This page covers 3 recalls, 54 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2018 Mazda Mazda6.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2018 Mazda6 center heavily on the engine, which accounts by far for the largest share of reports. The dominant issue owners describe is a cracked or leaking cylinder head, with coolant loss being the most commonly reported symptom. Owners report discovering the problem at varying mileages, and several describe the failure as recurring even after initial repair. A number of reports mention oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold as a related symptom. The powertrain is the second most reported system, with a smaller cluster of owners describing automatic transmission malfunctions including loss of propulsion and incorrect gear engagement. Brake complaints are present but limited to a handful of reports. The cylinder head cracking pattern is the clearest signal in this complaint set, appearing consistently across multiple independent reports.
54
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Mazda6 has 3 recalls, with the most serious being two separate issues that can cause the engine to suddenly lose power or stall while driving, raising the risk of a crash.
Both engine cutout risks stem from different sources. The fuel pump can fail outright, causing the engine to run rough, refuse to start, or cut out without warning at speed. A separate software error in the powertrain control module can also cause the engine to stall unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion. The third recall involves the impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump, which can crack and deform over time, eventually causing the pump to stop delivering fuel and the engine to stall. All three issues share the same core danger: an engine that goes quiet when the driver needs it most.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump may fail, causing rough engine operation, starting problems, check engine light activation, or sudden loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
Mazda will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealer for fuel pump replacement.
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Driver Assistance
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 →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, which can cause the fuel pump to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the powertrain control module may cause the engine to stall unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module software at no charge to correct the error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
