Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Mazda Mazda6 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal squealing sound coming from the front of the vehicle while turning, also while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who discovered corrosion and a hole on the front passenger's side suspension cross member. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer who confirmed the diagnosis and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 85,600.
Both my back and front chassis are completely rusted through and it's a complete screwed car. Looking online there is a recall on something like this but not for my model? All I see online is people talking about how they had to scrap their cars because of this issue. The salt and snow has ruined this car and so many people have complained to no avail.
"What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" - Rear subframe. Total rust through due to improper steel alloy and insufficient paint. Same as happened for the front subframe. Front subframe was recalled as 2818I (Mazda's number) and 19V-323, 18V-631 (NHTSA numbers). NHTSA should also mandate rear subframe be recalled. "How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" - Total catastrophic structural failure of rear suspension. Would result in a total loss of control while driving. This would likely lead to a severe, possibly fatal accident at-speed. "Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" - As reported by independent service center. …
Hello, My name is [redacted] . I took our Mazda 6 in for wheel balance and alignment and was informed of very serious rust issues in the rear suspension. I was pretty shocked at what they showed me. I worked at Raben Tire for 10 years and I've never seen anything like this. I have two retired mechanic friends look at it, and they (along with the mechanic from firestone) said they cannot even fathom how this level of rust is possible (80+% of the miles on this vehicle are highway). One of my retired mechanic friends started looking into it and said he'd noticed the 09 Mazda recalls for suspension rust. We all thought that made sense given how immensely abnormal this rusting is. The recall list sent to me says "front" suspension. …
We purchased this car last year for our teenage daughter. It is making a terrible banging noise in the rear. We took it to a mechanic who stated the entire rear subframe is completely corroded, the bolts are rusted, and all the components need to be replaced. This is thousands of dollars if we can even find the parts. As the car is unsafe to drive, I'm not letting my daughter use it until we can get it resolved. After looking at all the complaints, this is a well known problem that Mazda needs to address. There was a recall for the front subframe, but not the rear. Current mileage on the vehicle is only 70,000. The rear subframes and suspension links are severely rusted and deteriorating rapidly, making this car unsafe to drive unless most (or all) the components are replaced and the metal subframes rust treated. …
Component or System that Failed: The front subframe on my 2009 Mazda 6i Touring is completely rusted through. There are holes in the frame and large flakes of rusted metal breaking off. The car is available for inspection if needed. Safety Risk: This is a serious safety concern because if the subframe fails, I could lose steering or suspension control while driving. That would put me and other drivers at immediate risk of an accident. Reproduction / Confirmation: An independent mechanic confirmed the problem and told me the car is unsafe to drive in its current condition. Inspection: The vehicle had the original Mazda subframe corrosion recall performed years ago, but now the same exact problem has come back. The car has not yet been re-inspected by Mazda, but the severity of the rust is obvious. Warning Lamps / Symptoms: There were no warning lights or messages before this happened. …
I own a 2009 mazda 6 witch is my only vehicle I had tooken it to a mechanic shop due to noise comming from the front and rear of the car under farther investigation I was notified by the mechanic that the entire front and rear subframes were badly rotted and rusty i than took the car to a mazda dealer for further inspection we're I was notified that they would replace the front sub frame under recall but I would still have to pay out of pocket for all the other suspension components long story short I was given an estimate of thousands n thousands of dollars that I could not afford and was told the car is unsafe to drive mainly due to the rear subframe and components bein severely rusted I would just like to know why there hasent been a recall for the rear subframe on this vehicle when there has been hundreds of other complaints about the same thing I'm goin through about the same year …
2009 Mazda 6 Rear subframe and springs are deemed unsafe due to extreme rusting and corrosion. The vehicle is registered and has been registered in both NY and PA (salt states), however was regularly washed and garage maintained. Vehicle will no longer pass inspection due to this issue and Mazda indicates no recall for the rear at this time and is ignoring that this is a highly prevalent issue. Mazda recalled and acknowledged this issue on these makes/models related to the front; however refuses to acknowledge and repair/recall the issue extending to the rear. The vehicle is in otherwise good shape, and the extreme rusting to the subframe/springs is not consistent with normal wear and tear. This is an extremely prevalent issue arising to these vehicles being ignored by Mazda. …
Original owner, purchased new, current mileage 35,700. The rear subframes and suspension links are severely rusted and deteriorating rapidly, making this car unsafe to drive unless most (or all) the components are replaced and the metal subframes rust treated. This is a well known problem among owners and the Mazda 6 has been recalled for rusted front subframes but not for the rear. The car spent 4 of its 13 years in upstate New York and the remainder in Alexandria VA and has shared parking space, car washes and normal maintenance with the family's 2000 BMW Z3, which has been driven 115,000 miles and shows no subframe/suspension rust damage. Mazda should be made to recall this and its other vehicles with this problem and either make the repairs or offer a substantial settlement for the inevitable scrappage of the car. I'm pursuing a class action lawsuit.
I brought my 2009 Mazda 6 to the dealership to inspect the suspension after the car began pulling to the right when braking. I was informed the front and rear subframes have failed on this car due to corrosion-even though the front subframe was serviced previously for the recall campaign with the addition of a support bracket. The front subframe will be replaced by Mazda due to the failed recall repair. However, Mazda will not cover the rear subframe at this time because it has not been recalled. The dealership recommends I do not drive the car until the rear subframe is replaced. However, the dealership quoted over $5,000 to replace it due to the high price of the subframe. There is a significant risk the lower control arms can separate from the vehicle due to corrosion, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
NHTSA investigations
Front Subframe Corrosion
In a letter dated September 14, 2018, Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of a defect in the front subframe assemblies of model year (MY) 2009 through 2010 Mazda6 vehicles in certain states with high road salt use in winter months (Recall 18V-631).
Suspension complaints in other Mazda6 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 2009 Mazda Mazda6?
NHTSA has 76 complaints about the suspension of the 2009 Mazda Mazda6, 20% of the model year's 386 complaints. The component named most often is front › wheel bearing (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Mazda Mazda6 suspension problems?
No. NHTSA lists no suspension recall for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Mazda Mazda6 suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 118,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to suspension problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.