Mazda MAZDA6 Suspension Problems
Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA about suspension problems on the Mazda MAZDA6 across 15 model years. The 2009 model year has the most (76). The words owners use most often: “rear subframe” (20% of reports).
- 226suspension complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $2,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear subframe: mentioned in 46 of 226 complaints (20%)
- Sub frame: mentioned in 34 of 226 complaints (15%)
- Cross member: mentioned in 28 of 226 complaints (12%)
- Control arm: mentioned in 23 of 226 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical suspension repair on the Mazda MAZDA6 at $2,600, and half of them between $1,600 and $5,100.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2007–2024), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do suspension problems happen?
Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 226 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Mazda MAZDA6 suspension complaints by model year
| Model year | Suspension complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 MAZDA6 | 3 | 5% | 5,700 |
| 2016 MAZDA6 | 5 | 6% | 15,000 |
| 2015 MAZDA6 | 4 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 2014 MAZDA6 | 5 | 4% | 39,000 |
| 2013 MAZDA6 | 5 | 22% | 74,250 |
| 2012 MAZDA6 | 8 | 8% | 188,000 |
| 2011 MAZDA6 | 50 | 37% | 108,000 |
| 2010 MAZDA6 | 43 | 19% | 103,981 |
| 2009 MAZDA6 | 76 | 20% | 118,000 |
| 2008 MAZDA6 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2007 MAZDA6 | 4 | 3% | 92,000 |
| 2006 MAZDA6 | 4 | 2% | 142,000 |
| 2005 MAZDA6 | 4 | 3% | 106,000 |
| 2004 MAZDA6 | 4 | 3% | 41,000 |
| 2003 MAZDA6 | 9 | 5% | 47,127 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Structure; suspension:front:control arm
Model years: 2011, 2012, 2013
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.
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.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-631.
Structure; suspension:front:control arm
Model years: 2009, 2010
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.
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.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Crossmember is rusted out and car is undriveable. There is a recall on the crossmember front subframe
Got error message that said "Forward Smart City Brake Support Malfunction" slso fot "smart brake malfunction" while driving. The ac stopped, the car speedometer kept going from 50 to zero. The car died and couldn't open doors, windows. Lost steering while driving. We were able to get off road and…
Rear cross member broke due to corrosion breaking off lateral arm from driver side of cross member, I may add the front crossmember was repaired due to recall for extreme corrosion not too long ago, as I research this problem I uncover many owners of this vehicle having the same issue in the…
I recently had my front subframe replaced as part of your recall, however, the rear subframe and all components attached are suffering from the exact same rust and potential component failure as the front. I was replacing my brakes today and noticed that the entire structure is on the verge of…
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the contact attempted to swerve out the way of another vehicle as she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact force to steer the vehicle to the left as the contact attempted to…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda MAZDA6s have suspension problems?
No. NHTSA has 226 owner complaints about suspension for the Mazda MAZDA6. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mazda MAZDA6 suspension?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list suspension. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix suspension problems on the Mazda MAZDA6?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,600 (half paid between $1,600 and $5,100), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about suspension problems on the Mazda MAZDA6?
The most frequent phrase is “rear subframe”, in 46 of 226 complaints, followed by “sub frame” (34).
Other Mazda MAZDA6 problems
- Air Bags problems (636)
- Structure problems (296)
- Electrical System problems (228)
- Power Train problems (198)
- Engine problems (139)
- Steering problems (136)
- Exterior Lighting problems (114)
See all Mazda MAZDA6 problems.