YearToAvoid

2021 Mazda Mazda6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

18/100

#10 most-complained of 12 Mazda6 years

The 2021 Mazda Mazda6 ranks as the Best year among 12 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 18 and just 17 complaints, no recalls, crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths reported.

Complaints
17
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
27.5
24.5 city / 33 hwy

Top 2021 Mazda Mazda6 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine13 (76%)
  2. Other2 (12%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers2 (12%)
  4. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (6%)
  5. Fuel System1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the check oil or low oil pressure light coming on prematurely, sometimes as early as around 3,500 miles or shortly after the first oil change.
  • Multiple owners describe excessive oil consumption requiring them to add oil between scheduled oil changes.
  • Some owners say the oil level was found below the first marker on the dipstick despite recent service.
  • One owner reported OEM windshields causing visual distortion, making objects appear rippled, magnified, or shrunken and complicating distance judgment.
  • One owner reported a sunroof shattering while driving on the highway with no apparent impact.
  • One owner described the rearview camera freezing on a static, unrelated image, which the dealership could not resolve after two visits.
2021 Mazda Mazda6 complaints: complaints filed per month4Dec 2021Jun 2022Sep 2022Feb 2023May 2023Dec 2023Jun 2025
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2021 to Jun 2025; peak Oct 2022 (4).

2021 Mazda Mazda6 recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2021 Mazda Mazda6 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
24.5 MPG
Highway
33 MPG
Combined
27.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,375
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.

2021 compared with other Mazda6 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2019Best96127
2020No verdict02027.5
2021Best1817027.5

All Mazda Mazda6 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Mazda6 is rated Best among the 12 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 18, only 17 complaints, and zero recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Mazda Mazda6?
Engine issues make up 76% of complaints, mostly related to oil consumption and low oil pressure warnings. Visibility and wiper issues account for 12%, and camera and fuel system issues each account for 6%.
Does the 2021 Mazda6 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists zero recalls for the 2021 Mazda6, none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2021 Mazda6 compare to other Mazda6 years?
The 2021 model ranks 10th worst (meaning near the best) out of 12 years tracked, well below high-complaint years like 2010 (Complaint Index 100) and 2014 (Complaint Index 82).
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Mazda6?
The 2021 Mazda6 gets an EPA-rated 27.5 mpg combined (24.5 city / 33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,375.

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.