Mazda 6 Common Problems Every Owner Should Know

The Mazda 6 is popular for its reliability and dependability. However, the vehicle isn’t without some issues that owners commonly experience. If you’re planning to get this vehicle, you may be wondering what common problems it exhibits before you get one.

Mazda 6 common problems include:

• Engine failure
• Overheating engine
• Transmission system issues
• Melting dashboard
• Hesitation during acceleration
• Engine ticking noise
• Airbag problems
• Sunroof explosion
• Excessive paint chipping

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the most common problems Mazda 6 owners experience. By knowing these problems and their potential causes, you’ll be able to easily identify them when they arise and know how to handle them.

Mazda 6 Common Problems

Here are the most common problems with Mazda 6 and potential solutions to consider for each of them:

Engine failure

One of the most common problems experienced by Mazda 6 owners is engine failure.

This is especially the case for the 2004 model year, which received the highest number of complaints for engine failure according to the car complaints website.

The average mileage when the engine failure is likely to catch up with your Mazda 6 is around 98,000 miles.

Most owners of this vehicle suggest that the exhaust system being too restrictive or simply poorly designed may be the cause behind the engine failure.

Mechanics are still unable to pinpoint the exact reason for the engine failing in this Mazda sedan.

Some car owners report hearing a knocking sound and no warnings before the engine failure.

Overheating engine

The Mazda 6 engine is also prone to overheating as reported by RepairPal. They state that 162 vehicle owners have reported this issue in their vehicles.

This issue is more common in model years 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. The average mile mark when this issue may happen in the vehicle is around 125,224 miles mark.

Overheating in this vehicle is usually attributed to issues with the cooling fan operation. This can be caused by a malfunctioning cooling fan control module.

When the engine overheats, it may cause things to warp, seals to blow out, formation of leaks, and the engine may detonate.

In this case, the best solution would be to diagnose and fix the issue. The fix could be something as easy as control module replacement.

However, if extensive damage has already occurred by overheating, you may need to do a total engine replacement, which is costly.

Transmission system issues

Another common problem most Mazda 6 owners deal with is issues with the tranny system.

The 2014 Mazda 6 model seems to be the most affected model by transmission issues, judging by the number of owners who reported this problem.

Even worse, this issue catches up with the vehicles at a low mileage mark of around 55,000 miles (for the 2014 model year).

The 2008 model was also heavily affected by transmission problems. For this model year, the issue occurred at a higher mileage of around 130,000 miles.

The car owners reported that their transmission failed with little warning. Some owners also noted that their vehicle trans was working fine at one moment and the next moment it completely failed.

Owners who had transmission system issues reported delayed shifting, rough shifting, and transmission shifting.

Jolting and vibrations during gear changes were also reported. In most cases, the car owners had to replace the transmission system.

Melting dashboard

Most Mazda 6 owners have also reported the issue of their dashboard melting.

The model years from 2009 to 2013 were on the receiving end of this issue as their dashes were unable to withstand the heat from the sunlight.

As a result, they would start melting alongside the glue used to cover them (the dash). And the result is sticky film formation. A sticky dash will be a nuisance, no doubt.

Even worse, a melting dash will become shiny. And when the light falls on it, it reflects on your vehicle’s windshield.

You may then be unable to see through the windshield—resulting in poor visibility that leads to potential accidents.

The most common solutions in this case include dashboard replacement.

Mazda usually offers a 10-year warranty for the dash, so you should look if your dash is still warranted so they can fix it for you at no cost to you.

However, if your car has run out of warranty period, you’ll need to do the dash replacement on your own.

Stalling under acceleration

The Mazda 6 owners have also reported issues with the vehicle acceleration. Most drivers complain about the car hesitating when they attempt to accelerate from a stop or when already in drive mode.

This is usually a frustrating issue for Mazda 6 owners and makes the vehicle difficult to drive. The hesitation issue can also be dangerous when driving on the highway from an off-ramp.

Some of the most common reasons why this issue may happen include failing mass airflow sensors, malfunctioning fuel pumps, throttle position sensors not working properly, or even dirty/failing fuel injectors.

A dirty throttle body, bad spark plugs, and check engine light staying on are other potential reasons behind your car stalling during acceleration.

When you experience this issue with your Mazda 6, we advise you to have a professional mechanic inspect your car and find out the reason behind the hesitation when you attempt to accelerate.

The mechanic will then recommend the necessary repairs to help solve the issue and make your car accelerate smoothly again.

Mazda 6 engine ticking noise

The Mazda 6 engine is also prone to making a ticking noise. According to RepairPal, most of the time this problem is caused by low oil pressure or level, exhaust leaks, and issues with the ignition system.

Or it could be due to completely other issues than those listed above.

However, it’s worth noting that sometimes, the issue could be caused by a cold engine. Therefore, as long as the oil pressure and level are good, and there are no additional problems, then it’s probably nothing to be worried about.

In most cases, the noise from the engine is clearly heard when the car is running at idle.

The ticking noise issue can catch up with cars at an early mileage mark of as low as 4,800 miles as is the case with this car owner. You may also hear the ticking noise when you try to accelerate your Mazda 6.

When faced with the ticking noise issues from your engine, we advise you to check your Mazda 6 oil level and if necessary, get an oil change. The oil change will make the noise disappear.

However, sometimes the oil may fail to fix the issue, but if it is low or overdue, it will probably lead to the clicking sound.

Mazda 6 airbag problems

The Mazda 6 vehicle is also prone to airbag problems. Most owners’ complaints are related to the infamous Takata recalls that affected tens of millions of other vehicles, not just the Mazda 6.

The Japanese-manufactured airbags were unable to meet their expected job. This is especially the case when exposed to high heat and humidity.

They would explode due to degradation of their propellant—leading to firing off sharp metal pieces that could cause serious injuries and even death!

Fortunately, Mazda issued a recall in 2019 that affected the 2003 to 2012 Mazda 6 and MazdaSpeed 6 model years.

That said, whether you own a Mazda or planning to buy a used one, we advise you to run the VIN on the NHTSA website or the Mazda lookup tool on their official website. You’ll be able to see if your vehicle model has been subjected to this recall.

If your vehicle has been affected by the recall, you’d want to have it fixed by your dealership. Also, due to the severity surrounding this issue, it’s advisable to let the dealership fix it for you.

Sunroof explosion

Many Mazda 6 owners have also reported their vehicle sunroofs exploding suddenly, without any apparent reason.

Note that this issue isn’t caused by the impact of objects falling on it but the glass tends to break on its own.

Also, note that this issue doesn’t affect Mazda 6 but other Mazda vehicle models as well.

According to the complaints from most of the vehicle owners, this issue usually happens on sunny days. And it tends to affect vehicle models from 2012 up to 2021.

Since this issue happens on sunny days, most vehicle owners have concluded that it’s probably caused by a design defect. It could be that the manufacturer didn’t account for heat expansion when designing the sunroof.

If your sunroof shatters, you’re not required by law to have it fixed. Nonetheless, we advise you to have it replaced.

Consider contacting your dealership to see if they can replace it if your vehicle is under warranty.

If the dealership won’t replace it, you may want to contact your insurance. Note that some car owners stated that Mazda was kind enough to reimburse their insurance deductibles.

Excessive body paint chipping

Many Mazda 6 owners have also reported the issue of excessive chipping of their vehicle body paint. This can happen anywhere, including on the hood and front bumper.

Excessive chipping will affect your vehicle’s appearance and even allow rust to form if not addressed on time.

This issue affects most of the vehicle model years. In some cases, Mazda was forced to repaint sections as a way of addressing this problem.

Going by the owners’ complaints, the issue seems to be more prevalent in vehicle models with red paint. Car models with blue or black paints don’t seem to have any chipping issues.

The issue is most probably due to Mazda doing a bad paint job on their vehicles.

As they say, prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, if the red model Mazda6 seems to be chipping-prone, then you should simply avoid it and go for other color options.

However, if you are stuck on the red model, then you’ll need to consider giving it a ceramic coating treatment or applying a clear vinyl protective vinyl to it. Waxing may also help fix this issue.

Which Mazda 6 models should you avoid?

Based on the data collected by the carproblemzoo website, the Mazda 6 models with the most common problems include the 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2016 models.

Carcomplaints statistics also seem to concur with this data, further confirming that these are the model years for Mazda 6 you’d want to avoid these model years at all costs.

Still at it, the Mazda 6 model years that seem to register fewer problems include the 2017, 2019, and 2020 models.

Therefore, if you’re looking for a used Mazda 6, you may want to narrow your search to any of these models.

If you’re interested in learning more about common problems in Mazda vehicles, you might also find our articles on Mazda Bongo common problems and Mazda 3 common problems helpful. These resources provide insights into the issues faced by Mazda vehicle owners.

Conclusion

Mazda 6 has its fair share of problems, just like any other vehicle. The most common problems reported by vehicle owners include engine failure, overheating engine, transmission system issues, melting dashboards, hesitation during acceleration, engine ticking noise, airbag problems, sunroof explosion, and excessive paint chipping.

Whether you’re getting a used Mazda 6 or already own one, knowing these problems and what causes them will help you get better equipped to handle them and keep your Mazda 6 in good condition. Timely repairs and regular maintenance of your vehicle can help you keep your Mazda 6 in top condition and prevent most of these problems.