Most common 2008 Mazda Mazda6 problems
Share of the 111 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Mazda6 complaints by model year
Best Mazda6 years: 2019, 2013, 2021. Years to avoid: 2009, 2010, 2014, 2003. Compare all years →
2008 Mazda Mazda6 recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky,…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over…
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Mazda is recalling 7,200 my 2007-2008 mazda6 vehicles with california emission specifications. The metal fuel tanks on the affected vehicles May have had the pvc protective coating on the outside of the fuel tank damaged during the assembly process which May result in reduced corrosion resistance.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the bottom surface of the fuel tank for damage to the protective coating and, if necessary, repair the coating or replace the fuel tank. The recall began on August 28, 2008.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2008 Mazda Mazda6:
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
What 2008 Mazda Mazda6 owners say
Air bags all 77 →
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Mazda 6. While driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle coming from the opposite side of the road, lost control due to icy road conditions. As a result, the contact veered to the right to avoid a collision. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed against a concrete divider. The air bags deployed sending metal fragments that injured the contact's face, as well as whiplash injuries to the neck and back. The contact required medical attention. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V344000 (air bags). The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated. 06/10/15. Updated 9/25/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Mazda 6. While driving 30 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a pole. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was taken to the contact's residence and then towed to an independent mechanic. A police report was not filed. The manufacturer was not notified. Prior to the crash, the contact was notified that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V382000 (air bags) and 15V382000 (air bags). The vehicle was taken in to be remedied. The there was one injury. The contact suffered from pain in the neck and jaw, which did not require medical attention. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000. Updated 04/13/16
Transmission & drivetrain
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Mazda 6. When the vehicle was placed into the reverse position, the vehicle jerked and moved forward without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. In addition, the contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V345000 (air bags) and 15V382000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 89,682. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Placed our 2008 Mazda 6 in reverse, the steering wheel locked up, the brake pedal would not engage and car rolled back into a telephone pole, causing moderate damage to rear of vehicle. No warning of any previous failures.
Electrical system
2008 Mazda 6 with less than 5000 miles. Starter caught on fire, dealer said rodent chewed wire. Not a warranty issue. My insurance had to pay. Pictures taken and my agent insured me when he filed with Mazda they would take care of this. Today 11/11/08 claim denied Mazda said its not their fault. What ever happened to customer service.
Driving 2008 Mazda 6 when the at light came on and the automatic transmission slipped from gear reengaged very harshly into third gear. The 5 speed automatic transmission dropped 4th and 5th gear after re-engaging.
2008 Mazda Mazda6 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 21 / 29 / 24 |
| 2.3L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 21 / 28 / 24 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 17 / 25 / 20 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 18 / 25 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mazda Mazda6 a good car?
Based on 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Mazda6 rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mazda6 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Mazda Mazda6?
The air bags — 77 complaints, 69% of all complaints for this model year, most often about side/window. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (9) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mazda Mazda6 have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2008 Mazda Mazda6, the most recent from October 31, 2019 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Mazda6?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2019, 2013 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2003. See the full Mazda Mazda6 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2008 Mazda Mazda6 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 39% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.