Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 77 safety complaints
about the 2016 Mazda MAZDA6 with the US government. Of those, 9 describe a crash, 8 people were injured and no death is recorded. One recall campaign is open against it, covering the steering.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 11 complaints, 14% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 29,775 miles,
the median across the 54
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers October 2015 to August 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
77 complaints on file
77
Complaints
9
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
8
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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11 · 14%
11 14%
POWER TRAIN 11 · 14%
11 14%
SERVICE BRAKES 11 · 14%
11 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11 · 14%
11 14%
SEATS 9 · 12%
9 12%
ENGINE 7 · 9%
7 9%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7 · 9%
7 9%
AIR BAGS 6 · 8%
6 8%
STEERING 6 · 8%
6 8%
STRUCTURE 5 · 6%
5 6%
SUSPENSION 5 · 6%
5 6%
WHEELS 5 · 6%
5 6%
0815
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 77.
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 2016 at 13.
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2015 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 2016 Mazda MAZDA6, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
10.3%
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
1 on file
STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
17V546000 · August 31, 2017
The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 Mazda6 vehicles. Debris from the welding process during manufacturing of the front passenger seat frame may damage the occupant classification system (OCS) wiring.
The risk
If the wiring becomes damaged, there may be a loss of power steering assist and the deactivation of the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of a crash and the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will attach a protective pad on the seat frame. If the OCS harness is damaged, insulating tape will be applied to the harness. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1517H.
Mazda North American Operations · up to 51,943 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
2 injured · crash · towed · 56,000 miles
WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH RESULTED IN A LOCKUP OF VEHICLE AND SIDE COLLISION WITH BATTERY FAILURE
NHTSA complaint 11299671. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
2 injured · crash · towed · 50,000 miles
DRIVING ALONG A HIGHWAY (LEFT SIDE OF ROAD) I CRASHED INTO LARGE BOULDERS OF CONCRETE SCATTERED ALONG THE ROAD THAT WAS CAUSED BY A PREVIOUS ACCIDENT. TRAVELING AT 60 MPH MY VEHICLE LAUNCHED OFF THE GROUND SLAMMING BACK DOWN ON ALL FOUR TIRES. MY VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING TO THE SIDE GUARD RAIL IMPACTING THE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE 2X'S (RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD) RESULTING IN DISABLING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. TO MY SURPRISE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY (PARTICULARLY MY SIDE AIRBAGS). LATER I LEARNED THAT MAZDA (MANUFACTURE) REPORTED A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE RELATING TO A POTENTIAL MALFUNCTION OF SIDE AIRBAGS. UPON MY DISCOVERY I LEARNED THAT MAZDA HAD LEARNED OF THE DEFECT AROUND AUGUST …
NHTSA complaint 11299774, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STRUCTURE:BODY
1 injured · crash · towed · 6,800 miles
I HAVE A 2016 MAZDA 6 GT WITH STOCK 19" DUNLOP TIRES. I BOUGHT THE CAR WITH AROUND 80 MILES & AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WAS AROUND 6800 MILES. I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK GOING AROUND 72 MPH & THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE. TIRES SHOULD NOT BLOWOUT THAT QUICKLY WITH PROPER CARE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE TREAD WORE TOO FAST.
NHTSA complaint 10811562. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
1 injured · crash · towed · 54,900 miles
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MAZDA M6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 20 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWERS AS THE STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE SLIDE AND REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG WAS THE ONLY AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO DISENGAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A LOWER BACK AND NECK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED A TOTAL …
NHTSA complaint 11318837, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:CLUTCHES/BANDS:ACTUATORS/SOLENOIDS
125,166 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a burning odor was noticed inside the vehicle. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the clutch disc kit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 125,166.
NHTSA complaint 11760866. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
POWER TRAIN
The front CV axles on my car have failed. It begun with a clicking noise and vibration when accelerating. I took the car to the Mazda dealership, and they confirmed the sounds but said they weren't able to diagnose the issue and that I would have to leave my car for them to figure it out. This places my daughter and my life at risk, as well as other passengers, due to the critical role the CV axles play in operating a vehicle. More specifically, the ability to properly control my steering movement while transporting my daughter to and from school is necessary and if not present, very dangerous. An independent service mechanic has confirmed this issue and indicated that this issue has been …
NHTSA complaint 11738817, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
The vehicle exhibits dangerous electronic malfunctions. A licensed technician (MV-113255) has confirmed a sporadic unintended acceleration defect where the cruise control 'decrease' button causes the vehicle to increase speed. Additionally, the vehicle repeatedly enters 'Limp Mode' in active traffic, causing a violent jerk and a total loss of acceleration while displaying a 'Smart City Brake Support' (SCBS) failure on the dashboard. An independent inspection also documented gross mechanical neglect, including loose battery terminals and a loose transmission bellhousing bolt, which may contribute to these intermittent electrical/safety failures.
NHTSA complaint 11732963. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
113,500 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that after her husband had driven for approximately 2 hours with the seat heater activated, the passenger’s side seat overheated, and the seat started smoking. The driver stated that the seat heating element overheated and burned a hole in the seat, damaging the air bag located near the seat heater sensor. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,500.
NHTSA complaint 11694675. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
AIR BAGS
My seat doesn’t detect if passanger is in seat so my air bag engine light goes on and off it was recalled and mazda supposedly cleared the issue but seems like they didnt fix it the recall properly
NHTSA complaint 11676202. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
SEATS
1) UNKNOWN. My guess: The front seats or guard rails. 2) Very seat when braking, and coming to and from a stop. Poses as a safety risk. 3) Yes, no remedy/solution was yielded. Others on forums who visited dealership stated that the dealership said it was “normal”. Despite the other side not having the issue at all. 4) No 5) No Full assessment: The issue of this complaint lies within the front seat of the vehicle. My educated guess is that there is a defect within the seat rails of the vehicle as no remedy seems to be found upon extensive research on google and various forums. Specifically, in my vehicle and may others that I have found, have issues with the driver seat feeling loose when …
NHTSA complaint 11673547, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
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.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed August 31, 2017.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
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.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst