AI Damage2018 Mazda Mazda6: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Mazda Mazda6 filed 58 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and powertrain. The maker issued 357 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 58
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 357
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 55% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 16% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 32 complaints (55% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 56.
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (16% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 34.
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 92.
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 25.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (7% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 58 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 32 | 0 | 56 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 0 | 34 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 92 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 6 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 105 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags deployed and the driver's seat belt unbuckled upon impact. The air bag deployment burned the contact's right underarm. Medical attention was not received. A police report was not filed. The contact's friend was able to drive the vehicle back to his apartment. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
Fuel pump is leaking, just as all the other 2018-2020 fuel pumps but mine doesn’t qualify for the recall.
The engine started smoking under the hood. Immediately stopped to look. There was oil leaking but I could not see from where. I took it across the street to the Toyota dealership and had them look at it. They explained to me that there was a crack in the cylinder head and oil was leaking everywhere.
The ac stopped, the car speedometer kept going from 50 to zero. The car died and couldn't open doors, windows. Lost steering while driving. We were able to get off road and restart and fine for 2 weeks. While at still light tonight, the car turned off.
However, this issue is becoming enormous even for non turbo owners and is a huge safety issue as it can lead to overheating, stalling, and further damage to other components. I feel very strongly that it is time for Mazda to take some responsibility and extend the cylinder head recall to the non turbo engines.
Car had a coolant leak due to cracked cylinder head that was defective from the factory it was fixed but now the car has engine problems again. Don’t want to keep having these issues in the future
Warning Symptoms: There was no Check Engine Light or dashboard warning prior to or during the failure. The only warning was an extreme, abnormal mechanical grinding/clunking noise from the transmission.
Premature caliper failure on front and rear. Ruined rotors at 40k miles, confirmed caliper failure by two service shops. Grinding/squeaking sounds intermittently been happening for since 30,000 miles
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 810 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mazda6 has 37 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 58, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label
To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a…
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not…
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake…
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly…
- Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair
A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground point (3), where attachment bolt (4) is seated, may create a poor…
- Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt…
Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto…
- TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update
INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3, 2019-2022 CX-3, 2018-2021 Mazda6, 2020-2023 CX-30 Dear Mazda Dealer…
- There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very…
There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This Service Alert is to inform you about the water pump sealing mechanism…
- Some customers may experience a check engine light ON with DTC P0126
00 (Thermostat stuck open) and one or more of the following symptoms: Engine takes longer to warm up. Engine temperature gauge fluctuates. Low coolant temperature indicator (blue) light stays on longer or turns on…
- SSPD8 - Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126
00 - WARRANTY EXTENSION For certain 2018-2025MY CX-5, 2019-2023MY Mazda3, 2019-2022MY CX-3, 2018-2021MY Mazda6, 2020-2023MY CX-30 that are equipped with the suspected coolant control valve, the warranty coverage for…
- The coolant control valve updated part is now available and supersedes PYFD-15-16ZA
As a result, PYFD-15-16ZA is no longer available. PW5S-15-16Z is supplied with a dummy plug pre-installed. Critical Installation Requirement: When replacing PW5S-15-16Z, the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) must also be…
- There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank
A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to accurately cut keys • 5-digit codes CANNOT be provided for 2019 and newer vehicles (the…
NHTSA lists 357 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda Mazda6?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 58. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (19%), oil leak or consumption (14%), smoke, burning smell, fire (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Mazda Mazda6?
NHTSA lists 357 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Mazda Mazda6 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.