2016 Mazda Mazda6 Safety Report
2016 Mazda6 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Mazda Mazda6. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (74) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 9 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Seats | Compare seats issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Mazda Mazda6 with 2 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Mazda Mazda6 before buying across this generation. |
Mazda Mazda6 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Mazda Mazda6 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Mazda Mazda6 | 55 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Mazda Mazda6 | 60 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Mazda Mazda6 | 50 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Mazda Mazda6 | 5 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Mazda Mazda6 | 2 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Mazda Mazda6 | 17 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Mazda Mazda6 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Mazda Mazda6, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Seats
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Seats issues Mazda onlyPower Train
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Mazda onlyUnknown Or Other
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Mazda onlyService Brakes
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Mazda onlyElectrical System
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Mazda onlyEngine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Mazda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
Reliability Score
The 2016 Mazda Mazda6 receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver Seat Instability Driver's seat has been unstable since purchase, posing a safety risk. No warning lights, but repairs are costly. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering System Recall Recall due to debris in the electric power assist system. Check for recall notifications and address issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Passenger Air Bag Malfunction Air bag sensor turns on and off, indicating it can't determine if a passenger is in the seat. This poses a safety risk. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel Smell Fuel smell in and outside the vehicle after fuel fill. Investigate and address this issue to prevent potential hazards. |
Low | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Mazda Mazda6:
Recall due to debris in the electric power assist system.
Driver's seat has been unstable since purchase.
Air bag sensor turns on and off, indicating it can't determine if a passenger is in the seat.
Fuel smell in and outside the vehicle after fuel fill.
Recall Details for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6 by NHTSA:
Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016 Mazda6 vehicles. Debris from the welding process during manufacturing of the front passenger seat frame may damage the occupant classification system (OCS) wiring.
Consequence: If the wiring becomes damaged, there may be a loss of power steering assist and the deactivation of the passenger air bag, increasing the risk of a crash and the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will attach a protective pad on the seat frame. If the OCS harness is damaged, insulating tape will be applied to the harness. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1517H.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Mazda Mazda6 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 7 complaints involved crashes. 5 reported injuries or fatalities.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that after her husband had driven for approximately 2 hours with the seat heater activated, the passenger’s side seat overheated, and the seat started smoking. The driver stated that the seat heating element overheated and burned a hole in the seat, damaging the air bag located near the seat heater sensor. The dealer was contacted, and an ap...
My seat doesn’t detect if passanger is in seat so my air bag engine light goes on and off it was recalled and mazda supposedly cleared the issue but seems like they didnt fix it the recall properly
1) UNKNOWN. My guess: The front seats or guard rails. 2) Very seat when braking, and coming to and from a stop. Poses as a safety risk. 3) Yes, no remedy/solution was yielded. Others on forums who visited dealership stated that the dealership said it was “normal”. Despite the other side not having the issue at all. 4) No 5) No Full assessment: The issue of this complaint lies within the front s...
PCM ISSUE, passenger air bag issue, OCS wiring issue. infotainment system, transmission, and engine. Key fobs not able to be reprogrammed due to PCM issue
Driver seat is unstable and has been since I purchased the vehicle. I never got it looked at because I can't afford repairs. There was a recall for the passenger seat and I believe it would be for the driver seat as well given the driver seat stability is crucial. It rocks as if it isn't fully secure. You notice it sometimes when getting in and out the car and I became noticable when my dog decide...
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V451000 (Suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mile...
My passenger air bag doesn’t turn on when passenger is in vehicle, sensor for air bag turns on and off as if it can’t determine if a person is on the seat. My dashboard has the SRS OCS light on. My vehicle has already been seen by Mazda to fix the recall but I am afraid to drive and suddenly air bags go off.
Fuel smell in & outside of vehicle after fuel fill, being a retired Master Technician I decided to investigate this and after removing the the fuel tank access door under the rear seat I was shocked to see that on an 8 year old vehicle the fuel sender retainer is completely rusted out. An overfill, an aggressive maneuver or small collision could prove disastrous with this condition pending! I hav...
I bought the Bridgestone tires in Sept 2023 from Walmart. On Nov 23, 2024, I went to Walmart auto center to have 4 Bridgestone tires rotated and balanced. The tech discovered severe bead separation in 3 of 4 tires. I had to buy 4 new tires. I have pictures of the tires with bead separation on the wheel rims and also off the rims.
Moonroof explosion Moonroof had spontaneous explosion while driving on highway. No objects were seen flying towards front of car prior to explosion. Driver and 1 passenger in front seat. Sun shade partially open resulting in glass coming into the car. No accident or injury occurred. Moonroof closed at time of explosion.
When driving, after a period of 10 - 20 minutes usually, of the adaptive cruise being on (not necessarily in use), the buttons on the steering wheel will re-map. That is, the + button for adjusting the cruise speed up by 1 mph increments will switch with the - button that adjusts the cruise speed down by 1 mph increments. This happens reliably... if I've driven the car with adaptive cruise on ...
There is a bearing in the crankshaft that looks like it’s not up to spec. No warning lights came on, car suddenly lost power on the highway. Fortunately no one was injured though it was a very scary situation. Mechanic took a look inside the engine and said a main bearing stud broke off and busted a hole through the short block. He said I’m lucky the engine didn’t turn into a grenade. Upon looking...
I was on freeway when some warning start showing on dashboard ( enging, track control system, battery) then my steering wheel was hard that I couldn’t manubrio i hit a curb that was on the entrance and my car start spinning in circles till i hit the hill on side road.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the driver’s seat was previously moved backward; however, when her daughter attempted to move the seat forward to drive the vehicle, the seat remained stuck in the rearward position. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, who informed the contact that the wire connecting the seat motor to the seat track had fractured. The dealer in...
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D) or reverse(R), the vehicle failed to move. The electronic parking brake warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that he turned off and restarted the vehicle, deactivated the electronic parking brake, and forcefully depressed the accelerator pedal; however, the failure persis...
Pulled up to gas pump, put parking brake on (manual transmission), got out of car and heard a beeping noise from inside. The car then began to drift backwards into traffic. Have DashCam video that can share.
I was driving, and all of a sudden, I hear a loud pop above my head. I slow down to investigate and notice the sound of the wind coming from above me. I slide back my sunroof door and the entire glass is shattered. This could’ve been a very dangerous situation as I was driving on the highway and the loud sudden pop without warning could’ve affected me to lose control of my vehicle. I’ve read u...
I was driving between 40-50 MPH at a consistent speed and I began to have to put the brake pedal to the floor in order to slow down the car. Even when doing this the car does not slow down at the rate expected and stopping distance has increased by more than 50 percent. Have been told there is Cracked/leaking bore diameter to the master brake cylinder housing is causing pressure and fluid loss, in...
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the security indicator light was continuously flashing. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and diagnosed as a security indicator light failure. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact pulled over but was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and info...
Showing 20 of 74 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Mazda Mazda6
Has the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 have?
The 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 has 74 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 8 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
The 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 involve seats (7 complaints), power train (7 complaints), unknown or other (6 complaints). Other affected components include service brakes, electrical system, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 out of 74 total complaints (12.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
8 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 is acceptable with caveats. It has 74 complaints, 1 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 are: 1. SEATS (7 complaints), 2. POWER TRAIN (7 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (6 complaints), 4. SERVICE BRAKES (5 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (5 complaints). SEATS is the single most-reported problem area with 7 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
Regular maintenance and prompt attention to reported issues are crucial to ensure the safety of your 2016 Mazda6. The 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 has 74 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
The 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 74 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 9 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Driver seat instability and Steering system recall.
What are the known issues with the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6?
Known issues with the 2016 MAZDA MAZDA6 include: Driver seat instability, Steering system recall, Passenger air bag malfunction, Fuel smell. These are based on patterns found across 74 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common issues with the 2016 Mazda6?
Common issues include driver seat instability, steering system recall, passenger air bag malfunction, and fuel smell.
Is the steering system recall a serious issue?
Yes, the recall is due to debris in the electric power assist system, which poses a safety risk.
What should I do if I notice a fuel smell in my 2016 Mazda6?
Investigate the source of the smell and address it to prevent potential hazards.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Regular maintenance and prompt attention to reported issues are crucial to ensure the safety of your 2016 Mazda6.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Mazda Mazda6
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The data includes 74 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 8 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Mazda Mazda6 an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16