2011 Mazda Mazda6 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

186 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2011 Mazda Mazda6, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 44/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 111,500 miles.

186Complaints
44/100Trouble index
6Recalls
93,112Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2011 sits among all Mazda6 years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Suspension 49 complaints (26%) · typically ~111,500 miles
“2011 Mazda6 rear subframe rot/rust, unsafe and dangerous to drive, Same situation as the front subframe that is part of a recall.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Mazda6
Body & structure 30 complaints (16%) · typically ~100,700 miles
“Front Subframe has corroded and broke. There is a recall on the subframe that was repaired by dealership in 2019, but this repair did not fix the issue since it has now rusted through and broke. The repair was faulty.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Mazda6
Airbags 28 complaints (15%)
“I was in a crash where my front end was easily damaged and passenger air bags not deployed”— owner report to NHTSA, 2011 Mazda6
Other 22 complaints (12%) · typically ~75,000 miles
Electrical 19 complaints (10%) · typically ~56,500 miles
Steering 15 complaints (8%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 84 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 93,112 miles. Half of those reports fall between 59,000 and 116,464 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (6)

AIR BAGS 19V782000 2019 Do not drive

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one,…

STRUCTURE 19V323000 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota,…

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front…

AIR BAGS 18V717000 2018 Do not drive

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda…

AIR BAGS 17V429000 2017 Do not drive

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original…

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 14V114000 2014

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, through May 2, 2011, and equipped with 2.5L engine. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative…

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module and inspect and clean the canister vent line. If a web was found in the line, the fuel tank and check valve on…

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 13V425000 2013

Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, through August 24, 2012. The door latch mounting screws may become loose.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will apply a thread locking adhesive to the door screws and retorque them, free of charge. The recall began on October 29, 2013. Owners may contact Mazda at…

Technical service bulletins

246 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2011 Mazda Mazda6. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2011 Mazda6 TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2011peak 24 in 20172026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?

The 2011 Mazda Mazda6 drew 186 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 44/100, scored against the model's worst year (2009).

What are the most common 2011 Mazda Mazda6 problems?

The top reported problems for the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 are suspension (49 complaints), body & structure (30), and airbags (28).

At what mileage do 2011 Mazda Mazda6 problems show up?

Owners most often report 2011 Mazda Mazda6 problems around 93,112 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 59,000 and 116,464 miles.

Does the 2011 Mazda Mazda6 have recalls?

6 recall campaigns apply to the 2011 Mazda Mazda6. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.