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2021 Mazda Mazda6
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
17 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (76% of complaints, typically reported near 4k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2021 Mazda Mazda6 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2021 Mazda Mazda6, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
76%13 complaints · typically near 4k mi
“Low oil light comes on. Using excessive oil between oil changes.”
Visibility & wipers
12%2 complaints
“Sunroof exploded while on the highway. Nothing hit the glass. Glass was facing outward and no evidence if anything striking it. Major safety concern, easily could have…”
Backup camera & sensors
6%1 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The Infotainment system malfunctions. The rear view camera freezes, not with the current conditions but a still picture of a street I do not recognize. This puts not o…”
Fuel system
6%1 complaints
“Oil Consumption Defect. I bought car on 7/10/21. Mazda aware of the problem at the time and still sold me the car. Since then I have had to add oil in between oil chan…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Mazda MAZDA6 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2021? See how every Mazda6 model year scores →
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What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.