VehicleVerdict

2013 Mazda Mazda6 problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Among the better years

The 2013 Mazda Mazda6 is among the quieter years of the Mazda6 on NHTSA's books: 34 complaints (73% below the model's median year), 4 recalls, and no open investigations.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across brakes (5), suspension (5), and lighting (4), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

34

NHTSA complaints

4

Recalls

0

Investigations

1

Crash-involved

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2013 compare to other Mazda6 years?

See all Mazda6 years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Mazda Mazda6 problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes515%
Suspension515%
Lighting412%
Other412%
Body & Structure39%
Airbags39%
Visibility & Wipers26%
Seats26%
Steering13%
Seat Belts13%
Fuel System13%
Tires & Wheels13%
Transmission13%
Electrical System13%

Does the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 have recalls?

4 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V323000Body & StructureApril 25, 2019 · 51,118 units

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The front cross member may corrode after exposure to road salt.

Consequence

Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall began June 13, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2818I. Note: This recall is an expansion of Recall 18V-631.

18V717000AirbagsOctober 12, 2018 · 155,436 units

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

18V018000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2018 · 70,227 units

Defect

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

13V425000Latches & LocksSeptember 24, 2013 · 161,400 units

Defect

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, through August 24, 2012. The door latch mounting screws may become loose.

Consequence

If all three door latch mounting screws become excessively loose the door latch mechanism would not engage and the door might open while the vehicle is in motion increasing the risk of accident or injury.

Remedy

Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will apply a thread locking adhesive to the door screws and retorque them, free of charge. The recall began on October 29, 2013. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's recall number is 7013I.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF 14 TIMES STARTING AT 18,896 MILES, IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED AT 16,578. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 15 TIMES STARTING AT 20,662 MILES. ALSO AT THE TIME OF THE 1ST BRAKE REPLACEMENT, THE RIGHT SHOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · March 1, 2014

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL ON THE CROSSMEMBER MY VEHICLE IS FROM NEW YORK IT'S A 2013 AND MY HOLE CROSSMEMBER LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS FROM THE 90 THEIR IS RUST EVERYWHERE AND I LIFTED MY VEHICLE TODAY AND SAW A PART ON TOP OF A PART WHEN THEY SHOULD OF REPLACED THE HOLE CROSSMEMBER I…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Suspension · June 25, 2019

I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR A RECALL ON THE CROSSMEMBER MY VEHICLE IS FROM NEW YORK IT'S A 2013 AND MY HOLE CROSSMEMBER LOOKS LIKE THE CAR IS FROM THE 90 THEIR IS RUST EVERYWHERE AND I LIFTED MY VEHICLE TODAY AND SAW A PART ON TOP OF A PART WHEN THEY SHOULD OF REPLACED THE HOLE CROSSMEMBER I…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · June 25, 2019

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED A TOTAL OF 14 TIMES STARTING AT 18,896 MILES, IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO BE REPLACED AT 16,578. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 15 TIMES STARTING AT 20,662 MILES. ALSO AT THE TIME OF THE 1ST BRAKE REPLACEMENT, THE RIGHT SHOCK HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Lighting · March 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA MAZDA6. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE NOTICED A SPIDER RUNNING ACROSS THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT KILLED THE SPIDER BUT A FEW DAYS LATER, ANOTHER SPIDER EMERGED AND BIT THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Body & Structure · April 12, 2014

2013 Mazda Mazda6 — common questions

Is the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?

Its record is better than the model's norm: 34 NHTSA complaints, below the typical Mazda6 year, with 4 recalls and no open investigations.

What are the most common 2013 Mazda6 problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (5 complaints), suspension (5 complaints), lighting (4 complaints).

Does the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns affecting the 2013 Mazda Mazda6. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Mazda Mazda6 years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Mazda6 years to avoid are 2009, 2010, 2003, 2006, 2014, 2004, 2007, 2005, 2008. The cleanest record among Mazda6 years belongs to 2020.

How safe is the 2013 Mazda Mazda6?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2013 Mazda Mazda6 earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.