Mazda Mazda6 Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Mazda Mazda6 model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2020 drew the fewest (2) and the 2009 the most (386).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Engine | 5★ | — |
| 2019 Among the fewest complaints |
6 | 1 | Unknown or other | 5★ | — |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
17 | 0 | Engine | 5★ | — |
| 2013 | 23 | 4 | Service brakes | 4★ | — |
| 2002 | 28 | 1 | Power train | — | — |
| 2018 | 58 | 2 | Engine | 5★ | — |
| 2015 | 60 | 3 | Service brakes | 5★ | — |
| 2017 | 60 | 1 | Unknown or other | 5★ | — |
| 2016 | 77 | 1 | Service brakes | 5★ | — |
| 2012 | 99 | 6 | Air bags | 4★ | — |
| 2008 | 111 | 4 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2011 | 135 | 6 | Suspension | — | — |
| 2014 | 137 | 4 | Electrical system | 5★ | — |
| 2005 | 147 | 3 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2007 | 156 | 4 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2004 | 160 | 4 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2006 | 173 | 3 | Air bags | — | — |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
174 | 6 | Engine and engine cooling | — | — |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
225 | 9 | Structure | — | — |
| 2009 Among the most complaints |
386 | 9 | Structure | — | — |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Mazda Mazda6 years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2009 Mazda Mazda6: 386 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 123 (32%); Suspension 76 (20%); Air bags 75 (19%).
Reports mention 8 crashes, 3 fires, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 81,000 miles. 9 recall campaigns listed.
2010 Mazda Mazda6: 225 complaints
Most-reported: Structure 60 (27%); Air bags 54 (24%); Suspension 43 (19%).
Reports mention 5 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 80,000 miles. 9 recall campaigns listed.
2003 Mazda Mazda6: 174 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 36 (21%); Power train 36 (21%); Air bags 30 (17%).
Reports mention 11 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 25,000 miles. 6 recall campaigns listed.
The Mazda Mazda6 years with the fewest complaints
2020 Mazda Mazda6: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 1 (50%); Service brakes 1 (50%); Structure 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Mazda Mazda6: 6 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (17%); Engine 1 (17%); Forward collision avoidance 1 (17%).
1 recall campaign listed.
2021 Mazda Mazda6: 17 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 13 (76%); Visibility/wiper 2 (12%); Back over prevention 1 (6%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Mazda Mazda6 owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 58 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11,400 |
| 2017 | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23,500 |
| 2016 | 77 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 30,000 |
| 2015 | 60 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22,000 |
| 2014 | 137 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 39,000 |
| 2013 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 50,000 |
| 2012 | 99 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 66,000 |
| 2011 | 135 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 89,914 |
| 2010 | 225 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 80,000 |
| 2009 | 386 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 81,000 |
| 2008 | 111 | 15 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 65,000 |
| 2007 | 156 | 15 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 78,000 |
| 2006 | 173 | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 75,000 |
| 2005 | 147 | 12 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 58,000 |
| 2004 | 160 | 11 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 66,100 |
| 2003 | 174 | 11 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 25,000 |
| 2002 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49,222 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Mazda Mazda6 recalls
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture (2003–2008 model years; 308,992 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2017; 17V474000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2003–2008 model years; 308,591 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2018; 18V402000)
- Software Error May Cause Engine Stall (2018–2019 model years; 262,220 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2019; 19V497000)
- Parking Brake Actuators may Corrode (2014–2015 model years; 227,814 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2017; 17V393000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2009–2011 model years; 205,377 vehicles across all models; filed Jun 2017; 17V429000)
All 28 Mazda Mazda6 recall campaigns · Mazda Mazda6 problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Mazda Mazda6 years FAQ
Which Mazda Mazda6 year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2020 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Mazda Mazda6 years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2009, 2010 and 2003 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Mazda Mazda6 problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (636 of 2,234 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Mazda Mazda6 have?
NHTSA lists 28 recall campaigns covering the Mazda Mazda6. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Mazda Mazda6 recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.