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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.

Owners have filed 58 safety complaints about the 2018 Mazda MAZDA6 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the gasoline fuel system and the engine.

The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 32 complaints, 55% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 11,400 miles, the median across the 15 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers March 2019 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

58 complaints on file

58

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

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.

Complaints fell 33% year on year: 8 in the twelve months to 2026-Q2, against 12 in the twelve before.

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
ENGINE 32 · 55%
POWER TRAIN 9 · 16%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 · 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 · 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 · 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 · 7%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3 · 5%
SUSPENSION 3 · 5%
STRUCTURE 2 · 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 3%
WHEELS 2 · 3%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 1 · 2%
0 15 31

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 58.

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 2024 at 12.

16 12 8 4
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 2019 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 2018 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

2 on file

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

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.

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.

Tether, Lower Anchor (on car seat or vehicle)
Have had 3 seats replaced under warranty by Graco and was told to make a report with you. The rigid latch anchors on two have been faulty after 2 months. The second one got stuck in the installed base and pulling the release button did nothing. The rigid latch on the first got stuck in the open position. The second they would move independently of each other and not lock in. The third is starting to have the same issue with getting stuck in the base. These have all happened within two months of normal use.

NHTSA complaint 11760546. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel pump is leaking, just as all the other 2018-2020 fuel pumps but mine doesn’t qualify for the recall.

NHTSA complaint 11760260. 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.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda MAZDA6

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2017 60 1 —
2016 77 1 —
2015 60 3 —
2014 137 4 —
2013 23 4 —
2012 99 6 —
2011 135 6 —
2010 225 9 —

Other 2018 Mazda models

CX-5 350 CX-9 128 MAZDA3 108 CX-3 10

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