2013 Mazda MAZDA6 problems & reliability
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA6, alongside 4 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
2 complaints report injuries (2 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2013 Mazda MAZDA6 vehicles were involved in 9 fatal crashes with 5 occupant deaths. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 5 | 23% |
| Suspension | 5 | 23% |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 18% |
| Unknown OR Other | 4 | 18% |
| Air Bags | 3 | 14% |
| Structure | 3 | 14% |
| Seats | 2 | 9% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 9% |
| Electrical System | 1 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the vehicle had been repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V631000 (Suspension, Structure) where a coating was sprayed on the passenger side lower control arm and the area was drained. After receiving the recall repair, the contact became aware that the…”
Structure · filed Jul 12, 2024
“I just baught a 2013 mazda6 the rear cradel and cross member was complety rusted away one mount was complety rusted off .the springs was almost ready to fall out the bottem of the spring purch .it looked like it was pulled out of the ocean where it had stayed for years .I tried to find a used replacement out of…”
Wheels · filed Dec 19, 2023
“My car has approx 115,000 miles. I took it to Bass Mazda to have spark plugs and serpentine belt changed simply for maintenance purposes. After leaving dealership my car was pulling to the right. My steering wheel was no longer centered. It also was turned toward the right. Any time I had to hit the brakes the car…”
Suspension · filed Jan 4, 2023
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
237 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA6. The 10 most recent:
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 09-042/04 12/10/04 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit inoperative electric rear window defroster grid lines…
09-022-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 29, 2026
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s)…
SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance…
SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 21, 2026
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…
SA-061-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 17, 2025
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C…
07-004-25a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 10, 2025
Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection. If a structure's windows create…
SA-039/25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 22, 2025
When replacing the SiriusXM satellite radio unit, a call must be made to inform SiriusXM of the existing Radio ID and the new/replacement SAT Radio ID as soon as possible to ensure the customer leaves the dealership…
SA-036-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 14, 2025
Some customers may complain about a noisy HVAC blower motor or odor after a cabin air filter replacement. Foreign debris on the blower motor after servicing the cabin air filter may be the cause. During the removal of…
SA-032-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2025
A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating. It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C…
07-004-25 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 25, 2025
Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection.
SA-058-24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 15, 2024
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2013 Mazda MAZDA6 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2013 Mazda MAZDA6?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.