2008 Mazda Mazda6
The Verdict
The 2008 Mazda Mazda6 has 109 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (78 complaints) and body (15 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 72/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Mazda Mazda6, consider the 2020 model year which has 98% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2020 has 98% fewer complaints
View the 2020 Mazda Mazda6 dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
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Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, there was fuel leaking from the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a leaking fuel tank. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The dealer added a protective coating. The failure reoccurred. The contact stated that an abnormal fuel odor was on the interior of the vehicle, and fuel was leaking onto the ground. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V412000 (Fuel system, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact was informed that the part needed to be purchased to complete the repair. The failure mileage was 235,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The front subframe totally rusted out and the wheel disconnected. I purchased this car in 2009, but it was a 2008 vehicle. Apparently there was a recall on this part for the 2009 through 2018 vehicles but it did not include the 2008, which had the exact same problem. My car was kept in the garage its entire life and the last 10 years, I was retired and did not even drive it in the snow. The car only has 79,000 miles. Even if my car was not included in the recall, you would think the manufacturer would have notified me of the flaw and the danger. I sold this car to my nephew in February of this year and he was deriving it when the wheel fell off and separated from the subframe. He could have been killed. Had I know the issues with this vehicle, I would never have sold it to him and would have just traded it in. I believe that we are owed some type of compensation from the dealer for this. Fortunately he was not driving on a highway when this happened. We have a quote of $1400 to replace this part and weld it back on.
The front frame is rusted out to the point it is unsafe. This is the same issue for the 2009 2010 models.
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND IN THE COLD WEATHER.
DRIVING 2008 MAZDA 6 WHEN THE AT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPPED FROM GEAR REENGAGED VERY HARSHLY INTO THIRD GEAR. THE 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DROPPED 4TH AND 5TH GEAR AFTER RE-ENGAGING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL INDEPENDENTLY VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL BACK INTO PLACE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.
TAKATA RECALL: I RECEIVED A LETTER IN 7/2015 STATING MY CAR'S AIR BAGS HAD BEEN RECALLED AND TO WAIT FOR A SECOND LETTER TO SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT APPOINTMENT. NEVER RECIEVED 2ND LETTER AND NOW CAR IS NOT ON RECALL. I SUSPECT IT (MY CAR) WAS REPORTED AS HAVING AIR BAGS REPLACED WHICH HAS NOT HAPPENED. I AM CONCERNED AS IT WAS REPORTED ON THE NEWS THAT THIS TYPE OF THING HAS BEEN DONE A LOT. I'D LIKE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED WITH SAFE ONE...THANK YOU..
I CALLED DEALER 3 TIMES TO HAVE MY AIRBAGS REPLACED (FINAL RECALL 1317F). THIS WAS OVER THE COURSE OF 6 MONTHS. THEY NEVER CALL ME BACK. THE THIRD TIME I CALLED (ON 8/24/2017) I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK (AGAIN) IN ONE MONTH. THEY STILL HAVE NEVER CALLED ME BACK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A CEMENT BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAINED INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 158,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD AND COLLIDED INTO A TREE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CURTAINS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED BEFORE REPLACING THE AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MAZDA 6. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD AND COLLIDED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED VIA THE RECALL IN 6/2016. WHY IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG STILL NOT READY FOR RECALL OR TO BE REPLACED? THIS HAS BEEN ON GOING SINCE 2014! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, IS ANYONE MONITORING THIS WEBSITE? WHAT IS BEING DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION WITH THOUSANDS OF CARS? NO UPDATES ARE LISTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V869000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V354000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE REMEDY WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V354000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
FROM LETTER JULY 2016 NHSTA 16V-354, I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR WITH ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE DUE TO CARPOOLING AND BUSINESS USES OF THE CAR, AND I AM GRAVELY CONCERNED. MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, MATT CASTRUCCI IN CENTERVILLE, OH, WOULD NOT PROVIDE A LOANER CAR, WHICH I NEED TO WORK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 6. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V382000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V869000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
109 total