YearToAvoid

2010 Mazda Mazda6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

100/100

#1 most-complained of 12 Mazda6 years

The 2010 Mazda6 ranks worst of 12 model years, with a Complaint Index of 100, 225 complaints, and 9 recalls (4 do-not-drive). NHTSA data give it an Avoid verdict compared to other Mazda6 years.

Complaints
225
Recalls
9
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
5 / 2
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
23
20 city / 29 hwy

Top 2010 Mazda Mazda6 problems

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

  1. Structure & Body63 (28%)
  2. Airbags54 (24%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires51 (23%)
  4. Other34 (15%)
  5. Electrical System33 (15%)
  6. Steering29 (13%)
  7. Brakes16 (7%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers14 (6%)
  9. Engine6 (3%)
  10. Transmission & Powertrain5 (2%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy in front and side-impact crashes, sometimes leading to injuries or vehicle destruction.
  • Passenger dash trim melted and became sticky, with sunlight reflecting off it and reportedly obstructing the driver's view.
  • Electrical systems powered down while driving on the highway, triggering multiple warning lights and stiff steering.
  • Tail light bulbs ran hot enough to separate the reflector lenses from the housings.
  • Rear tires split or lost pressure shortly after being inspected, with one tire failure reported at low mileage.
  • The start/stop ignition button engaged unintentionally at low speed, locking the steering wheel.
2010 Mazda Mazda6 complaints: complaints filed per quarter342010 Q32013 Q12015 Q22017 Q12018 Q42020 Q32022 Q32024 Q3
311 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q3 to 2026 Q2; peak 2018 Q3 (34).

2010 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 18V717000Oct 12, 2018Airbags155,436 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda 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 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 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 November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

  3. 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.

See all 9 recalls for the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 →

2010 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.

2010 compared with other Mazda6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid1002259 !23
2011Avoid911356 !24
2012Caution73996 !24

All Mazda Mazda6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Mazda6 reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2010 Mazda6 has a Complaint Index of 100, the highest among all 12 Mazda6 model years tracked, and carries an Avoid verdict relative to other Mazda6 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mazda6?
Structure & Body issues make up 28% of complaints, followed by Airbags at 24% and Suspension, Wheels & Tires at 23%. Median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints is 87,500.
Does the 2010 Mazda6 have a recall?
Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2010 Mazda6, including 4 classified as do-not-drive, covering airbags, structure/body door latches, fuel system, and suspension components.
How does the 2010 Mazda6 compare to other years?
The 2010 model ranks worst of all 12 years with 225 complaints and a Complaint Index of 100, while years like 2019 and 2021 rank best with Complaint Indexes of 9 and 18.

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.