |
| Wheels | 53 | 15 | 3 |
| Tires | 51 | 13 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 45 | 11 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 39 | 14 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 38 | 14 | 1 |
| Seats | 31 | 13 | 2 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 24 | 5 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 24 | 14 | 8 |
| Visibility | 24 | 9 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 20 | 8 | 2 |
| Equipment | 20 | 10 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Back Over Prevention | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Insert, Padding | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Mazda MAZDA6 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Mazda MAZDA6 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 MAZDA6 | 17 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 MAZDA6 | 2 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | |
| 2019 MAZDA6 | 6 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | |
| 2018 MAZDA6 | 58 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2017 MAZDA6 | 60 | 1 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2016 MAZDA6 | 77 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2015 MAZDA6 | 60 | 3 | 5★ | Service Brakes | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 MAZDA6 | 137 | 4 | 5★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 MAZDA6 | 23 | 4 | 4★ | Service Brakes | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2012 MAZDA6 | 99 | 6 | 4★ | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 MAZDA6 | 135 | 6 | — | Suspension | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 MAZDA6 | 225 | 9 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2009 MAZDA6 | 386 | 9 | — | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 MAZDA6 | 111 | 4 | — | Air Bags | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2007 MAZDA6 | 156 | 4 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 MAZDA6 | 173 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 MAZDA6 | 147 | 3 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 MAZDA6 | 160 | 4 | — | Air Bags | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 MAZDA6 | 174 | 6 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 MAZDA6 | 28 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
More from Mazda: all Mazda models · Mazda VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda MAZDA6 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2009 (386), 2010 (225) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical MAZDA6 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Mazda MAZDA6?
Air Bags, with 636 complaints across 16 model years.
How many recalls does the Mazda MAZDA6 have?
28 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.