2012 Mazda MAZDA6 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2012 Mazda6 most often report low-beam headlights that fail repeatedly, sometimes going dark while driving and often restored by tapping the housing, and a sticky, melting passenger-side dashboard that owners say creates glare and worries them about airbag deployment. Many complaints also involve Takata passenger airbag inflator recalls where owners waited months for parts, and rust-through of the front subframe and control-arm mounting area. Complaints are spread from very low mileage up past 100,000 miles, with lighting reports generally earlier and rust reports typically at higher mileage or in states that use road salt.

1. 1
   Exterior lighting

   Low-beam headlights burn out or cut out

   • 28 complaints (28%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (21 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2020

   Owners describe low-beam headlights that burn out every few weeks or months, often on the driver side, and sometimes go dark while driving at night. Several say the light comes back after tapping or bumping the headlight housing, and some report burned or charred bulb sockets inside the assembly. Complaints describe the bulb as hard to reach, requiring removal of the bumper, and dealers generally replaced bulbs or found no fault in the electrical system. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 75,000 miles, often noticed during night or rain driving.

   What to check: At night, check that both low beams work and look for discolored or melted bulb sockets and connectors. Ask whether the headlight assemblies or sockets have been replaced and how often bulbs have been changed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Headlight bulbs go out often, have to bang on the light to get it to go back on, I can change bulbs and it will go a couple of months before it starts to go out again. Have to take the bumper off to change the light bulb so it is a hassle. After checking the internet I see there are a whole lot of Mazda owners with the same problem”

   NHTSA complaint #10954011, filed 2017-02, 35,000 miles

   “I've been replacing both of my headlights every 6 months. This is the third time since I have owned this vehicle that I had to buy replacement bulbs. I took it to the dealership and they said nothing was wrong with the electrical system but hear I am replacing the same low beam bulbs again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10704579, filed 2015-04, 73,580 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag inflator recall parts delays

   • 29 complaints (29%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe receiving Takata passenger airbag inflator recall notices and then waiting months for parts, in some cases with the vehicle unusable as intended. Complaints also include reports of airbags not deploying in crashes and of the airbag warning light coming on repeatedly despite module or connector repairs. Several owners describe difficulty getting a firm appointment from a dealer. Mileage varies widely, from under 20,000 to over 130,000 miles; many reports were filed in 2017 and 2018 after recall notices arrived.

   Recall 19V782000 · DO NOT DRIVERecall 17V457000 · DO NOT DRIVE

   What to check: Check the VIN with a dealer or NHTSA for open airbag recalls and confirm the passenger inflator replacement was completed. Watch whether the airbag warning light stays on after the bulb check.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - the airbag inflator in my vehicle was recalled on 1/9/17. Over 6 months later, the part is still not available for my vehicle. My family cannot utilize our family vehicle as designed due to the lack of timely availability of the part by takata or a solution by Mazda.”

   NHTSA complaint #11005209, filed 2017-07, 66,000 miles

   “On april 20 my self and my 14 year old daughter was in a really bad accident and neither one of our airbag did!!!! Not come out and my myself nd my child was hurt I was rush to the hospital and I've brought my my car in december of 2017. And it happen on city streets”

   NHTSA complaint #11089542, filed 2018-04, 15,647 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Sticky, melting dashboard and glare

   • 12 complaints (12%)
   • median 61,000 mi at 6.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners report the passenger-side dashboard becoming sticky, soft, cracked and sometimes shedding pieces, especially in hot weather, with a chemical smell and a shiny glare across the windshield. Some complainants connect the condition to their concern that the passenger airbag would not deploy properly. Complaints describe being told by dealers that there was no recall for the dashboard itself. Reported from around 35,000 miles upward, mostly in warm climates and after several years of sun exposure.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the passenger dashboard for stickiness, cracks or a shiny film, and check for glare on the windshield in direct sun. Ask whether the dashboard has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The passenger side of my Mazda 6 2012 is literally melting. The dashboard is all sticky and has a glare that affects my ability to see out the window. The passenger dashboard is cracking and has pieces that are falling off. It is a hazard because it causes a glare that limits my ability to see.”

   NHTSA complaint #11290372, filed 2019-12, 80,000 miles

   “My dashboard is sticky and seems to be melting and ripped as I was cleaning the right passenger side(I had my keys in my hand and scraped it as I was cleaning then lifter my keys and dropped them and a chunk came off) also has cotton pieces sticking to it cause it's so sticky.”

   NHTSA complaint #11015736, filed 2017-08, 170,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Front subframe and control-arm mount rust

   Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners in states that use road salt report heavy corrosion of the front subframe and the area where the control arm attaches, in some cases with the mount tearing away from the frame. Complaints describe steering pulling to one side, noises when turning, and failed state inspections. Some owners say a prior subframe recall remedy was a brace rather than a replacement, and that corrosion continued afterward. Typically reported above 90,000 miles or after many winters in salt-belt states.

   Recall 19V323000

   What to check: Have the car put on a lift and inspect the front subframe, the control-arm mounting points and the rear subframe for flaking or holes. Ask whether the front cross member recall work was performed and whether any brace was added.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Rear sub frame, critical fail- rusted through. Needs new rear subframe. Wheel pulling to right, unable to align. I bought this car 2 weeks ago for my 16 year old daughter and was told today it needs to be scrapped. She is devastated . We are out 4500 with no recourse. I bought a Mazda because I trusted the safety. I am so disappointed. If the front was recalled the rear should have been too.”

   NHTSA complaint #11588995, filed 2024-05

   “The rear subframe and suspension parts are rusted so bad that the car is not safe to drive. Looked up recalls and found out the front subframe had a recall and was taken care of before I bought the car. Also found recall for my model of car that were registered in state that use salt on there roads which is one of the state i live in. Was told my Mazda corporation the only certain 2012 mazda vehicle's vehicle's were covered for rusting issues with the rear . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11710529, filed 2026-01
5. 5
   Suspension

   Rear subframe corrosion

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe rear subframe and suspension components rusted through badly enough that the car cannot be aligned and, in some reports, is not considered safe to drive. Complaints note that the front subframe had a recall while the rear did not, and that they were told nothing further could be done. Some describe the car being scrapped or replaced shortly after purchase. Reported at higher mileage or on older cars, generally in states that use road salt.

   Recall 19V323000

   What to check: Inspect the rear subframe and suspension arms for heavy rust or holes and ask for an alignment check. On a salt-belt car, budget for a lift inspection before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at a red light in town and went to make a left hand turn when I heard a loud pop and then a springing noise. I myself looked under the car and just assumed I ran over something and it hit the bottom of the car. I had a friend look under it also and he didn't see anything either. I just found this out yesterday when it failed inspection.”

   NHTSA complaint #11342664, filed 2020-08, 138,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the steering wheel began to shake violently, with the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to inspect the vehicle and discovered that the front passenger’s side tire had detached from the vehicle. The contact's father was called to the scene and the spare tire was placed on the vehicle. The contact then drove to an independent mechanic where both the front driver’s and front passenger’s side tires were replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11605371, filed 2024-07, 204,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws steady complaints about headlight failures and a deteriorating dashboard, so check both carefully on a used example, and confirm any open airbag recalls have been completed. On cars from salt-belt states, a thorough underbody inspection of the subframes is worth the cost before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.