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Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2018 Mazda MAZDA6

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

56

Complaints

1

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2018 Mazda MAZDA6 have filed 56 safety complaints with NHTSA between March 2019 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 32 of them (57%). The typical failure was reported at 11,400 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints fell 42% year on year: 7 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 12 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

21V875000 · November 12, 2021

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 121,038 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

19V497000 · June 27, 2019

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
The risk
An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 262,220 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 56.

ENGINE 32 57%
POWER TRAIN 9 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3 5%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3 5%
SUSPENSION 3 5%
STRUCTURE 2 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 4%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 2%
EQUIPMENT 1 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 12.

2019 2024 2026
2019 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

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

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · 18,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MAZDA 6. WHILE THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS DRIVING 55 MPH, HE VEERED OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A DIRT PATCH, AND STRUCK AN OBJECT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT UNBUCKLED UPON IMPACT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT BURNED THE CONTACT'S RIGHT UNDERARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT'S FRIEND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO HIS APARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000. *DT CONSUMER STATED PARTIAL RETRACT DUE TO PRETENSIONER FIRING. CANNOT BUCKLE ' 8

NHTSA complaint 11282286, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

MY MAZDA6 SPONTANEOUSLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED ON A STREET AND COMPLETELY BURNED DOWN. THE FAULT/PROBLEM CAUSE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME BUT I SUSPECT THERE WAS WIRING/ELECTRICAL FAULT AND MANUFACTURING AND DESIGN DEFECT. BOTH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE INVOLVED IN ASSISTING ME IN THIS INCIDENT. I AM STILL WAITING FOR REPORTS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT/FIRST RESPONDERS. MAZDA HAS REFUSED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION WITHOUT ME PROVIDING THEM WITH AN "INSPECTION REPORT SUPPORTING THE CLAIM A DEFECT WAS PRESENT AND SAID DEFECT CAUSED THE FIRE." AS I WAS ONLY A LESSEE OF THE VEHICLE, I HAVE NO POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE AND, THEREFORE, I CANNOT ORDER AN INSPECTION ON THE

NHTSA complaint 11349943, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

towed · 67,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda 6. The contact stated that while merging onto a freeway the vehicle did not accelerate while pressing the accelerator pedal, lost automotive power. After turning the engine off and back on the vehicle operated as normal but later while driving approximately 65 MPH the failure had reoccurred while attempting the pass a semi-truck on the freeway. The check engine warning light had also illuminated and the vehicle was eventually towed to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 67,000.

NHTSA complaint 11607569. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The car only has 70k miles on it. The engine started smoking under the hood. Immediately stopped to look. There was oil leaking but I could not see from where. I took it across the street to the Toyota dealership and had them look at it. They explained to me that there was a crack in the cylinder head and oil was leaking everywhere. Potentially causing a fire or even an explosion. The old was leaking all over the exhaust manifold and engine. I had my 2 toddlers in the car not long before this happened. This is extremely unacceptable. Currently Mazda is saying it will be 7200 to replace the engine and that cost is on me. I think that is absolutely absurd being there are only 70k miles on the

NHTSA complaint 11755535, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Got error message that said "Forward Smart City Brake Support Malfunction" slso fot "smart brake malfunction" while driving. The ac stopped, the car speedometer kept going from 50 to zero. The car died and couldn't open doors, windows. Lost steering while driving. We were able to get off road and restart and fine for 2 weeks. While at still light tonight, the car turned off. Windows were up, couldn't open door, emergency blinkers would not come on. This is very dangerous.

NHTSA complaint 11753644. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Crack in Cylinder Head of engine. Mazda has been sued about this and have issued recalls on turbo engines, but not on non turbo ones though its the same systemic design issue with these engines. Wants me to pay 5-7k out of pocket.

NHTSA complaint 11734993. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
My cylinder head is leaking coolant. There is a well known and well documented issue with these cylinder heads cracking due to poor casting. This has become such a big issue that Mazda has even recalled the cylinder heads, BUT, only if the engine is equipped with Turbo. However, this issue is becoming enormous even for non turbo owners and is a huge safety issue as it can lead to overheating, stalling, and further damage to other components. I feel very strongly that it is time for Mazda to take some responsibility and extend the cylinder head recall to the non turbo engines.

NHTSA complaint 11733118. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Car had a coolant leak due to cracked cylinder head that was defective from the factory it was fixed but now the car has engine problems again. Don’t want to keep having these issues in the future

NHTSA complaint 11729758. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
System Failure: The Power Train (6-speed Automatic Transmission) suffered a major malfunction, documented by diagnostic codes P0731 (Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio) and P0780 (Shift Error). The vehicle is available for inspection. Safety Risk: The failure caused a sudden loss of propulsion while attempting to accelerate. This created an immediate risk of a rear-end collision and left the vehicle unresponsive in the path of oncoming traffic. The transmission's unpredictable shifting makes the vehicle unsafe to operate. Confirmation: The failure and the P0731 code were officially confirmed by Castle Mazda on March 2, 2026. The manufacturer (Mazda) has been notified but has denied a remedy, despite

NHTSA complaint 11728615, 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
2017 60 1 —
2016 76 1 —
2015 60 3 —
2014 137 4 —
2013 22 4 —
2012 99 6 —
2011 134 6 —
2010 225 9 —

Other 2018 Mazda models

CX-5 347 CX-9 126 MAZDA3 107 CX-3 10

Every Mazda on this site — 81 vehicles, 161 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

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. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

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