Mazda Mazda6: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
2,236 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Mazda Mazda6, model years 2002 to 2021. No model year stands out for the engine or transmission against the others. Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2013, 2002, 2015. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 28 | quiet: 2 of 17 | 1 | |
| 2003 Mazda6 | 174 | — | 9 | |
| 2004 Mazda6 | 160 | — | 7 | |
| 2005 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 147 | — | 6 | |
| 2006 Mazda6 | 170 | — | 6 | |
| 2007 Mazda6 | 156 | — | 6 | |
| 2008 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 111 | — | 5 | |
| 2009 Mazda6 | 386 | — | 10 | |
| 2010 Mazda6 | 225 | — | 9 | |
| 2011 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 136 | — | 6 | |
| 2012 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 100 | — | 6 | |
| 2013 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 23 | quiet: 1 of 17 | 4 | |
| 2014 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 137 | — | 4 | |
| 2015 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 60 | quiet: 3 of 17 | 3 | |
| 2016 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 77 | quiet: 6 of 17 | 1 | |
| 2017 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 60 | quiet: 4 of 17 | 1 | |
| 2018 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 60 | quiet: 5 of 17 | 2 | |
| 2019 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 6 | — | 1 | |
| 2020 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 2 | — | 0 | |
| 2021 Mazda6FEW REPORTS | 18 | — | 0 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Mazda models
Mazda 626 · Mazda B-Series Truck · Mazda CX-30 · Mazda CX-5 · Mazda CX-50 · Mazda CX-7 · Mazda CX-9 · Mazda CX-90 · Mazda MPV · Mazda MX-5 · Mazda Mazda3 · Mazda Mazda5 · Mazda Protege · Mazda RX-8 · Mazda Tribute. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 200320042006200720092010