YearToAvoid

2018 Mazda Mazda6 Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 33 Engine complaints for the 2018 Mazda6, 57% of all 58 complaints filed for the year. The median mileage at failure was 7,200 miles. No related recalls are listed for this engine issue.

Engine complaints
33
57% of 58
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
7,200 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report cracked cylinder heads that leak coolant and cause the engine to overheat while driving.
  • Some describe belt tensioners and belts wearing out and needing replacement well before expected, even under warranty on a car with low mileage.
  • Owners report oil leaking onto the hot exhaust, producing smoke in the cabin and raising fire concerns.
  • Several complaints describe the engine stalling or shutting off unexpectedly, including one case where the vehicle failed to move on an elevated overpass.
  • One owner reported an engine warning tied to an open recall number, with the vehicle able to turn off randomly.

When 2018 Mazda Mazda6 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 30, 2019, latest Aug 7, 2026.

2018 Mazda Mazda6 engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2019Jun 2022Oct 2023Mar 2024Sep 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026
33 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2019 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2026 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2018 Mazda Mazda6

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Mazda6 model year

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

  1. 20106 (3%)
  2. 20114 (3%)
  3. 20123 (3%)
  4. 20130 (0%)
  5. 201424 (18%)
  6. 20156 (10%)
  7. 201613 (17%)
  8. 20174 (7%)
  9. 201833 (57%)
  10. 20191 (17%)
  11. 20201 (50%)
  12. 202113 (76%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does NHTSA list for the 2018 Mazda6?
NHTSA lists 33 Engine complaints for the 2018 Mazda6, which is 57% of the 58 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Mazda6 engine?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do 2018 Mazda6 engine problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 7,200 miles.
What kind of engine failures do owners describe?
Owners describe cracked cylinder heads with coolant leaks, premature belt tensioner and belt wear, oil leaking onto the exhaust, and unexpected stalling.
Did any 2018 Mazda6 engine complaints involve fire?
NHTSA data for this problem area lists 1 fire report among the 33 Engine complaints, with 0 crashes and 0 injuries.

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.