Is the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 a bad year?
386 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mazda6 years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 are in line with other Mazda6 years. Body structure, air bags and suspension stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 Mazda6 owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 85,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 123 (32%) | 60k–128k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 75 (19%) | 42k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 76 (20%) | 94k–144k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 32 (8%) | 40k–108k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (4%) | 47k–89k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 15 (4%) | 40k–102k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 14 (4%) | 43k–130k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Steering | 36 (9%) | 93k–148k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 9 (2%) | 15k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Wheels | 16 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 14 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 85,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 386 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 4 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
3 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jul 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6: 10
These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt. Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The protective coating may not have been properly applied to the air bag control unit (ACU) and, as a result, moisture may damage the unit causing it to malfunction. Failure of the ACU would illuminate the air bag warning light and prevent the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The door latch mounting screws may become loose. If all three door latch mounting screws become excessively loose the door latch mechanism would not engage and the door might open while the vehicle is in motion increasing the risk of accident or injury.
A certain type of spider may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent line and this may cause a restriction in the line. If this occurs, the fuel tank pressure may become excessively negative when the emission control system works to purge the vapors from the canister. As the canister is purged repeatedly during normal operation, the stress on the fuel tank may eventually result in a crack, potentially leading to fuel leakage ad an increased risk of fire.
These fit kits were sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The bolt(S) used to secure the foot to the vehicle was manufactured to a hardness that may cause the bolt(S) to be brittle and potentially break under stress. This may result in the bolt(S) snapping off during use or without a load. The unsecured rack and load can then come loose while driving creating a potential road hazard, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The outer door handles may stick which may prevent the door from latching. This situation may allow the door to open while the vehicle is in motion. Driving the vehicle with the door unlatched could lead to an unbelted occupant being ejected and could result in death or injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Mazda: 197
Repair instructions Mazda sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Mazda Mazda6. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...)…
Automatic Transmission/Transaxle Cooler and Lines Flushing Procedure: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission…
Some customers may complain about high engine oil consumption
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Front Subframe Corrosion
Door Latch Failures Due to Loose Screws
Neighbouring years
2008 Mazda6: 111 complaints, keep it · 2010 Mazda6: 225 complaints, keep it.
Every Mazda Mazda6 year
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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.
Questions
Is the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 a bad year?
386 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Mazda6 years. At 85,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mazda Mazda6?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: body structure (123), air bags (75), suspension (76), electrical system (32), visibility and wipers (17).
How many recalls does the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 have?
10 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-782), Suspension (NHTSA 18V-631), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-018), Air bags (NHTSA 17V-457) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.