What breaks most · 2002 to 2021 model years
Mazda Mazda6 problems by year
Owners have filed 2,232 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Mazda Mazda6 across model years 2002 to 2021. Three years stand out: 2009 for body and structure complaints, 2010 for body and structure complaints and 2003 for powertrain and transmission complaints. The quietest years are 2019, 2013 and 2002.
- Years to check closely: 2009, 2010, 2003
- Fewest complaints: 2019, 2013, 2002
- Complaints on file
- 22322002 to 2021, all trims
- Worst year
- 2009386 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 13626 fires · 96 injuries · 2 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 65kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 87Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 1 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (12) | |
| 174 | 11 | 9 | Powertrain and transmission (36) | |
| 160 | 11 | 7 | Air bags (55) | |
| 147 | 12 | 6 | Air bags (76) | |
| 173 | 13 | 6 | Air bags (93) | |
| 156 | 15 | 6 | Air bags (95) | |
| 111 | 15 | 5 | Air bags (77) | |
| 386 | 8 | 10 | Body and structure (123) | |
| 225 | 5 | 9 | Body and structure (60) | |
| 134 | 8 | 6 | Suspension (49) | |
| 99 | 5 | 6 | Air bags (30) | |
| 22 | 1 | 4 | Brakes (5) | |
| 137 | 14 | 4 | Electrical system (47) | |
| 60 | 6 | 3 | Brakes (15) | |
| 77 | 9 | 1 | Electrical system (11) | |
| 60 | 1 | 1 | Unknown or other (23) | |
| 58 | 1 | 2 | Engine (32) | |
| 6 | 0 | 1 | Unknown or other (2) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 17 | 0 | 0 | Engine (13) |
What fails on the 2009 Mazda Mazda6
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 32% |
123 | 1 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 |
| SuspensionStruts, springs and control arms | 20% |
76 | 2 | Shop suspension parts for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 |
| Air bags | 19% |
75 | 4 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Unknown or other | 15% |
57 | 0 | — |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 9% |
36 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 8% |
32 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 |
| Wheels | 4% |
16 | 0 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 4% |
15 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
My rear subframe rusted thru and has holes in it. It is too dangerous to drive and mazda won't recall the rear like the front subframe knowing that a lot of people are suffering from the same issue. A subframe should last a long time. My mechanic inspected the car and feels like it's not safe to drive.
-
I started noticing cracks on the dashboard on the passenger side where the airbag deploys. My vehicle was stationary when i noticed ththe cracks the following morning. I am concerned that the airbag might accidentally go off with the slightest vibrations or closing of the vehicle doors.
-
2003 mazda6 6.0 atx - car suddenly loses power while accelerating. The engine revs but no power to wheels. I have contacted local dealer without any resolution to why this is occurring. Upon a brief internet search i find this is not an isolated case. I have noticed it happens more often with ac unit on.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Mazda Mazda6 years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2009, 2010, 2003 carry the most filings on the Mazda Mazda6. The 2009 alone has 386 complaints, led by body and structure.
What is the most common Mazda Mazda6 problem?
On the 2009 model year, the most-reported component is body and structure with 123 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Mazda Mazda6 problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Mazda Mazda6 complaints that include mileage is about 65,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.