Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2012 Mazda MAZDA6
NHTSA data on file today
The 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 100 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars, for the 1 NHTSA-tested trim.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #19V782000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V323000 Road Salt Causing Corrosion of Cross Member NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V717000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V457000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #14V114000 Spiders may Block Fuel Tank Vent Line NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #13V425000 Door Latch Mounting Screws may Loosen NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 30 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 28 complaints
- Unknown or Other 20 complaints
- Electrical System 12 complaints
- Structure 12 complaints
- Suspension 9 complaints
Of the 100 complaints on file, 5 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 100 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $5,500–$8,500AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
While the 2012 Mazda6 offers a decent driving experience, frequent recalls, particularly regarding airbags and fuel systems, impact its reliability. The high number of complaints related to airbags and exterior lighting raise safety concerns, further affecting its cost-of-ownership outlook.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| airbags | 60,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | very common |
| exterior lighting | 50,000–80,000 miles | $200–$600 | common |
| electrical system | 70,000–110,000 miles | $300–$800 | occasional |
| fuel system | 80,000–120,000 miles | $400–$900 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Replace brake fluid every 30,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
- Replace cabin air filter annually
- Inspect suspension annually
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Airbag warning light on
- Check engine light due to fuel issues
- Power locks not functioning
- Dimming or flickering headlights
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.