Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 | 3% | 8,000 miles |
| 2017 | 2 | 3% | 4,000 miles |
| 2016 | 5 | 6% | 7,000 miles |
| 2015 | 6 | 10% | 4,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 13% | 67,000 miles |
| 2012 | 12 | 12% | 96,000 miles |
| 2011 | 30 | 22% | 101,000 miles |
| 2010 | 60 | 27% | 89,000 miles |
| 2009 | 123 | 32% | 85,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 90,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 3% | 83,000 miles |
| 2006 | 7 | 4% | 86,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 3% | 86,000 miles |
| 2004 | 15 | 9% | 95,000 miles |
| 2003 | 11 | 6% | 80,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I have a 2016 Mazda 6 gt with stock 19" dunlop tires. I bought the car with around 80 miles & at the time of the incident was around 6800 miles. I was traveling to work going around 72 MPH & the left rear tire blewout causing an accident on the interstate. Tires should not blowout that quickly with proper care of the vehicle. The tire tread wore too fast.
Driving along a highway (left side of road) I crashed into large boulders of concrete scattered along the road that was caused by a previous accident. Traveling at 60 MPH my vehicle launched off the ground slamming back down on all four tires. My vehicle then spun out of control crashing to the side guard rail impacting the side of the vehicle 2x's (right side of road) resulting in disabling damage to my vehicle. To my surprise the airbags did not deploy (particularly my side airbags). Later I learned that Mazda (manufacture) reported a recall for my vehicle relating to a potential malfunction of side airbags. Upon my discovery I learned that Mazda had learned of the defect around August 2019, but had not issued a recall notice on their website until January 1st 2020. …
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the rear end on the passenger's side. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the rear end of the vehicle was severely corroded. The contact reached out to a mobile independent mechanic, and it was determined that the underbody of the vehicle was severely damaged and could not be repaired or replaced. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.
Premature sub-frame corrosion front and rear due to road salt and poor part finishing affecting most underbody components. All exposed stamped structural sub-frame components rusting at weld locations. Critical parts with severe rust and imminent failure: Lower Rear Control Arms (Left & Right), Rear Stabilizer Links (Left & Right). Potentially hazardous corrosion on Front Lower Control Arms. Rear Cross-member rusting at all weld locations. Cat. Sensor Protector Shield has disintegrated. Available for inspection upon request. Failure has not happened yet, but when it does vehicle control will be compromised. Dealer identified problems 12/18/21 and recommended/quoted repair. Vehicle inspected by dealer only. No indicator warnings exist for structural corrosion.
Takata recall: I was hit from behind very hard and then hit from side by another car and knocked off freeway on to a fence. The side airbags didn't inflate and instead just slapped my body leaving red marks on my arm. I was thrown into side of car & steering wheel several times and unable to work for two months. Severe concussion with memory loss. I was driving north on mopac expressway in austin, texas at 58mph. The person who hit me said he was changing lanes & did not see me. Car was totaled.
I was driving normal to work, no speeding, no heavy traffic, traffic is normal, the car in front of me was 3 car-space ahead of me, but all the sudden I saw my front wind shield cracked, it started small, and then as I kept driving, the crack grows longer & longer, then the crack start to split into few more smaller cracks, I didn't see any rocks or didn't hear anything hit the wind shield, it just all the sudden crack a line, watching it grows longer, and then I tried to open my side windows, then the crack would stop growing. I got nervous & drove like 50mph arrived at my work parking lot, but after work when I drove home (at night) I don't notice the crack grows anymore. I suspect it has something to do with the heat & air pressure due to improper installment of the wind shield. Im not sure.
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure) where a coating was sprayed on the passenger side lower control arm and the area was drained. After receiving the recall repair, the contact became aware that the vehicle was pulling to the right and the steering wheel was tilted to the left. The front passenger's side tire was slightly turned inward. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the front cross member on the passenger's side was rusted, causing several fractures. After inspecting the damaged area, the mechanic confirmed that it was the area that was repaired under recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. …
Related to Mazda recall number 2818i - front frame rotting out. They applied a bandaid fix under the recall, to only 1 side of the vehicle and the part they used does not even connect to the actual suspension pieces that are rotting out of the frame. It is basically a plate to keep the rotting frame from separating completely on only 1 side. The problem is the entire frame is still rotting at a crazy excessive rate. I have had many used, older vehicles and have never seen a car so new almost rendered undrivable due to the frame condition. My mechanic said it should have all been replaced given how much corrosion/rust is on the entire frame instead of only a bracket on one side... And the fix they performed is nothing more than a liability treatment to keep the car from completely falling apart and killing someone when the frame fails on that side. …
Related recalls (3)
Structure
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of…
Structure
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont,…
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of…
Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and attachments
Mazda is recalling 29,000 my 2009 mazda6. 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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the door handles and if necessary repair or replace the handles free of charge. The recall began on February 13, 2009. Owners May contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Mazda6 years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2009 (123), 2010 (60), 2011 (30), 2004 (15) and 2012 (12) model years. Body complaints make up 32% of all complaints for the 2009.
Is there a recall for Mazda Mazda6 body problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 19V-323 (structure, Apr 25, 2019); 18V-631 (structure, Sep 14, 2018); 09V-043 (hinge and attachments, Feb 4, 2009). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda Mazda6 body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 82,000 miles; 22% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (187 mentions), followed by the body › door (10).
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.