Mazda Mazda6: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mazda Mazda6 problems by model year, from 899 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Years to avoid: 2018 (68%, 39 drivetrain complaints). 1 of the 8 Mazda Mazda6 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; it is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2011 (7%), 2010 (7%) and 2017 (14%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2017 (14%) to 2018 (68%), up 54 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2018 drew the most drivetrain complaints (39 of 137 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 has fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mazda Mazda6 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 7% | 11 | 225 | 7/8 | 9 |
| 2011 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 7% | 7 | 135 | 8/8 | 6 |
| 2012 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 14% | 6 | 99 | 5/8 | 6 |
| 2013 Mazda6 | too few to score | – | 2 | 23 | – | 4 |
| 2014 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 26% | 34 | 137 | 3/8 | 4 |
| 2015 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 23% | 12 | 60 | 4/8 | 3 |
| 2016 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 29% | 20 | 77 | 2/8 | 1 |
| 2017 Mazda6 | no elevated signal | 14% | 8 | 60 | 6/8 | 1 |
| 2018 Mazda6 | very high | 68% | 39 | 58 | 1/8 | 2 |
| 2019 Mazda6 | too few to score | – | 1 | 6 | – | 1 |
| 2020 Mazda6 | too few to score | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Mazda6 | too few to score | – | 13 | 17 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mazda Mazda6 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mazda Mazda6 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns on the Mazda Mazda6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 19 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2011 | 11V134000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2010 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V114000 | fuel system, gasoline | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V170000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2014 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V497000 | engine | 2018 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V875000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2013 | 13V425000 | latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V173000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2014–2015 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V675000 | tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems | 2014–2015 |
| Aug 2016 | 16V594000 | air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive | 2010 |
| Oct 2016 | 16V753000 | exterior lighting: turn signal | 2017 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V393000 | parking brake | 2014–2015 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V429000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V457000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V546000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2016 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V018000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V631000 | suspension: front: control arm | 2010 |
| Oct 2018 | 18V717000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V323000 | structure | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V782000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mazda Mazda6
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mazda Mazda6
What are the worst years for the Mazda Mazda6?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mazda Mazda6 years are the 2018 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 1 of 8 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mazda Mazda6?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mazda Mazda6 years are the 2011 (7%), the 2010 (7%) and the 2017 (14%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mazda Mazda6 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 8 scored years, 137 of 665 relevant NHTSA complaints (21%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2018.
Is the Mazda Mazda6 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 1 of 8 Mazda Mazda6 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 21% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mazda Mazda6?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Mazda Mazda6 years we track, out of 19 in total: 14V170000 (Apr 2014, 2014), 19V497000 (Jun 2019, 2018), 21V875000 (Nov 2021, 2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.