Mazda Mazda6
Owners filed 2,235 complaints across 20 model years of the Mazda Mazda6. The 2009 drew the most (386).
Which Mazda Mazda6 years should you avoid?
Going by 2,235 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the Mazda Mazda6 years to avoid are 2009, 2007 and 2004.
- 2009386 complaints, 2.8× a typical Mazda6 year, most often about the body and frame.
- 20072.4× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (2 fires, 15 crashes, 1 death).
- 20042.3× the usual share of fires, crashes and deaths for a car of its age (5 fires, 11 crashes, 1 death).
Better bets: among years old enough for a low count to mean something, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints without an unusual share of serious ones.
How this is worked out: each year is compared with a typical year of the same model, which takes most of the difference in sales out of it, and its share of serious failures is compared with every other car of the same model year, because older cars were complained about differently. A year needs 25 complaints to be judged at all. Complaints are unverified owner reports. Full method →
Every Mazda Mazda6 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 | 0 | — | — | Engine | Routine | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | — | — | Structure › Body | Routine | |
| 2019 | 6 | 1 | — | — | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2018 | 59 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2017 | 60 | 1 | — | 1 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2016 | 77 | 1 | — | 9 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2015 | 60 | 3 | — | 6 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2014 | 137 | 4 | — | 14 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2013 | 23 | 4 | — | 1 | Service Brakes | Do not drive | |
| 2012 | 99 | 6 | 2 | 5 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2011 | 135 | 6 | 1 | 8 | Suspension | Do not drive | |
| 2010 | 225 | 9 | 2 | 5 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2009Avoid | 386 | 10 | 3 | 8 | Structure › Body | Do not drive | |
| 2008 | 111 | 5 | 2 | 15 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2007Avoid | 156 | 6 | 2 | 15 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2006 | 173 | 6 | 1 | 13 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2005 | 147 | 6 | 5 | 12 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2004Avoid | 160 | 7 | 5 | 11 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2003 | 174 | 9 | 2 | 11 | Air Bags | Do not drive | |
| 2002 | 28 | 1 | — | 1 | Power Train › Automatic Transmission | Routine |
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, October 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.