YearToAvoid

2016 Mazda Mazda6 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 16 brake complaints for the 2016 Mazda6, 21% of that year's 77 total complaints, with 3 crashes and 1 injury reported. No related recalls are on file for this brake issue. Median mileage at failure was 41,500 miles.

Brakes complaints
16
21% of 77
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Median mileage
41,500 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Electronic parking brake randomly engages on its own and will not release, sometimes requiring the seatbelt to be fastened and the car put in drive to disengage it.
  • Emergency/parking brake warning light illuminates unexpectedly while driving or after starting the car, even when the brake is not engaged.
  • Smart City Brake Support system activates unexpectedly at highway speeds, slamming the brakes on with no obstacle present.
  • Brake pedal loses stopping power without warning at lower speeds, with drivers regaining control after a short distance.
  • Brakes resist stopping the car smoothly, requiring extra pedal pressure to bring the vehicle to a complete stop.
  • Parking brake fails to disengage after being engaged, leaving the parking brake light on and the vehicle immobilized.

When 2016 Mazda Mazda6 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Feb 3, 2016, latest Apr 22, 2026.

2016 Mazda Mazda6 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2016Dec 2017Dec 2018Jan 2020Jul 2020Nov 2020Jul 2022Apr 2026
16 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2016 to Apr 2026; peak Jan 2020 (2).

Brakes recalls for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Brakes complaints by Mazda6 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201016 (7%)
  2. 20114 (3%)
  3. 20123 (3%)
  4. 20135 (22%)
  5. 201426 (19%)
  6. 201518 (30%)
  7. 201616 (21%)
  8. 20174 (7%)
  9. 20184 (7%)
  10. 20190 (0%)
  11. 20201 (50%)
  12. 20210 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does NHTSA have for the 2016 Mazda6?
NHTSA lists 16 brake complaints for the 2016 Mazda6, which is 21% of the 77 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2016 Mazda6 brakes?
No related recalls are listed for this brake issue in the data on file.
At what mileage do 2016 Mazda6 brake problems tend to show up?
The median mileage at failure among reported brake complaints is 41,500 miles.
Did the 2016 Mazda6 brake issues cause crashes or injuries?
Yes, NHTSA data shows 3 crashes and 1 injury associated with the brake complaints for this model year.
How does 2016 compare to other Mazda6 years for brake complaints?
The 2016 Mazda6's 16 brake complaints and 21% share are lower in raw count than 2014 (26 complaints) and 2015 (18 complaints), but the 2015 model year had the highest share at 30%.

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.