Mazda Mazda6 years to avoid
Across the 2015–2018 Mazda Mazda6, no model year reaches 1.6× the median of the other years with enough owner complaints at NHTSA to compare; the 2016 came closest, at 77 against a 60 median of the rest, with 58 at the other end. The 2018 drew the fewest of the years with enough complaints to compare, at 58. NHTSA holds fewer than 40 complaints for 2019, 2020 and 2021, too few to read as a quiet year rather than a gap in the records. Separately, the 2015 carries the most recall campaigns, 3. Complaint volume and recall campaign counts also reflect how long a model year has been on the road and how many were sold, so they rank years within this model rather than measuring build quality.
No model year of the 2015–2018 Mazda Mazda6 stands clear of the others on owner complaints.
Every Mazda6 model year, ranked
Every Mazda6 model year NHTSA holds records for, most complaints first. Counts are NHTSA records as of 2026-09-15; recall campaigns and complaints are counted separately because a recall is the manufacturer acting and a complaint is an owner reporting. Years with enough on record have a page of their own.
| Model year | Owner complaints | vs the 60 median | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Mazda6 | 77 | 1.3× | 1 | the electrical system |
| 2015 Mazda6 | 60 | 1× | 3 | the brakes |
| 2017 Mazda6 | 60 | 1× | 1 | the electrical system |
| 2018 Mazda6 | 58 | 1× | 2 | the engine |
| 2021 Mazda6 | 17 — too few to compare | — | 0 | — |
| 2019 Mazda6 | 6 — too few to compare | — | 1 | — |
| 2020 Mazda6 | 2 — too few to compare | — | 0 | — |
Buying a Mazda Mazda6? Check its VIN.
Model-year complaint totals do not describe one car. Confirm its identity free, then decide whether to review its reported title, mileage and auction history before you buy.
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See what the paid report includes →How to read these numbers
- A higher count is not proof of a worse car. Complaint volume rises with sales volume and with years on the road.
- The comparison is between years of the Mazda6 only. It says nothing about how the Mazda6 compares with other models.
- NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them. A complaint is an allegation, not a defect finding.
- Recall campaigns cover production ranges. Only a VIN lookup shows whether one vehicle is included and whether the work was done.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
Mazda Mazda6 year-by-year questions
Which Mazda Mazda6 year should I avoid?
Across the 2015–2018 Mazda Mazda6, no model year reaches 1.6× the median of the other years with enough owner complaints at NHTSA to compare; the 2016 came closest, at 77 against a 60 median of the rest, with 58 at the other end. The 2018 drew the fewest of the years with enough complaints to compare, at 58. NHTSA holds fewer than 40 complaints for 2019, 2020 and 2021, too few to read as a quiet year rather than a gap in the records. Separately, the 2015 carries the most recall campaigns, 3. Complaint volume and recall campaign counts also reflect how long a model year has been on the road and how many were sold, so they rank years within this model rather than measuring build quality.
Which Mazda Mazda6 year is the safest bet?
Of the 2015–2018 Mazda Mazda6, the 2018 drew the fewest owner complaints to NHTSA — 58, against the model's 60 median. Years NHTSA holds fewer than 40 complaints for (2019, 2020 and 2021) are left out: too few reports is a gap in the records, not a quiet year. Newer years have had less time on the road, which lowers their count on its own, so treat this as a starting point and check the individual VIN.
Do complaint counts mean the Mazda Mazda6 is unreliable?
No. NHTSA complaints are unverified owner reports, and the count rises with how many vehicles were sold and how long they have been on the road. They are useful for comparing years of the same model — which is what this page does — not for ranking one model against another.
How do I check a specific Mazda6?
Take the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label and run it through NHTSA's free recall lookup. That reports open campaigns for that exact vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. A model-year page cannot tell you that.