NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
This page covers 7 recalls, 99 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2012 Mazda Mazda6.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2012 Mazda6, exterior lighting and airbag-related complaints make up the bulk of what owners report. On the lighting side, owners frequently describe headlights, taillights, or other exterior bulbs failing prematurely or dimming unexpectedly. The airbag complaints center heavily on dashboard deterioration, owners report the dash surface becoming sticky and cracking over time, with concerns that this could interfere with airbag deployment. Structural complaints, though lower in volume, describe a consistent pattern: front subframe and rear suspension components corroding severely, in some cases to the point where owners say steering became unreliable or wheels detached while driving. Several of these structural reports specifically mention subframe rust as the root of the handling failure.
99
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
4
With Injuries
By System
The 2012 Mazda6 has 7 recalls, the most serious being a passenger-side airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death. Multiple recalls cover this same airbag inflator defect across different vehicle registrations and prior repair attempts, with earlier replacement inflators of the same design still carrying the same risk of rupture. Separately from the airbag issue, the subframe mounting point for the passenger-side front suspension can corrode and weaken, causing a sudden shift in steering alignment that raises crash risk; this recall targets vehicles sold or registered in higher-humidity northern and mid-Atlantic states. On the fuel side, this recall only affects 2.5L-equipped models: spiders can build webs inside the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking airflow and causing the fuel tank to develop excessive negative pressure that can crack the tank and leak fuel. There is also a door latch concern, where mounting screws can work loose over time until the latch no longer engages and the door can swing open while driving.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown after prolonged exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator with a different design at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front cross member can corrode when exposed to road salt, potentially weakening the structural component.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the cross member and either reinforce it with a side member and drain hose plus protective wax, or replace it with an improved cross member.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode during a crash. This happens because the inflator's propellant degrades after years of exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace your passenger front air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to heat and humidity.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with a new one at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator can rupture during a crash due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Spider webs can block the fuel tank's evaporative canister vent hose, causing excessive negative pressure to build up in the fuel tank.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control module, inspect and clean the vent line, and replace the fuel tank and check valve if webs are found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The screws that secure the door latch may loosen over time, potentially causing the door to become unstable.
What the fix does
Dealers will apply thread-locking adhesive to the door latch screws and retighten them to the proper torque specification.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.