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ProblemsByVin File / 2010-MAZDA-MAZDA6 NHTSA data synced 4 days ago
Mazda

2010 Mazda Mazda6 problems

The 2010 Mazda Mazda6 has 225 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2010 Mazda Mazda6 has 225 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). The most-reported system is airbags at 52 complaints, typically surfacing around 80,021 miles (~$1,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Mazda Mazda6 owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2007 Mazda6 165 0
2008 Mazda6 111 2
2009 Mazda6 386 1
2010 Mazda6 (this page) 225 3
2011 Mazda6 134 0
2012 Mazda6 99 1
2013 Mazda6 22 2
2010 Mazda Mazda6
Photo: Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Mazda Mazda6
0 5 10
Reliability score
6.8 / 10

Average for the segment. Some recurring trouble spots worth knowing about.

0
Critical
3
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2010 Mazda6?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

Buying a used 2010 Mazda Mazda6? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 80,021 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 6.8/10 model. The priciest documented failure is powertrain (~$2,500) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2010 Mazda Mazda6

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints

airbags
52 reports · fails ~80,021 mi · avg $1,100
severe
body
37 reports · fails ~80,901 mi · avg $1,500
moderate
steering
29 reports · fails ~125,025 mi · avg $700
moderate
suspension
26 reports · fails ~108,298 mi · avg $900
moderate
lighting
19 reports · fails ~81,227 mi · avg $250
severe
electrical
12 reports · fails ~63,829 mi · avg $850
severe
brakes
8 reports · fails ~24,860 mi · avg $450
moderate
powertrain
4 reports · fails ~93,917 mi · avg $2,500
severe

Your road ahead on this 2010 Mazda Mazda6

When owners report each system failing, in actual miles — so you can see what's likely behind you, what's due around now, and what to budget for next. Enter your mileage to mark where you are.

  1. ~47,900 mielectrical~$850
  2. ~75,000 milighting~$250
  3. ~84,000 mibody~$1,500
  4. ~86,000 miairbags~$1,100
  5. ~110,000 misuspension~$900
  6. ~114,000 misteering~$700

"Typical" = median owner-reported failure mileage from the NHTSA complaint record for this exact year and model. Not a maintenance schedule — a heads-up on where this model's failures cluster.

Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2010 Mazda6's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2010 Mazda6?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2010 Mazda6 · suspension
My front sub frame was completely rotted, unsafe to drive and was repaired with Mazda's recall. It now appears that the REAR sub frame is rusting at an excessive rate. I have been reading several complaints where the same incidents are happening with the rear sub frame…
2010 Mazda6 · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Mazda mazda6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v356000 (air bags) however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the…
2010 Mazda6 · electrical
Years of unexpected battery drain and rough starts which caused several other issues. Different mechanic advised of a faulty body control module BCM.
12/27/2019 · at 35,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11291512.0 · see electrical pattern →
2010 Mazda6 · airbags
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v356000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
View all 225 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2010 Mazda Mazda6? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 3

severe NHTSA 18V631000 September 14, 2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia

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.

Fix: 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 March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I.
severe NHTSA 16V594000 August 11, 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, to December 3, 2009

Failure of the ACU would illuminate the air bag warning light and prevent the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Mazda dealers will replace the ACU, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began June 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9816H.
severe NHTSA 11V134000 February 25, 2011

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 mazda6 vehicles manufactured from april 8, 2008, through february 8, 2010

As the canister is purged repeatedly during normal operation, the stress on the fuel tank may eventually result in a crack, potentially leading to fuel leakage ad an increased risk of fire.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and clean up the canister vent line, and install a spring to prevent this type of spider from entering the vent line. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before march 25, 2011. Owners may contact Mazda customer assistance center at 1-800-222-5500.

Common questions

Is the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?

It's got known weak points. With a reliability score of 6.8 out of 10 based on 225 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 has a higher-than-average rate of reported issues. The areas to watch are listed above. Whether it's worth owning depends on price, condition, and how much repair exposure you can absorb.

Should you avoid the 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

The 2010 Mazda Mazda6 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 6.8/10 — around the segment average; 3 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

Inspect the airbags first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 52 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 80,021 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 a good used car to buy?

It scores 6.8 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 225 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is airbags. Typical failure occurs around 80,021 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is airbags, with 52 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 80,021 miles. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The airbags is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $1,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 80,021 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Mazda Mazda6 has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 225 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $1,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 4 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Mazda/Mazda6. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Mazda. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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