Menu

2008 Mazda MAZDA6Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 111 owner complaints about the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 18V-402 the manufacturer reports only 9% of affected cars repaired.

52
CarFlaw IndexSolid year9% below the MAZDA6 median · #10 of 18 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 9%Owner complaints11123 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage92kAir bags, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 20, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 has problems

111 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags7711
Power train91
Electrical system51
Fuel system, gasoline41
Steering42
Service brakes, hydraulic31
Wheels20
Engine20
Engine and engine cooling20
8 other systems112

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2008 Mazda MAZDA6 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

38%repaired · 2021 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 19V-781 · Oct 31, 2019 · 47,006 vehicles · 17,707 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

9%repaired · 2019 Q4

Passenger side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 18V-402 · Jun 15, 2018 · 308,591 vehicles · 29,226 repaired

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

Problem, fix and repair progress →

14%repaired · 2018 Q4

Driver side: inflator module

Do not drive

Recall 17V-474 · Jul 26, 2017 · 308,992 vehicles · 42,217 repaired

Risk. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.

Best & worst years

2008 vs. every other MAZDA6 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MAZDA6 median. How we score

'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2008 Mazda MAZDA6 safety ratings

2008 Mazda6 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

2008 Mazda MAZDA6 frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
2008 Mazda MAZDA6 side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 14V-428
In owners' words

What MAZDA6 owners report

Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11104570 · Jun 28, 2018
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.
Complaint 11045116 · Nov 10, 2017
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…
Complaint 11021753 · Sep 6, 2017 · 158,000 miles

Own a 2008 MAZDA6?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.