2012 Mazda Mazda6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
73/100
#4 most-complained of 12 Mazda6 years
The 2012 Mazda Mazda6 has a complaint index of 73 and ranks 4th worst of 12 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 99 complaints, 6 recalls (3 do-not-drive), 5 crashes, 2 fires, and 6 injuries, with Electrical System issues topping complaints at 34%.
- Complaints
- 99
- Recalls
- 6
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 5 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 6 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 30 hwy
Top 2012 Mazda Mazda6 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System34 (34%)
- Airbags30 (30%)
- Other20 (20%)
- Structure & Body13 (13%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (9%)
- Fuel System4 (4%)
- Steering4 (4%)
- Brakes3 (3%)
- Engine3 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
What owners report
- Front headlights burn out repeatedly, with some owners reporting melting around the headlight assembly sockets and needing multiple bulb replacements.
- Low beam headlights are described as too dim for safe night driving, forcing drivers to rely on high beams.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal or side-impact crashes at highway speeds, leaving occupants injured.
- A vehicle caught fire while driving at 50 mph, linked to a fuel system recall for spider damage in the fuel line.
- An abnormal engine compartment noise recurred and was traced by a dealer to a catalytic converter seal ring issue.
- One vehicle rolled away and struck a wall despite the parking brake being engaged, alongside a check engine light and hard starting.
2012 Mazda Mazda6 recalls
6 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 19V323000Apr 25, 2019Structure & Body51,118 vehicles
Structure
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 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 June 13, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-631.
- 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.
2012 Mazda Mazda6 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 30 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 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.
2012 compared with other Mazda6 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?
- Compared to other Mazda6 years, the 2012 model ranks 4th worst out of 12 with a complaint index of 73 and a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 99 complaints and 6 recalls, including 3 do-not-drive airbag campaigns.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2012 Mazda6?
- Electrical System complaints make up 34% of all reports, mostly involving headlight failures, followed by Airbags at 30% of complaints, which included 4 crash-related reports.
- Does the 2012 Mazda6 have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA recall 19V782000 covers a previously replaced passenger frontal airbag inflator, and recall 17V457000 covers 2012 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles; both are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 Mazda6 compare to other years?
- Its complaint index of 73 is lower than 2010 (100, Avoid) and 2011 (91, Avoid) but higher than 2013 (27, Good) and 2019 (9, Best), placing it in the Caution category.
- Are there fuel system issues on the 2012 Mazda6?
- NHTSA recall 14V114000 addresses fuel system canister damage on 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles with the 2.5L engine; one sample complaint describes a fire while driving 50 mph tied to this issue.