2010 Mazda Mazda6 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Mazda6 has a complaint index of 94 and ranks 2nd-worst out of 17 model years, earning an Avoid verdict. It carries 225 complaints, 9 recall campaigns (4 do-not-drive), and leads with Structure & Body issues at 28% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 94/100
- #2 of 17 Mazda6 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 225
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- 4 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Structure & Body
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 23
- 20 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2010 Mazda Mazda6 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Structure & Body63 (28%)
- Airbags54 (24%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires51 (23%)
- Other34 (15%)
- Electrical System33 (15%)
- Steering29 (13%)
- Brakes16 (7%)
- Visibility & Wipers14 (6%)
- Engine6 (3%)
- Transmission & Powertrain5 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy in frontal or side-impact crashes, sometimes with resulting injuries.
- Some describe sudden loss of engine power and multiple warning lights while driving on the highway, accompanied by hard steering.
- Passenger-side dashboards have melted or turned sticky, with glare reflecting off the surface and obscuring the driver's view.
- Rear tires have split or lost air suddenly at low speeds, in one case shortly after a tire inspection.
- Owners report tail light bulbs overheating enough to melt the reflector housing.
- Some describe losing control after hitting a bump, with a stability or traction warning light illuminating beforehand.
2010 Mazda Mazda6 recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 a bad year?
- Among 17 model years of the Mazda6, 2010 ranks 2nd-worst with a complaint index of 94 and carries an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mazda6?
- NHTSA data shows the top problem areas are Structure & Body (28% of complaints), Airbags (24%), and Suspension, Wheels & Tires (23%), with a median failure mileage of 80,000 miles overall.
- Does the 2010 Mazda6 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2010 Mazda6, including 4 do-not-drive recalls tied to passenger airbag inflators.
- How does the 2010 Mazda6 compare to other years?
- The 2010 model's complaint index of 94 is close to the worst year, 2009, at 100, while later years like 2019 and 2021 score much lower, at 6 and 13, and earn Best verdicts.