A midsize sedan has a lot of checkboxes to tick as they are focused on a massive target audience. One of the key aspects that the buyers look for is reliability and Mazda happens to be one of the pioneers in that sense. The Mazda 6 has been able to capture a good amount of the market and for 2011, the brand sold a total of over 102,000 units of the sedan. What makes it even better is the fact that the Mazda 6 holds just 98 complaints with a total of 6 recalls. Users of this sedan mostly faced an issue with the headlights dying intermittently, making it hard to drive during the night. With a market this huge, it is normal to have a strong set of rivals, and the Mazda 6 faces competition from cars like the Honda Accord, the Toyota Camry, and the Hyundai Sonata.
User complaints and problems
Electrical Problems
- Headlights – It was reported that the headlights stopped functioning but the moment the car was stopped and put into park, the headlights turned on. The user noticed a dead headlight again the next day while driving and when inspected, the bulbs and fuses were said to be intact. The car was driven to a dealer and they were able to identify frayed wiring connecting the headlight module. It was said that the damaged wiring failed to hold enough power and cause the issue.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine – The contact was driving on a highway when all of a sudden the check engine light flashed and it was said that the car had no power whatsoever. The vehicle was stopped on the side of the highway and there was smoke coming out of the hood with the temperature gauge at high. The vehicle was towed to the dealers and the technicians stated this to be a case of the oil and engine coolant mixing. This resulted in a failed engine and it was found that the major cause for it was a design flaw. The water pump was said to be integrated into the engine and timing chain. Pump damage results in engine failure, letting the coolant mix with the oil. Users had no other option than to replace the whole engine.
- Fuel system – The users stated that the fuel overflowed when trying to fill the tank and it was found that the issue was known and common. The vehicle was taken to the dealers where it found that the breather hose was faulty. This particular hose run from the top of the fuel tank up the filler neck. The technicians had to replace the hose which was a tedious task.
- Brakes – The user was trying to slow the car down but the pedal was locked in place and would not depress. The user tried to avoid crashing by swaying the car around while simultaneously trying to apply the brakes. The brakes finally unlocked and the user was able to stop. The dealers inspected the issue and found out that the brake rotors had warped. Dealers replaced the affected brake assembly and the issue never returned.
2011 Mazda 6 recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
31st October 2019 |
19V782000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
An inflator explosion during a crash can result in sharp metal objects flying toward the occupants. This can result in serious injuries or even death. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator. |
|
2. |
25th April 2019 |
19V323000 |
Road salt causes corrosion of cross member. |
Corrosion may weaken the mounting point of the passenger side lower control arm, changing the steering alignment. |
Dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member with a drain hose and apply wax to protect it from rust, or install an improved front cross member. |
|
3. |
12th October 2018 |
18V717000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
Sharp metal fragments can fly toward the occupants in case of an inflator explosion, causing fatal injuries. |
The front airbag inflator will be replaced. |
|
4. |
29th June 2017 |
17V429000 |
Passenger frontal airbag inflator may explode. |
An inflator explosion may cause injuries to the occupants as metal pieces from the module can strike them. |
Dealers will replace the airbag inflator. |
|
5. |
11th Match 2014 |
14V114000 |
Spiders may block the fuel tank vent line. |
Negative pressure could cause the fuel tan to crack and result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Dealers will reprogramme the powertrain control module. They will also inspect and clean the canister vent line. |
|
6. |
24th September 2013 |
13V425000 |
Door latch mounting screws may loosen. |
If all three door latch mountings become loose, the door latch mechanism would not engage, leading the door to open while moving. |
Dealers will apply a thread lock adhesive to the door screws and retorque them. |
Should you buy the 2011 Mazda 6?
The 2011 Mazda 6 does not really struggle to prove itself to be reliable and the sales figure alone justifies the fact. There barely are any complaints with this sedan and that clearly is what the users look for. That doesn’t mean all the users were happy with the purchase as there have been reports of engine failures due to a design flaw but Mazda has stated this to be an issue only with a certain batch of vehicles. It is still advisable to get the engine health checked and also make sure that the headlights function when the car is running if not, get the wiring inspected and replaced. We definitely would go for the Mazda 6 in this category and this is the car you need to pick if you want a vehicle with easy maintenance.
