2012 Mazda MAZDA6 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
99 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
66,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 99 complaints (30.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 4.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 3.0% |
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 | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 28 |
| Unknown Or Other | 20 |
| Electrical System | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 8 |
| Suspension | 8 |
| Steering | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
Air Bags: 30; Exterior Lighting: 28; Unknown Or Other: 20; Electrical System: 12; Structure:Body: 8; Suspension: 8; Steering: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 48 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 15 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 7; 2015: 15; 2016: 9; 2017: 32; 2018: 10; 2019: 5; 2020: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 7; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 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 10651816 · 2014-11-01 (November 1, 2014)
WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT RANDOMLY WENT OUT. I TRIED CHANGING BULB, WIGGLING CABLES TO SEE IF THERE WAS A LOSE CONNECT AND HEADLIGHT WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID NO KNOW ISSUES AND I WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO LOOK INTO THE WIRING BUT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT UNTIL MONDAY. I THEN STARTED SEARCHING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A VIDEO OF A 2009 MAZDA 6 WITH THE SAME ISSUE I WAS HAVING ONLY ON PASSENGER SIDE. THE GUY IN THE VIDEO LIGHTLY HIT THE HEADLIGHT ASSE…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10651905 · 2014-11-02 (November 2, 2014)
AT AROUND 50,000 MILES, I HAD A HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) GO OUT ON ME. I HAD IT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED. THESE ARE HARD TO GET TO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS SO EACH TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. AT 65,000 MILES, I HAD MY ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND THEY WENT AWAY. I THEN TRIED LOCKING THE CAR, AND MY CAR WILL NOT LOCK FROM THE INSIDE OR WITH MY REMOTE. THE CAR WILL UNLOCK, BUT WILL NOT LOCK N…
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10651905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10887689 · 2016-07-22 (July 22, 2016)
THE DASHBOARDS AND OTHER INTERIOR PANELS IS DEFECTIVE IT HAS MELTED AND FEELS LIKE FOAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS STICKY BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL. ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE DASHBOARD TURNS BLACK AND STICKY AND MAY BE RUINED. THE MELTED DASHBOARDS CAN CAST DANGEROUS GLARES ACROSS THE WINDSHIELDS, INHIBITING THEIR VISION AND POSING A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD AS WELL AS A FEAR THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY ON THAT SIDE. .
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10887689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980562 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
I HAVE REPLACED THE LOW BEAM BULBS 2 TIMES SINCE I GOT THE CAR 2/2014. IT'S CRAZY CAUSE ONCE GOT OUT .THEN YOU CAN HIT IT AND IT WON'T COME BACK ON ONLY FOR LIKE A WEEK OR SO THEN THE OTHER SIDE GOES OUT NOW I'M DRIVING AROUND TOWN WITH NO HEADLIGHTS ONLY GOT HIGH BEAMS SOUNDS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF OR THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS ABOUT TO GO OUT REPLACE THE BRAKES 2 TIMES ALREADY SINCE I'VE HAD THE CAR JUST TERRIBLE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10980562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505948 · 2013-04-11 (April 11, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE UNOCCUPIED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO A WALL WHILE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10505948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10695376 · 2015-03-19 (March 19, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V173000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10695376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10825296 · 2016-02-10 (February 10, 2016)
WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE GEAR INDICATOR ON THE DASH I WILL FLASH IN AND OUT. WHEN THE LIGHT GOES OUT THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND WHEN IT COMES BACK ON THE VEHICLE WILL REV UP CAUSING AN UNSAFE SPEED. THE ECM WAS REPLACED AND TWO MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10825296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10577715 · 2014-04-05 (April 5, 2014)
GAS TANK VENT CLOGS BECAUSE OF SPIDER WEBS AND CAUSES GAS TANK TO LEAK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10577715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10786270 · 2015-10-27 (October 27, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 6. AFTER REFUELING THE FUEL TANK, THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS AT 3/4 FULL, THE FUEL ODOR WOULD DISSIPATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10786270 at NHTSA ↗