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Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2011 Mazda MAZDA6

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 135 safety complaints about the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 with the US government. Of those, 8 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 6 people were injured and no death is recorded. 6 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the suspension, named in 50 complaints, 37% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 89,914 miles, the median across the 61 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers November 2011 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

135 complaints on file

135

Complaints

8

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

6

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
SUSPENSION 50 · 37%
STRUCTURE 30 · 22%
AIR BAGS 28 · 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 22 · 16%
STEERING 16 · 12%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11 · 8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8 · 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 3%
ENGINE 3 · 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3 · 2%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 2%
0 23 46

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 135.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 21.

24 18 12 6
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2011 Mazda MAZDA6, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD
Overall Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated
Frontal, driver Not rated
Frontal, passenger Not rated
Side crash Not rated
Side barrier Not rated
Side pole Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 9.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

6 on file

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V782000 · October 31, 2019

Do not drive until repaired

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

Mazda North American Operations · up to 69,879 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE

19V323000 · April 25, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 51,118 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

18V717000 · October 12, 2018

Do not drive until repaired

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

Mazda North American Operations · up to 155,436 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

17V429000 · June 29, 2017

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The 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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 205,377 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

14V114000 · March 11, 2014

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

Mazda North American Operations · up to 42,000 vehicles across all model years covered

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

13V425000 · September 24, 2013

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 161,400 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

TAKATA RECALL - 2011 MAZDA 6 I WAS THE PASSENGER IN A COLLISION IN NOVEMBER 2015 WHERE THE 2011 MAZDA 6 WAS T-BONED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE (FORD FUSION), WHICH MADE THE MAZDA 6 SPIN SEVERAL TIMES, HOP A CURB, AND DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. AS THE PASSENGER (FRONT SEAT) I SUFFERED INJURIES CAUSED BY THE TAKATA AIRBAGS AND REQUIRED GOING TO THE HOSPITAL FOLLOWING THE COLLISION. INJURIES INCLUDED AT LEAST THREE FRACTURED/BROKEN RIBS AND MAJOR BRUISING ON MY RIGHT KNEE. INJURIES TOOK OVER 6 MONTHS TO HEAL, TAKING HEAVY DOSES OF PAIN KILLERS JUST TO MANAGE THE PAIN. LINGERING EFFECTS FROM THIS COLLISION CAN STILL BE FELT 7 MONTHS LATER. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN MAJOR INJURIES ASIDE

NHTSA complaint 10881443, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 187,000 miles

HAD AN HEAD ON CAR ACCIDENT ON THE STREET MY TIRE BLOW OUT AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT COME OUT, ALSO THE DRIVER AIRBAG CAME OUT BUT IT WAS DEFLATED NO AIR WAS IN IT OR WHAT EVER MAKES AN AIR BAG BLOW UP. IN WHICH COST ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint 11326689. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

I WAS IN A CRASH WHERE MY FRONT END WAS EASILY DAMAGED AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYED

NHTSA complaint 11364856. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION:SUBFRAME/MOUNTING BRACKET

1 injured · crash · towed · 200,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda MZ6. The contact stated that while her son was driving at approximately 60-65 MPH, the rear subframe had detached, causing the vehicle to spin across four lanes of traffic and then crash into the median wall. The air bags were not deployed. A police report was filed that listed the cause of failure as a passenger's side rear tire blowout due to cracks along the tire. The contact's son sustained a back injury and medical attention was received. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the rear subframe had detached. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was

NHTSA complaint 11477574, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Crossmember is rusted out and car is undriveable. There is a recall on the crossmember front subframe

NHTSA complaint 11765687. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

92,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and coming to a stop, the steering wheel was not operating properly. Several days later while the contact's wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was play in the steering wheel. Additionally, there was an abnormal sound coming from the passenger’s side wheel. The contact stated that the wheel was turning abnormally. A mechanic arrived at the residence to diagnose the vehicle and determined that the sub frame was rusted. While touching the sub frame, pieces of the sub frame fractured. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified

NHTSA complaint 11744830, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

115,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the contact attempted to swerve out the way of another vehicle as she suddenly lost control of the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact force to steer the vehicle to the left as the contact attempted to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact managed to pull over into a parking lot and called her husband for assistance. Despite the failure, the contact managed to drive the vehicle home despite the vehicle being extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact's husband managed to drive the vehicle to a local mechanic, who determined that the front subframe had failed due to excessive corrosion of the

NHTSA complaint 11738066, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Front Subframe has corroded and broke. There is a recall on the subframe that was repaired by dealership in 2019, but this repair did not fix the issue since it has now rusted through and broke. The repair was faulty.

NHTSA complaint 11730786. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Car developed a known recall issue problem, Recall 2818I. Even though Nebraska was not listed as a "salt state", it's obvious that Nebraska has similar conditions to Iowa. Attempts to contact Mazda USA corporate would not even fix the issue, citing cars age and other factors even though the damage is very specific to this particular recall.

NHTSA complaint 11722303. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
2011 Mazda6 A serious safety defect occurred on my vehicle and matches NHTSA Recall 19V-323 / Mazda Recall 2818I (front cross member corrosion due to insufficient coating) despite this recall not being associated with my VIN. Front cross member cracked due to rust, causing loss of steering control, wheel misalignment, and scraping from the front wheel. This is exactly the failure described in the recall (breakage of the cross member and reduced steering control, increasing the risk of a crash). My safety and the safety of others were put at risk. Although my VIN is not currently associated with the recall, all conditions of the recall apply to my vehicle: -2011 Mazda6 within the affected

NHTSA complaint 11713263, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda MAZDA6

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2018 58 2 —
2017 60 1 —
2016 77 1 —
2015 60 3 —
2014 137 4 —
2013 23 4 —
2012 99 6 —
2010 225 9 —

Other 2011 Mazda models

CX-9 170 CX-7 153 MAZDA3 132 MAZDA2 17

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Mazda on this site — 82 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst