Mazda Mazda6: best & worst years

2021 Mazda Mazda6 Recommended

Final-year third-gen Mazda6 with premium interior, sharp handling and full tech as standard; watch for the oil-consumption reports, but a strong used pick.

• Cracked cylinder head from a casting defect, leaks coolant and/or oil onto the exhaust manifold (a fire-risk in severe cases). Reported on both the 2.5L naturally-aspirated and the 2.5T turbo engines; Mazda has acknowledged it on turbo units. Watch for coolant loss and burning-oil smell.
• Elevated engine oil consumption, low-oil warnings between changes with no visible leak, the subject of an owner-noted technical service bulletin on the later third-gen cars.

2020 Mazda Mazda6 Recommended

One of the cleanest Mazda6 years on record, upscale, fun to drive, fuel-efficient and with very few reported issues.

• Cracked cylinder head from a casting defect, leaks coolant and/or oil onto the exhaust manifold (a fire-risk in severe cases). Reported on both the 2.5L naturally-aspirated and the 2.5T turbo engines; Mazda has acknowledged it on turbo units. Watch for coolant loss and burning-oil smell.
• Elevated engine oil consumption, low-oil warnings between changes with no visible leak, the subject of an owner-noted technical service bulletin on the later third-gen cars.

2019 Mazda Mazda6 Recommended

Refined, premium-feeling midsize sedan with class-leading dynamics and a near-spotless complaint record.

• Cracked cylinder head from a casting defect, leaks coolant and/or oil onto the exhaust manifold (a fire-risk in severe cases). Reported on both the 2.5L naturally-aspirated and the 2.5T turbo engines; Mazda has acknowledged it on turbo units. Watch for coolant loss and burning-oil smell.
• Elevated engine oil consumption, low-oil warnings between changes with no visible leak, the subject of an owner-noted technical service bulletin on the later third-gen cars.

2018 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Major refresh added the 2.5T turbo and a richer interior, but the cracked-cylinder-head casting defect is the year to inspect for coolant/oil leaks.

• Cracked cylinder head from a casting defect, leaks coolant and/or oil onto the exhaust manifold (a fire-risk in severe cases). Reported on both the 2.5L naturally-aspirated and the 2.5T turbo engines; Mazda has acknowledged it on turbo units. Watch for coolant loss and burning-oil smell.
• Elevated engine oil consumption, low-oil warnings between changes with no visible leak, the subject of an owner-noted technical service bulletin on the later third-gen cars.

2017 Mazda Mazda6 Recommended

Well-sorted third-gen Mazda6, engaging, efficient and reliable, with only the park-switch recall to verify.

• Shifter park-position switch failure, the car fails to register "Park," so the push-button ignition will not fully shut down and the battery drains overnight. Addressed by recall 17V393.
• Service-brake complaints (premature wear, soft pedal) reported on the 2014–2015 launch cars.
• Drivetrain/transmission whine that begins intermittently while accelerating, typically emerging around 50,000 miles on the early third-gen cars.

2016 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Pleasant and efficient, with the early-third-gen electrical/park-switch and brake niggles largely behind it; a solid value.

• Shifter park-position switch failure, the car fails to register "Park," so the push-button ignition will not fully shut down and the battery drains overnight. Addressed by recall 17V393.
• Service-brake complaints (premature wear, soft pedal) reported on the 2014–2015 launch cars.
• Drivetrain/transmission whine that begins intermittently while accelerating, typically emerging around 50,000 miles on the early third-gen cars.

2015 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Sharp-driving and economical, but shares the 2014 launch cars' park-switch recall and early service-brake complaints.

• Shifter park-position switch failure, the car fails to register "Park," so the push-button ignition will not fully shut down and the battery drains overnight. Addressed by recall 17V393.
• Service-brake complaints (premature wear, soft pedal) reported on the 2014–2015 launch cars.
• Drivetrain/transmission whine that begins intermittently while accelerating, typically emerging around 50,000 miles on the early third-gen cars.

2014 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

First year of the handsome SkyActiv third gen, great to drive, but the launch year carries the park-position-switch recall, infotainment and brake complaints.

• Shifter park-position switch failure, the car fails to register "Park," so the push-button ignition will not fully shut down and the battery drains overnight. Addressed by recall 17V393.
• Service-brake complaints (premature wear, soft pedal) reported on the 2014–2015 launch cars.
• Drivetrain/transmission whine that begins intermittently while accelerating, typically emerging around 50,000 miles on the early third-gen cars.

2013 Mazda Mazda6 Recommended

The cleanest second-generation year and the last of the GH; roomy and comfortable, just inspect the underbody for salt-belt corrosion.

2012 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Comfortable and well-equipped, but inherits the generation's subframe-corrosion risk and recurring headlight burnout; inspect carefully.

• Front and rear subframe / crossmember rust-through corrosion in road-salt regions, severe enough that control arms can detach; Mazda recalled the front subframe (salt-belt states) but owners report rear-subframe failures. Inspect the underbody thoroughly on any salt-state car.
• Takata airbag inflator recall also spans the second generation; verify the remedy is complete.
• Repeated low-beam headlight burnout, bulbs and the bulb socket/adapter overheat and char, requiring frequent replacement (2010–2012).

2011 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Roomy V6-available sedan whose biggest used risk is rear/front subframe rust in salt regions plus the Takata airbag recall.

• Front and rear subframe / crossmember rust-through corrosion in road-salt regions, severe enough that control arms can detach; Mazda recalled the front subframe (salt-belt states) but owners report rear-subframe failures. Inspect the underbody thoroughly on any salt-state car.
• Takata airbag inflator recall also spans the second generation; verify the remedy is complete.
• Repeated low-beam headlight burnout, bulbs and the bulb socket/adapter overheat and char, requiring frequent replacement (2010–2012).

2010 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Subframe/crossmember corrosion, airbag and headlight complaints make this a buy-only-after-a-thorough-underbody-inspection year.

• Front and rear subframe / crossmember rust-through corrosion in road-salt regions, severe enough that control arms can detach; Mazda recalled the front subframe (salt-belt states) but owners report rear-subframe failures. Inspect the underbody thoroughly on any salt-state car.
• Takata airbag inflator recall also spans the second generation; verify the remedy is complete.
• Repeated low-beam headlight burnout, bulbs and the bulb socket/adapter overheat and char, requiring frequent replacement (2010–2012).

2009 Mazda Mazda6 Avoid

The most complaint-heavy Mazda6 ever, severe subframe rust-through (control-arm detachment) plus airbag and suspension issues; avoid salt-state examples.

• Front and rear subframe / crossmember rust-through corrosion in road-salt regions, severe enough that control arms can detach; Mazda recalled the front subframe (salt-belt states) but owners report rear-subframe failures. Inspect the underbody thoroughly on any salt-state car.
• Takata airbag inflator recall also spans the second generation; verify the remedy is complete.
• Repeated low-beam headlight burnout, bulbs and the bulb socket/adapter overheat and char, requiring frequent replacement (2010–2012).

2008 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Final first-gen year, a fun, durable driver's car, but the Takata airbag recall must be confirmed complete.

• Takata passenger-airbag inflator defect, the dominant complaint across the first generation; covered by Mazda safety recalls. Confirm the recall remedy was completed before purchase.
• Early-build powertrain/engine gripes, hesitation, shudder and occasional loss of power reported on the 2005–2006 cars, easing by 2007–2008.

2007 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Engaging and dependable mechanically, dominated by the Takata passenger-airbag recall, verify the remedy.

• Takata passenger-airbag inflator defect, the dominant complaint across the first generation; covered by Mazda safety recalls. Confirm the recall remedy was completed before purchase.
• Early-build powertrain/engine gripes, hesitation, shudder and occasional loss of power reported on the 2005–2006 cars, easing by 2007–2008.

2006 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Highest first-gen complaint volume, driven mostly by the Takata airbag recall; confirm completion and check for rust.

• Takata passenger-airbag inflator defect, the dominant complaint across the first generation; covered by Mazda safety recalls. Confirm the recall remedy was completed before purchase.
• Early-build powertrain/engine gripes, hesitation, shudder and occasional loss of power reported on the 2005–2006 cars, easing by 2007–2008.

2005 Mazda Mazda6 Caution

Sporty, well-built first-gen sedan; the Takata airbag recall and some early powertrain gripes are the things to check.

• Takata passenger-airbag inflator defect, the dominant complaint across the first generation; covered by Mazda safety recalls. Confirm the recall remedy was completed before purchase.
• Early-build powertrain/engine gripes, hesitation, shudder and occasional loss of power reported on the 2005–2006 cars, easing by 2007–2008.