YearToAvoid

2009 Mazda Mazda6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 17 Mazda6 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2009 Mazda Mazda6 has 386 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 100 out of 100 — the highest of 17 Mazda6 model years (verdict: Avoid). The most reported problem area is structure & body (132 complaints, 34% of the total). Complaints report 8 crashes, 3 fires, and 5 injuries.

Complaints
386
Recalls
9
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
8 / 3
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2009 Mazda Mazda6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body132 (34%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires97 (25%)
  3. Airbags75 (19%)
  4. Other59 (15%)
  5. Electrical System43 (11%)
  6. Steering36 (9%)
  7. Engine17 (4%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers17 (4%)
  9. Brakes13 (3%)
  10. Fuel System11 (3%)
2009 Mazda Mazda6 complaints: complaints filed per quarter582009 Q12011 Q42014 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q12023 Q32025 Q4
508 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2018 Q3 (58).

2009 Mazda Mazda6 recalls

9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 19V782000Oct 31, 2019Airbags69,879 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.

  2. NHTSA 18V631000Sep 14, 2018Suspension, Wheels & Tires50,176 vehicles

    Suspension:front:control arm

    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, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.

    Risk: Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.

    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 charge. The recall began March 18, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I.

  3. NHTSA 18V018000Jan 9, 2018Airbags70,227 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

See all 9 recalls for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 →

2009 Mazda Mazda6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
20 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
23 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2009 compared with other Mazda6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2007Avoid881564 !20
2008Avoid751114 !22
2009Avoid1003869 !23
2010Avoid942259 !23
2011Avoid811356 !24

All Mazda Mazda6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 ranks worst among Mazda6 model years (Complaint Index 100/100, verdict: Avoid). It has 386 complaints and 9 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Mazda Mazda6?
The most reported problem areas are structure & body (132 complaints), suspension, wheels & tires (97 complaints), and airbags (75 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 82,500 miles.
Does the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2009 Mazda Mazda6, most recently reported 2019, covering airbags, suspension, wheels & tires, structure & body, and fuel system. At least one carries a Do Not Drive advisory.
What is the fuel economy of the 2009 Mazda Mazda6?
EPA rates the 2009 Mazda Mazda6 at 23 MPG combined (20 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,800. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.