FaultScore

Worst years for a Mazda MAZDA6

Owners have filed 2,937 complaints about the Mazda MAZDA6 with NHTSA across model years 2002 to 2021. More of them are about the airbags than anything else.

Avoid

2014 Mazda MAZDA6

196 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly electrical system.

Cleanest on record

2021 Mazda MAZDA6

19 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Mazda MAZDA6 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2021 A 19 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2020 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2019 6 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2018 C 78 1 3 10,500 Engine & Cooling
2017 B 77 1 0 23,450 Other & Unspecified
2016 D 111 19 0 34,000 Brakes
2015 D 78 11 0 22,000 Brakes
2014 D 196 23 0 40,200 Electrical System
2013 B 34 1 0 50,000 Brakes
2012 C 128 7 3 73,250 Airbags
2011 C 186 13 2 90,957 Suspension
2010 D 318 9 2 85,000 Body & Structure
2009 C 529 9 6 91,000 Body & Structure
2008 C 121 17 2 58,500 Airbags
2007 D 184 18 2 77,500 Airbags
2006 D 207 19 1 75,000 Airbags
2005 D 180 13 5 57,500 Airbags
2004 D 197 14 8 63,290 Airbags
2003 D 245 14 3 24,981 Engine & Cooling
2002 A 40 2 0 49,222 Transmission & Drivetrain

What breaks on a Mazda MAZDA6

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Airbags 638 21.7%

Worst in 2006

Body & Structure 298 10.1%

Worst in 2009

Engine & Cooling 235 8.0%

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2014

Suspension 225 7.7%

Worst in 2009

Worst in 2009

Worst in 2003

Brakes 155 5.3%

Worst in 2003

Steering 136 4.6%

Worst in 2009

Lights 116 3.9%

Worst in 2012

Worst in 2003

Worst in 2009

Worst in 2003

Tires 51 1.7%

Worst in 2009

Exactly what failed on a Mazda MAZDA6

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Body 188 55.1%
Automatic Transmission 52 15.2%
Engine 27 7.9%
Manual Transmission 14 4.1%
Pressure Monitoring AND Regulating Systems 10 2.9%
Latch 10 2.9%
Rotor 10 2.9%
Exhaust System 10 2.9%
Frame AND Members 10 2.9%
Door 10 2.9%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Mazda MAZDA6, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jun 2003 peak 59 Aug 2026

Mazda MAZDA6 problems by state

Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.

Compare the Mazda MAZDA6

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.