Mazda Mazda6 reliability by year
14 recalls and 1,888 owner complaints across 17 model years. Best year to buy: 2013. Year to avoid: 2009.
Worst model years to avoid → — the single year to avoid for every model line we track, ranked side by side.
At-a-glance: every year color-coded
Each cell shows the last two digits of the model year and its 0–10 reliability score from NHTSA data. Click any year to see the full record. ★ best year · ✕ year to avoid.
Year-by-year reliability 17 model years · newest first
Common trouble spots across the Mazda6 aggregated across 17 model years
Common questions
What's the best year to buy a Mazda Mazda6?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume and severity weighting, the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 scores 8.2/10 — the strongest in the 2005–2021 range. 22 complaints on file, 2 active recalls. Reliability scores reflect the federal complaint record, not subjective owner reviews.
Which Mazda Mazda6 year should I avoid?
The 2009 Mazda Mazda6 scores 6.6/10 — the weakest in the lineup. 385 owner complaints with NHTSA, 1 active recall. That doesn't mean every 2009 is a problem — it means failure rates run higher than peer model years on the same platform.
Which years of the Mazda Mazda6 should I avoid?
No Mazda Mazda6 model year currently rises to an "avoid" or "high-risk" verdict on the NHTSA data — either the record is clean or sample sizes are still too thin for a confident call. The year-by-year breakdown below shows what's on file regardless.
How many years of the Mazda Mazda6 are tracked?
17 model years (2005 through 2021) with NHTSA records on file. Total across the lineup: 14 recalls and 1,888 owner complaints.
What's the most-reported problem on the Mazda Mazda6?
airbags is the most-reported category — 536 complaints across 12 model years. Average shop repair runs about $1,100.