Mazda 6 (2013-2023) Reliability & Common Problems

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Is the Mazda 6 reliable?

In What Car? Reliability survery the Mazda 6 finished in sixth place out of 24 cars in the executive car category, with an impressive overall score of 93.3%. Overall, the Mazda 6 is solid, but the diesels appear to suffer from more problems than the petrols (see below).

There are. plenty of dealers and independent specialists around so souring parts and servicing shouldn't be an issue.

Engine: Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) can get blocked if the car is turned off during a regeneration cycle. This can lead to oil dilution, reducing lubrication in the engine and causing rapid timing chain wear or even failure.

Oil pump failure or a blocked oil pick-up can lead to high oil pressure. Check the car’s history to see if the pump has been replaced.

Inlet manifolds and EGR valves are known for clogging up with carbon, which can restrict airflow and reduce fuel efficiency. These will need to be chemically cleaned or walnut blasted (no, really, it’s a thing).

Water pumps can also fail and cause the engine to overheat or coolant to leak out. This will need to be replaced and should cost around £60-£80.

Turbocharger: The twin-turbocharger set-up in the diesel can also fail, costing anywhere between £500 and £1000 to replace. If you feel a loss of power or see blue smoke on your test drive, look elsewhere.

Body: The paint finish is quite thin, so inspect the bodywork, particularly the bumpers and bonnet, for scrapes and scuffs.

Audio: Check for white noise or a muffled sound when testing a car with the Bose audio system. The amplifier is usually the culprit; it will cost around £100, or less if you can source a used one.

Interior: Make sure the fabric trim on the door cards is still in good shape, as it can come loose and start to look shabby. Frozen infotainment screens can typically be fixed by turning the car off and back on again. If that doesn’t work, it will need a software update.

An owner’s view

Steve Garner: “I bought my 2019 6 GT Tourer in February 2023 because I wanted something that was both versatile and capable. Mine has the 2.5 petrol with an automatic gearbox and great kit like adaptive cruise control, which is handy, because I do around 25,000 miles a year, mostly on motorways.

"It’s serviced with Mazda every 12,500 miles, and the only bills on top of that have been for new brake discs and pads. Overall, It has been utterly reliable. It might look like a dull generic estate, but it’s really a lovely car to own and drive.”

Also worth knowing

Staying on top of servicing can help maintain the life of a 6, particularly one with a diesel engine. Be sure to change the oil and oil filter every 6000 miles or every 12 months, whichever comes first.