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U.S. public vehicle records

2011 Mazda MAZDA6: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

134 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

89,914 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 61 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 134 complaints (35.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior1511.2%
Braking behavior96.7%
Electrical and battery issues21.5%
Transmission and shifting10.7%
Fuel system concerns10.7%

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.

Suspension
47
Air Bags
28
Unknown Or Other
22
Structure:Body
21
Steering
15
Exterior Lighting
10
Electrical System
8
Structure
8
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Suspension47
Air Bags28
Unknown Or Other22
Structure:Body21
Steering15
Exterior Lighting10
Electrical System8
Structure8

Suspension: 47; Air Bags: 28; Unknown Or Other: 22; Structure:Body: 21; Steering: 15; Exterior Lighting: 10; Electrical System: 8; Structure: 8

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
5
25,000 to 49,999
7
50,000 to 74,999
12
75,000 to 99,999
11
100,000 to 149,999
19
150,000 and above
7
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0005
25,000 to 49,9997
50,000 to 74,99912
75,000 to 99,99911
100,000 to 149,99919
150,000 and above7

Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 19; 150,000 and above: 7

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 73 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.

2011
1
2012
3
2013
2
2014
4
2015
10
2016
14
2017
21
2018
12
2019
11
2020
9
2021
9
2022
7
2023
8
2024
12
2025
6
2026
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20111
20123
20132
20144
201510
201614
201721
201812
201911
20209
20219
20227
20238
202412
20256
20265

2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 10; 2016: 14; 2017: 21; 2018: 12; 2019: 11; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 7; 2023: 8; 2024: 12; 2025: 6; 2026: 5

Pattern summary

Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10436632 · 2011-11-21 (November 21, 2011)

CAR IS NEW, LESS THAN ONE MONTH SINCE PURCHASE. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED WITH EVERY FILL-UP. WHEN FILLING UP WITH GAS, AS SOON AS OR NEAR TANK IS FULL, GAS SPEWS OUT OF TANK. TOOK TO MAZDA DEALER ON 11/19/2011 AND THEY CANNOT FIND WHAT THE CAUSE IS. SEEMS LIKE A HIGHLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO HAVE GAS SHOOTING FROM THE TANK. ALSO, IT COULD BE A FAULTY VALVE THAT MAY MALFUNCTION IN THE CASE OF A ROLLOVER, CREATING A HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE SITUATION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10436632 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10450688 · 2012-03-07 (March 7, 2012)

FUEL OVERFLOWED DURING A ROUTINE FUEL FILL UP AT A NATIONAL GAS CHAIN IN THE PHILADELPHIA AREA. GAS CONTINUED TO SPEW OUT UNCONTROLLABLY UNTIL THE PUMP WAS MANUALLY SHUT OFF BY HAND. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10450688 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10454760 · 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)

I HAVE HAD AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED MY MAZDA 6 2011, IF I SLOW DOWN OR STOP FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THEN TRY TO ACCELERATE THE GAS PEDAL IS TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR DOESN'T MOVE, THEN OUT OF NOWHERE IT WILL ACCELERATE. I WAS TOLD THE VOLTAGE IN THE GAS PEDAL CENSOR AND THE CENSOR IN THE ENGINE WERE NOT THE SAME VOLTAGE, BOTH WERE REPLACED BUT I STILL CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS AND THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. MY CAR HAS BEEN BACK IN TO MAZDA 3 TIMES BUT NO SOLUTION, AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454760 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10474084 · 2012-09-06 (September 6, 2012)

PARKED VEHICLE ON FRIDAY AND ENGAGED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON VEHICLE. WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK ON MONDAY IN A.M. AND WHEN STARTED TO GIVE VEHICLE GAS, THE VEHICLE WAS HESITANT AND THEN JERKED FORWARD MAKING A LOUD CHUNK NOISE. AS I DROVE DOWN ROAD, APPROXIMATELY 2 DRIVEWAYS, THERE WAS A WOBBLING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED BECAUSE IT SOUNDED AS IF A WHEEL WAS LOOSE. I DID A WALK AROUND THE VEHICLE AND COULD SEE SOMETHING NOT QUITE RIGHT ON THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE ROTOR (4 WHEEL DISC BRAKES ON VEHICLE). UPON FURTHER I…

Owner-reported narrative. 12,124 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474084 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10503337 · 2013-03-17 (March 17, 2013)

I WAS PULLED OVER MY LOCAL POLICE FOR NO HEAD LAMP. THEY LET ME OFF WITH A WARNING. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET THE NEXT DAY AND FOUND THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A KNOWN DEFECT BY MAZDA AND THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FOUND OVER 4 DOZEN TESTIMONIALS FROM CAR OWNERS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON THE EXACT SAME MODEL. THEY WERE TOLD BY MAZDA NORTH AMERICA TO "RAP ON THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP COVER" AND THAT WOULD TURN ON THE LAMP....WHICH IT DOES. IN MY OPINION, MAZDA IS NEGLIGENT IN CORRECTING A KNOWN DEFECT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503337 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512716 · 2013-05-19 (May 19, 2013)

I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE ROAD WAS WET AND AS I ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT DEPRESS WHILE TRYING TO STOP IN THE RAIN. AS I SWERVED TO AVOID A FATALITY I CONTINUED TO TAP ON THE BRAKE BEFORE THE BRAKE WOULD UNLOCK. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN 2011. I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EACH TIME I HAVE PAID FOR BRAKE ISSUES, ROTORS BEING WARPED, BRAKES SCRUBBING TOGETHER NOT HOLDING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GET A RESOLUTION BUT NOONE HAS ASSIS…

Owner-reported narrative. 64,298 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512716 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10559168 · 2014-01-09 (January 9, 2014)

SUNGLASS HOLDER ABOVE REAR VIEW MIRROR POPS OUT WHILE DRIVING OBSTRUCTING THE DRIVERS USE OF REAR VIEW MIRROR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559168 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10627023 · 2014-08-21 (August 21, 2014)

SUNGLASS HOLDER KEEPS POPPING OUT BLOCKING THE REARVIEW. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10627023 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V425000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Reported: 2013-09-24 (September 24, 2013)

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, through August 24, 2012. The door latch mounting screws may become loose.

Consequence: If all three door latch mounting screws become excessively loose the door latch mechanism would not engage and the door might open while the vehicle is in motion increasing the risk of accident or injury.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will apply a thread locking adhesive to the door screws and retorque them, free of charge. The recall began on October 29, 2013. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's recall number is 7013I.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
14V114000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported: 2014-03-11 (March 11, 2014)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, through May 2, 2011, and equipped with 2.5L engine. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount of negative pressure.

Consequence: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module and inspect and clean the canister vent line. If a web was found in the line, the fuel tank and check valve on canister vent line will be replaced. These repairs will be done free of charge. The recall began on April 30, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's recall number associated with this campaign is 7214C.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V429000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2017-06-29 (June 29, 2017)

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
18V717000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2018-10-12 (October 12, 2018)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V323000 · Structure | Suspension:Front:Control Arm

Reported: 2019-04-25 (April 25, 2019)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.

Consequence: Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-631.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V782000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.

NHTSA campaign record ↗