2012 Mazda MAZDA6

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 has 128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: we've had this car in three time's they have changed air bag control module. found resistance at connector high 25.4 ohms cleaned and reset. and the third time witch was same day after they return car a few miles down the road air bag light was back on. they failed to right it up they took it back i. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 5 crash reports 7 injuries

128

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

30 complaints

23%

• WE'VE HAD THIS CAR IN THREE TIME'S THEY HAVE CHANGED AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. FOUND RESISTANCE AT CONNECTOR HIGH 25.4 OHMS CLEANED AND RESET. AND THE THIRD TIME WITCH WAS SAME DAY AFTER THEY RETURN CAR A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEY FAILED TO RIGHT IT UP THEY TOOK IT BACK I
• THE DASHBOARDS AND OTHER INTERIOR PANELS IS DEFECTIVE IT HAS MELTED AND FEELS LIKE FOAM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT IS STICKY BEHIND THE STEERING COLUMN AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL. ANYTHING THAT TOUCHES THE DASHBOARD TURNS BLACK AND STICKY AND MAY BE RUINED. THE MELTED DASHBOARDS CAN CAST DANGE
• TAKATA RECALL- THE DASHBOARD WHERE THE AIR BAG IS LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR IS CRACKING OPEN.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“WE'VE HAD THIS CAR IN THREE TIME'S THEY HAVE CHANGED AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. FOUND RESISTANCE AT CONNECTOR HIGH 25.4 OHMS CLEANED AND RESET. AND THE THIRD TIME WITCH WAS SAME DAY AFTER THEY RETURN CAR A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEY FAILED TO RIGHT IT UP THEY TOOK IT BACK I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

28 complaints

22%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT LIGHT; THEREFORE, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LOW BEAM BULB COULD BE REPLACED WITH A BETTER BULB. THE HEADL
• FRONT PASSENGER HEADLAMP INTERMITTENTLY GOES OUT. *TR
• FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3X IN 1 YEAR.I HAVE PURCHASED UPGRADED BULBS WHICH HAVE NOW GONE OUT WITHIN 2 MONTHS OF THE CHANGE, THEY DID NOT SUPPLY ANY ADDITIONAL LIGHT AND HAVE NOT LASTED ANY LONGER BEFORE BURNING OUT THAN THE CHEAPER LIGHTS. HEADLIGHT CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH NIGHT DRIVING.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT LIGHT; THEREFORE, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LOW BEAM BULB COULD BE REPLACED WITH A BETTER BULB. THE HEADL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

20 complaints

16%

• OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OF MY 2012 MAZDA 6 WAS BECOMING STICKY AND LOOKED AS IF IT WERE MELTING. IT ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A SMELL AND CRACKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP WHILE BECOMING MORE REFLECTIVE THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH REMAINS NORMAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN GOO
• THE DASHBOARD IS MELTING AND SHINY
• WHEN THE CAR STANDS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS IT MAKES A GRINDING SOUND WITHIN SECONDS AFTER START. I HAVE SPENT THREE YEARS TRYING TO GET IT FIXED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP MANY TIMES. FIRST ITS THIS THEN THAT BUT REMAINS UNFIXED. ON THE INTERNET YOU CAN SEE COMPLAINTS STARTING WITH 2009. I TRIED TO TALK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OF MY 2012 MAZDA 6 WAS BECOMING STICKY AND LOOKED AS IF IT WERE MELTING. IT ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A SMELL AND CRACKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP WHILE BECOMING MORE REFLECTIVE THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH REMAINS NORMAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN GOO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

• AT AROUND 50,000 MILES, I HAD A HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) GO OUT ON ME. I HAD IT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED. THESE ARE HARD TO GET TO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS SO EACH TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMP
• HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD TO PULL OVER AND BUMP THE HEADLIGHTS TO MAKE THEM WORK. CHECKED THE FUSE AND ALL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AT AUTOSHOP. THEY FOUND NOTHING, BUT SAID THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN MAZDA 6 CARS BEFORE AND THERE IS A FAULT IN THE DESIGN NOR IS THERE ANY SOLUTION TO THE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“AT AROUND 50,000 MILES, I HAD A HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) GO OUT ON ME. I HAD IT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED. THESE ARE HARD TO GET TO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS SO EACH TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

12 complaints

• OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OF MY 2012 MAZDA 6 WAS BECOMING STICKY AND LOOKED AS IF IT WERE MELTING. IT ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A SMELL AND CRACKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP WHILE BECOMING MORE REFLECTIVE THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH REMAINS NORMAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN GOO
• THE SUNROOF EXPLODED SPONTANEOUSLY WHILE DRIVING TODAY.
• I BOUGHT MY MAZDA 6 SECOND HAND, AND I NOTICED THAT WHEN THE SUN GETS HOT THE DASHBOARD STARTS LITERALLY MELTING. THE SMELL WHEN IS HOT IS LIKE SOME KIND OF CHEMICAL. ALSO THE SHINY SURFACE INTERFERE WITH THE DRIVERS VIEW.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 128 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: WE'VE HAD THIS CAR IN THREE TIME'S THEY HAVE CHANGED AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. FOUND RESISTANCE AT CONNECTOR HIGH 25.4 OHMS CLEANED AND RESET. AND THE THIRD TIME WITCH WAS SAME DAY AFTER THEY RETURN CAR A FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD AIR BAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON. THEY FAILED TO RIGHT IT UP THEY TOOK IT BACK I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS DO NOT GIVE SUFFICIENT LIGHT; THEREFORE, THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS HAD TO BE USED IN ORDER TO SEE THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LOW BEAM BULB COULD BE REPLACED WITH A BETTER BULB. THE HEADL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD OF MY 2012 MAZDA 6 WAS BECOMING STICKY AND LOOKED AS IF IT WERE MELTING. IT ALSO BEGAN TO EMIT A SMELL AND CRACKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP WHILE BECOMING MORE REFLECTIVE THAN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHICH REMAINS NORMAL. I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED IN GOO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AT AROUND 50,000 MILES, I HAD A HEADLIGHT (LOW BEAM) GO OUT ON ME. I HAD IT REPLACED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. A FEW WEEKS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WENT OUT AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED. THESE ARE HARD TO GET TO IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TOOLS SO EACH TIME I HAD TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)