2008 Mazda MAZDA6: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 111 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (71% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2019
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 111 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Driving 2008 mazda 6 when the at light came on and the automatic transmission slipped from gear reengaged very harshly into third gear. The 5 speed automatic transmission dropped 4th and 5th gear after re-engaging.”Owner report · Power Train · Aug 2019
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda 6. While driving approximately 50 mph, the steering wheel independently veered to the right. The driver was unable to turn the steering wheel back into place and crashed into a guardrail. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The dealer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 106,000.”Owner report · Steering · Sep 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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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 injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not contacted and made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 158,000. The VIN was not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2017
“Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v354000 (air bags). The part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“From letter july 2016 nhsta 16v-354, I have been instructed to not drive the car with anyone in the passenger seat. This is not possible due to carpooling and business uses of the car, and I am gravely concerned. My local mazda dealership, matt castrucci in centerville, oh, would not provide a loaner car, which I need to work.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15v345000 (air bags), 15v382000 (air bags), 15v896000 (air bags), and 16v354000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 09/27/16*lj the consumer stated mazda contacted her and all recall repairs were done. *tr”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda 6. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v354000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The VIN was invalid. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2016
“I received notification in february and march about fault airbags in my vehicle. After multiple calls to a dealer, they still do not have parts available and it is now may. I have been driver a car with faulty airbags for months and no one has helped remedy the situation.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“I received a letter for a recall back in 2015 and whenever I contacted oak lawn mazda 6750 west 95th st oak lawn ill 60453 they would tell me they never received the part to replace the re-call part,. Today march 24 2016 I have tried to contact oak lawn mazada at the number 888 927 3597 on the safety recall notice and the phone number rings and then goes busy therfore I am not even able to schedule an appointment to take my car in to be service for this re call. What type of service is this from the mazada corporation this makes not sense that you are not able to contact the dealership.”Owner report · Air Bags · Mar 2016
When filing, owners marked a crash in 15 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2005 MPV, 2004 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V130, 14V362, 14V773 and 15V869.
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 and 2004 MPV vehicles nationwide. Mazda is also recalling 2005-2006 MPV vehicles in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands. On July 9, 2019 this recall was expanded to include certain 2004-2011 RX-8 vehicles that were previously recalled under 16V-354 but have not yet been repaired. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these passenger air bag inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2018. Mailing to the affected RX-8 owners began July 6, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 2618F. Note: With the addition of the RX-8 vehicles, this recall fully supersedes recall 16V354.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6, 2004-2008 RX-8, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1417G. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-382.
MAZDA IS RECALLING 7,200 MY 2007-2008 MAZDA6 VEHICLES WITH CALIFORNIA EMISSION SPECIFICATIONS. THE METAL FUEL TANKS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY HAVE HAD THE PVC PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK DAMAGED DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS WHICH MAY RESULT IN REDUCED CORROSION RESISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BOTTOM SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK FOR DAMAGE TO THE PROTECTIVE COATING AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE COATING OR REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500, OPTION 2.
THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
Remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
How other years compare
Check your exact MAZDA6 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 reliable?
NHTSA has 111 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6. The most complained-about area is air bags (71% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.
Does the 2008 Mazda MAZDA6 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.