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Cross-shopped · different DNA · Different vehicle types but commonly cross-shopped

2020 Acura RLX vs 2020 Mazda Mazda6

Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.

Synced 2026-05-03 Source: NHTSA public records Reviewed by ASE-certified contributors
Quick verdict
2020 Acura RLX and 2020 Mazda Mazda6 solve the same problem differently

Buyers cross-shop these two but they're built around different priorities. The 2020 Acura RLX scores 4.7 on reliability data; the 2020 Mazda Mazda6 scores 4.7. Which one fits depends more on what you actually need from the vehicle than which one has a slightly higher score. We'll show you the data on both — your use case decides the rest.

2020 Acura RLX

4.7/5
Reliability score
2 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$0 repair exposure
vs

2020 Mazda Mazda6

4.7/5
Reliability score
2 complaints
0 recalls (0 critical)
$0 repair exposure

Stories from the shop

Buyers cross-shop the 2020 Acura RLX and the 2020 Mazda Mazda6 but they're solving slightly different problems. The reliability data tells you what breaks on each one. The right pick depends on which set of trade-offs fits your actual driving more than which score is higher.

Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.

— ProblemsByVin editorial team, drawing on the NHTSA data and shop experience.

Common questions

Which is more reliable, the 2020 Acura RLX or the 2020 Mazda Mazda6?

It's close to a tie. Both vehicles score within 0.2 points on our reliability index (4.7 vs 4.7). At this margin, either choice is defensible — base your decision on the specific failure modes that matter to you.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Acura RLX?

On the categories we tracked, the 2020 Acura RLX doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2020 Mazda Mazda6. Both have similar issue patterns.

What goes wrong more often on the 2020 Mazda Mazda6?

On the categories we tracked, the 2020 Mazda Mazda6 doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2020 Acura RLX. The two are running close.

Which has more recalls?

Both vehicles have 0 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.

Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?

Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $0 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.

Related comparisons

Reliability scores, complaint counts, and severity ratings derived from the NHTSA public records database. "Repair exposure" is the sum of average independent-shop repair costs across each vehicle's tracked problem categories and is intended as a relative comparison, not an exact prediction. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. Some links on this page are affiliate links.
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