Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 7% | 0 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 7% | 14,000 miles |
| 2016 | 14 | 18% | 43,000 miles |
| 2015 | 17 | 28% | 29,000 miles |
| 2014 | 17 | 12% | 56,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 22% | 19,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2011 | 4 | 3% | 76,000 miles |
| 2010 | 16 | 7% | 30,000 miles |
| 2009 | 9 | 2% | 51,000 miles |
| 2008 | 3 | 3% | 19,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% | 43,000 miles |
| 2006 | 7 | 4% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% | 38,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 7% | 35,000 miles |
| 2003 | 24 | 14% | 10,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 7% | 85,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I am having my brake pads changed at a local mechanic and when changing the pads, the mechanic was unable to change them because the rotors and calipers were rusted and the brake pistons stuck. The previous recall only considered Mazda 6 up to 2013 but my 2018 has had the same problem.
On [redacted] I purchased a Mazda 6 at Ocean Mazda in Miami, Florida. The car has 18,700 miles. The reason why the car has only 18K miles it's because out of the 4 years we have owned it, it was not used as much as a result of the COVID pandemic and my daughter attending online classes. I have always done timely maintenance services as required by Mazda at our service dealer Ocean Mazda and have proof of maintenance records to confirm the minor maintenance that have been done, oil change, tire rotation, battery replacement and a recall. This past Saturday [redacted] I took our Mazda for an oil change; and I was informed that a Five Point Inspection showed that the Driver Rear brake caliper and pad needed to be replaced because it was measuring 2% lining compared to the three other calipers which showed a 6% lining. …
The part was purchased via Rock auto and installed at home DIY. The vehicle failed to return form "maintenance" mode for the rear parking brake. Took it to a Mazda dealer and they determined the Calipers were both manufactured incorrectly or the "spline gear" in the rear of the caliper that meshes to the Electronic Parking Brake actuator. This caused the parking brake to stay in maintenance mode, making it unusable for parking nor emergency braking, making the vehicle undrivable. It also caused Damage that incurred costs for parts and labor of the vehicle. The vehicle can still be driven and the only way to know its potentially unsafe is the light in the dash for the brake maintenance mode. At this time its unclear if this is the only issue with this part. Jason at Dynamic Friction technical support is investigating.
On a clear lane with the forward car 5 car lengths away with traffic flowing, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) activated slowing my car down from 65mph to 30mph. I deactivated AEB on my exit and changed the AEB distance from "normal" to "near".
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D) or reverse(R), the vehicle failed to move. The electronic parking brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, deactivated the electronic parking brake, and forcefully depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that he had to pay to repair the vehicle since the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (Parking Brake). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was in the process of towing the vehicle to the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not assist as the VIN was not included in the recall. A case was filed. …
I was driving between 40-50 MPH at a consistent speed and I began to have to put the brake pedal to the floor in order to slow down the car. Even when doing this the car does not slow down at the rate expected and stopping distance has increased by more than 50 percent. Have been told there is Cracked/leaking bore diameter to the master brake cylinder housing is causing pressure and fluid loss, into other internal parts of the braking system. Not visible externally. Mechanic states that they have encountered this problem with several of this year make and model with this exact issue. The shop was able to top off the brake fluid which slightly improved performance but the issue still remains. Car is at 104K miles.
Mazda recalled the problem with the emergency brake(recall1217F) .The dealership did some cosmetic fix that did not prevent it from happening. The emergency brake when applied activated a lever when the brake is released the lever returns to it's original position.The recall was supposed to address the corrosion on the lever shaft that causes it to stick and not release the brake.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Mazda 6. While driving 26 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a rear end collision. The contact stated the warning system did not activate and the automatic braking feature did not engage. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. A police report was filed and no injuries were reported. The approximate failure mileage was 4,700.
Related recalls (2)
Parking brake
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable.
Parking brake › Indicator light
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 135, "passenger car brake systems." during production, the float in the fluid level sensor in the brake reservoir can be forced off of the guide rail during the filling of the master cylinder.
Remedy: Mazda has not yet provided a remedy for this campaign. Owner notification began July 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Mazda6 years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (24), 2014 (17), 2015 (17), 2010 (16) and 2016 (14) model years. Brake complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Mazda Mazda6 brake problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 17V-393 (parking brake, Jun 22, 2017); 03V-207 (indicator light, Jun 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda Mazda6 brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles; 63% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the foundation components › disc › rotor (10 mentions), followed by the foundation components › hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (3).
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.