YearToAvoid

2015 Mazda Mazda6 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2015 Mazda Mazda6 ranks 11th of 17 model years with a complaint index of 38 and a Good verdict, well below the worst years like 2009 (index 100). It has 60 complaints, 3 recalls, and no do-not-drive recalls, with brakes as the top problem area.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
38/100
#11 of 17 Mazda6 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
60
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
3
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
6
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Top issue
Brakes
Best nearby year
2019
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
26 city / 37 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2015 Mazda Mazda6 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Brakes18 (30%)
  2. Suspension, Wheels & Tires10 (17%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain8 (13%)
  4. Visibility & Wipers7 (12%)
  5. Airbags6 (10%)
  6. Electrical System6 (10%)
  7. Engine6 (10%)
  8. Structure & Body6 (10%)
  9. Fuel System4 (7%)
  10. Steering3 (5%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some drivers report the parking brake or hydraulic brake system suddenly stiffening or losing power, causing hard steering and hard braking, sometimes tied to computer or transmission glitches.
  • Airbags have deployed incorrectly in crashes, in one case only partially inflating and causing burns, while sensor error codes have appeared without deployment in later fender benders.
  • The automatic emergency braking and forward warning system reportedly failed to activate before a low-speed rear-end collision.
  • Windshields have cracked or chipped unusually early and easily, with owners describing new glass damaged within days or weeks of purchase.
  • New engines have idled roughly at stop lights, hesitated when accelerating from a stop, or failed to respond briefly to the accelerator pedal at low speed.
  • One owner described the vehicle rolling briefly after being shifted into park and the engine turned off, despite pressing the brake.
2015 Mazda Mazda6 complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2014Apr 2015May 2016Oct 2017May 2018Oct 2020Oct 2023May 2025
60 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2014 to May 2025; peak Oct 2014 (3).

2015 Mazda Mazda6 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V393000Jun 22, 2017Brakes227,814 vehicles

    Parking brake

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.

    Risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.

  2. NHTSA 14V675000Oct 27, 2014Suspension, Wheels & Tires99,711 vehicles

    Tires:pressure monitoring and regulating systems

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured October 25, 2012, to October 10, 2014. If the pressures of four of the tires on an affected vehicle gradually drop at the same time, the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) may not warn the driver of the drop in pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 138, "Tire Pressure Monitoring System."

    Risk: A vehicle that is driven with under inflated tires may experience a sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the TPMS software, free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500.

  3. NHTSA 14V173000Apr 3, 2014Electrical System5,700 vehicles

    Electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator

    Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through December 18, 2013, and model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 20, 2013, through December 4, 2013, and both equipped with a 2.5L engine and a regenerative engine braking system. When driving the affected vehicles in heavy rain or in deep puddles, the alternator belt may slip causing the Power Control module (PCM) to incorrectly assume failure of the charging system.

    Risk: Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7314D.

2015 Mazda Mazda6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26 MPG
Highway
37 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
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.

2015 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
2013Caution19234 !24
2014Caution69137430
2015Good3860330
2016Good4477130
2017Good2560129

All Mazda Mazda6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mazda Mazda6 reliable based on complaints?
NHTSA data shows a complaint index of 38 for the 2015 Mazda6, ranking 11th out of 17 model years and earning a Good verdict relative to other years.
What is the top problem area for the 2015 Mazda6?
Brakes are the top problem area, accounting for 18 of 60 complaints, or 30 percent, with a median failure mileage of 27,955.5 miles.
Does the 2015 Mazda6 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists three recalls for the 2015 Mazda6, covering brakes, suspension/tire pressure monitoring software, and electrical system PCM reprogramming. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2015 Mazda6 compare to the worst Mazda6 years?
The 2015 model's complaint index of 38 is much lower than the worst year, 2009, which has an index of 100 and an Avoid verdict.
What is the fuel economy of the 2015 Mazda6?
EPA rates the 2015 Mazda6 at 30 mpg combined (26 city / 37 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

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.