2008 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
111 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 111 complaints (68.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 2.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 76 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
Air Bags: 76; Power Train: 8; Electrical System: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Steering: 4; Engine: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 9 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 9 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 9; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 9; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 62 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 41 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 10; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 41; 2016: 30; 2017: 6; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10339937 · 2010-06-25 (June 25, 2010)
PLACED OUR 2008 MAZDA 6 IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND CAR ROLLED BACK INTO A TELEPHONE POLE, CAUSING MODERATE DAMAGE TO REAR OF VEHICLE. NO WARNING OF ANY PREVIOUS FAILURES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395743 · 2011-04-13 (April 13, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED, THE TWO ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL AND BREAK THE AXLE SHAFT AND THE VALVE COVER GASKETS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE 2008 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS SOME VIBRATION COMING FROM THE STEERING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BUT THOUGH IT WAS AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE VIBRATION CEASED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 64,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED TWO CRADLE BOLTS AND FIVE ENGINE MOUNT BOLTS …
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395743 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10497744 · 2013-02-11 (February 11, 2013)
WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING SHIFT SHOCK OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING FROM GEAR 3 TO 4. IT DOESN'T ALWAYS OCCUR WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD, BUT IS INEVITABLE AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMS. AS TIME GOES ON THE SHIFT SHOCK OCCURS UNDER LESS AND LESS OF A LOAD DUE TO THE WEARING OF A PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO PURCHASE A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN PURCHASING THE TRANSMISSION YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU GET A TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN REDESIGNED, OTHERWISE THE ISSUE WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. WE TALKED TO A MAZDA MASTER MECHANIC THAT S…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533325 · 2013-08-02 (August 2, 2013)
I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THE 'AT' LIGHT COME ON AND A JOLTING IN SHIFTING GEARS AND A REAL " DRAG" WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FOLLOWING FAULT CODES "'TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID INTERMITTENT" AND "TRANSMISSION FLUID PRESSURE SENSOR/SWITCH" INDICATE THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BECAUSE I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. I ONLY AVERAGE 12,500 MILES PER YEAR, HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE, HAVE NEVER …
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10308957 · 2010-02-12 (February 12, 2010)
NOVEMBER , 17 , 2009 - CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ,AND CAME TO A STOP ON THE ROAD.CAR TOWED IN AT COMPASS MAZDA IN MIDDLETOWN,NY. AFTER ONE DAY OF SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP ,CAR STARTED BY ITSELF . PAID $ 48.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS. JANUARY, 1, 2010 - CAR DID NOT START . CAR TOWED IN AT MAZDA PALISADES IN WEST NYACK,NY. AGAIN , CAR STARTED AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SITTING FOR A DAY. JANUARY , 8, 2010 - CAR DID NOT START . MAZDA PALISADES IN WEST NYACK DID NOT ACCEPT THE CAR TO BE TOWED IN STATING THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A TRAINED MAZDA MECHANIC . IN…
Owner-reported narrative. 37,363 miles reported. Look up ODI 10308957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10349499 · 2010-08-15 (August 15, 2010)
MY STEPSON WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION WITH A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE DAMAGE IS SEVERE ENOUGH TO THE LEFT REAR AREA OF THE CAR I BELIEVE THE CAR IS TOTALED. IT WAS A 40-50 MPH IMPACT. THE FUEL TANK WAS EXPOSED AFTER THE ACCIDENT AND CRUSHED. MY CONCERN AND COMPLAINT IS WHY DIDN'T THE FUEL SAFETY CUTOFF ACTIVATE AFTER A HARD IMPACT IN THE REAR? I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEVICE MANDATED BY FEDERAL LAWS THAT AFTER A REAR END COLLISION OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER THE IMPACT. IN THIS CASE IT DID START AND RUN SMOOTH. I …
Owner-reported narrative. 39,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10349499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353779 · 2010-09-03 (September 3, 2010)
WE NOTICED THAT SUDDENLY OUR 2 YEAR OLD MAZDA 6, WITH ABOUT 18,000 MILES WAS BARELY BRAKING. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY AND HAD A BRAKE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP 2,000 MILES AND 5 MONTHS PREVIOUSLY. THE FRONT BRAKES DID NOT SEEM TO BE ENGAGING AT ALL, AND WE NOTED RUST BUILD UP ON THE DISC THAT NO AMOUNT OF BRAKING COULD REMOVE. AN INSPECTION AT AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REVEALED LESS THAN 10% REMAINING LIFE ON THE REAR BRAKES, AND THEY NOTED THAT EXCESSIVE RUST HAD CAUSED THE BRAKES TO RUST OUT. THE CAR IS OPERATED IN KENTUCKY--NOT EXACTL…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10452313 · 2012-03-19 (March 19, 2012)
I TRIED TO START MY CAR ON SUNDAY MORNING (MARCH 18TH) AND IT WOULD NOT START. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY. WHEN I WENT TO INSTALL IT, I NOTED THAT THE POSITIVE CABLE HAD CORRODED TO THE POINT WHERE IT COULD NO LONGER MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BATTERY TERMINAL. APPARENTLY, THE WIRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $400. WHY WOULD THIS HAPPEN AT ONLY 39,000 MILES? I'M STILL WORKING THROUGH THIS WITH THE DEALER, BUT WANTED TO POST SOMETHING AS IT APPEARS OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I'M DEFINITELY NOT A MECHANIC BUT IT APPEARS…
Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452313 at NHTSA ↗