2017 Mazda Mazda6 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda Mazda6, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1940.4%
- Driver assistance612.8%
- Engine48.5%
- Brakes48.5%
- Powertrain (other)36.4%
- Body & structure24.3%
- Fuel system24.3%
- Interior & seats24.3%
- Other / unspecified24.3%
- Tires & wheels12.1%
- Exterior lighting12.1%
- Airbags12.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The infotainment touchscreen display in my 2017 Mazda 6 is experiencing a "ghost touch" defect, where the screen registers inputs without being touched. The defective touchscreen is available for inspection upon request. While driving, the system randomly changes settings, switches menus, activates functions, and changes audio or navigation screens without driver input. This creates a safety hazard because it distracts the driver and requires attention to be diverted from the road to address the unexpected screen activity. The issue occurs repeatedly and can happen at any time while the vehicle is in motion. The condition has been reported numerous times to an authorized Mazda dealership, Puyallup Mazda 608 River Road, Puyallup, WA 98371, 253-845-1766. The dealership acknowledged the complaint but stated the ghost touch condition is not covered under Mazda's extended warranty program for infotainment system defects and declined to replace the screen. My vehicle is included in the Mazda Connect Infotainment Class Action Settlement and extended warranty program, which addresses infotainment system malfunctions. Despite exhibiting the widely reported 'ghost touch' defect, the dealership refused to repair the condition under the extended warranty, leaving a known driver-distraction hazard uncorrected. The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, but no repair has been performed. The defective infotainment screen remains installed and available for inspection. Prior to the defect becoming severe, the touchscreen occasionally registered unintended inputs. The condition progressively worsened and now frequently activates functions without any user interaction. No warning lights, diagnostic messages, or other vehicle alerts appeared before or during the malfunction. This unresolved defect poses an ongoing driver-distraction risk and could increase the likelihood of a crash.
The center mounted Mazda Connect infotainment system in my 2017 Mazda 6 Touring sedan is defective. The screen randomly & intermittently changes display modes while the vehicle is on (driving or parked). It began about 2024 & getting worse. One second it will be on navigation then it arbitrarily switchs to phone settings or set a random destination in the navigation screen or change radio channels. the routine is entirely random and is never the same results. There are no dash warning lights, no EWL, no indications of any kind before, during or after. Resetting the infotainment system does not resolve the issue. road conditions or speed do not change the issue. outside temperature seems to affect the unit more because the hotter the ambient temp, the worse the issue seems to be. likewise, high humidity & high temperature causes more issues. The vehicle is garaged in South Florida. removing the SD card from the center console (the navigation maps from Mazda) does not affect the issue. replacing the Mazda navigation SD card does not make any change in the frequency, duration or intensity of the issue. moving the jog dial on the center console will allow interfacing the infotainment system, however, not touching the jog dial still has an issue. The issue is becoming a hazard while driving because the turn-by-turn navigation randomly routes to random destinations and when cancelled, it randomly picks another point of interest and starts all over again. The radio cannot stay on a single frequency, it scans through presets. The issues are distracting and the vehicle is out of factory warranty. The dealership cannot reproduce the issue after 3 separate visits for regular maintenance. The reverse camera (also using the screen) works normal most of the time. I had a single issue where the camera would not turn on while in reverse. disconnecting the main 12v battery reset the camera and it has been working since that isolated issue. (Case No. [XXX] (W.D. Ky) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
On a clear lane with the forward car 5 car lengths away with traffic flowing, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) activated slowing my car down from 65mph to 30mph. I deactivated AEB on my exit and changed the AEB distance from “normal” to “near”.
Mazda 6's from 2017 have a known, reported defect that causes the touch screen to "ghost touch" and randomly enter into the car's menus and change settings, dial phone numbers, delete entries, etc. There is a service bulletin issued to replace the touchscreen cover/lens but Mazda does not honor this repair for cars out of warranty and want to charge customers for this repair. This is a potential liability since the car can change safety settings that a driver is accustomed and relies on without their knowledge possibly resulting in serious injury or death.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
Coolant leaked into my engine system . Now dealership says a new engine is needed
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while driving at slower speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a delay before the vehicle responded. Additionally, the contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware of a fuel leak on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the fuel tank was rusted and the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
On a clear lane with the forward car 5 car lengths away with traffic flowing, the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) activated slowing my car down from 65mph to 30mph. I deactivated AEB on my exit and changed the AEB distance from “normal” to “near”.
The part was purchased via Rock auto and installed at home DIY. The vehicle failed to return form "maintenance" mode for the rear parking brake. Took it to a Mazda dealer and they determined the Calipers were both manufactured incorrectly or the "spline gear" in the rear of the caliper that meshes to the Electronic Parking Brake actuator. This caused the parking brake to stay in maintenance mode, making it unusable for parking nor emergency braking, making the vehicle undrivable. It also caused Damage that incurred costs for parts and labor of the vehicle. The vehicle can still be driven and the only way to know its potentially unsafe is the light in the dash for the brake maintenance mode. At this time its unclear if this is the only issue with this part. Jason at Dynamic Friction technical support is investigating.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, the engine choked, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that when the vehicle accelerated to 60 MPH, the choking and stalling failure ceased. The contact stated that the instrument panel was inoperable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the failure was diagnosed as PCM failure. The contact was informed that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.
SITUATION: CVT TRAMSMISSION RUNNING SMOOTHLY WHEN CAR WAS FIRST BOUGHT. I AM 3 WEEKS INTO OWNING THE VEHICLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE GOING OUT. I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEXT RUN AND THERE ARE ZERO COMPUTER ERRORS. ISSUES: HIGH REVS AND JERKING OF VEHICLE WHEN GASSED. WHETHER I AM AT A STAND STILL OR ALREADY GIVING GAS. ANY INCREASED SPEED APPLIED BY THE GAS CAUSES THE JERKING MOTION. THERE IS A 2-5 SECOND DELAY FROM THE PEDAL TO THE TRANSMISSION KICKING. I HAVE ALMOST WRECKED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THIS ISSUE STARTED OCCURRING ON MY DRIVE. THIS CVT WOULD BE CONSIDERED VERY HAZARDOUS CONSIDERING THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS I AM EXPERIENCING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
My sunroof exploded while I was driving on the 405 S freeway. It can be inspected at any time as I haven’t had it repaired or inspected by anyone yet. It happened while I was driving at least 65 mph in the fast lane. It sounded like a gunshot and startled me greatly. Glass flew everywhere and I believe hit cars around me as I heard multiple vehicles honk. This was a very scary and dangerous experience. There were no warnings and I’ve never had any issues with my sunroof. Nothing fell on my vehicle or impacted the glass. Thankfully no one was hurt but this is extremely concerning.
I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AT ~40MPH ON A PAVED ROAD AT ABOUT 830PM, NO OTHER CARS IN FRONT OF MY, WHEN I HEARD A NOISE LIKE A CANNON GOING OFF. I LOOKED UP, AND MY SUN ROOF HAD COMPLETELY SHATTERED: THERE WERE LARGE CHUNKS OF GLASS INSIDE THE CAR, AND EXTENSIVE SCRATCH MARKS ON THE REAR TRUNK COVER. UPON PULLING OVER AND INSPECTING THE DAMAGE, IT APPEARED THAT THE SUN ROOF GLASS HAD EXPLODED OUTWARDS (AS SHOWN IN THE PROVIDED PICTURES), WITH SEVERAL PARTS OF THE REMAINING GLASS BEING DISTINCTLY ANGLED UPWARDS AND VERY LITTLE ACTUAL SHATTERED GLASS BEING INSIDE THE VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THIS CAR, AND DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT IS JUST OVER A MONTH AND A HALF OLD WITH A 3 YEAR BUMPER TO BUMPER AND A 10 YEAR SERVICE PACKAGE, I HAVE ALREADY BEEN TOLD THAT IT WAS "MORE THAN LIKELY A ROCK HITTING IT", THAT "THEY'VE NEVER HAD ANY REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING", AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO JUST CONTACT MY INSURANCE AND HAVE THEM PAY. THIS LANGUAGE AND RESPONSE IS IN LOCK-STEP WITH SEVERAL ONLINE FORUMS THAT I HAVE VIEWED REGARDING THIS ISSUE, WHICH APPEARS TO BE QUITE WIDESPREAD. MANY OF THEM REPORTED THAT THE IMMEDIATE RESPONSE FROM THE DEALERSHIPS IN QUESTION WAS TO BLAME EXTERNAL FACTORS, VERY COMMONLY ROCKS. IN MY CASE, GIVEN THAT I WAS DRIVING ALONE ON A WELL-PAVED ROAD AND THE SUN ROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME, I FIND IT INCREDIBLY HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A ROCK SOMEHOW HIT IT AT THE EXACT ANGLE NECESSARY TO CAUSE THE ENTIRE THING TO SIMPLY FALL APART. IF THIS IS THE CASE, WELL, I WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE HAVING A CAR WITH A SUN ROOF AT ALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated while driving at slower speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, there was a delay before the vehicle responded. Additionally, the contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact became aware of a fuel leak on the driveway. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the fuel tank was rusted and the fuel sending unit needed to be replaced. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
2017 Mazda6 Infotainment System also found in Mazda CX-5. Known as "Ghost Touch," it is a known issue acknowledged by the company and dealerships. Available for inspection upon request. The Infotainment system controls navigation, ADAS heads up navigation, illumination of instruments and other driver instrumentation and safety warning systems. Above a set speed the screen is NOT a touch screen. When the car slows below a preset speed or is stopped, the display screen becomes a touch screen. The screen will then randomly and intermittently begin to reset itself, changing between and altering settings. This was repaired by Mazda on pre-2016 models, but Mazda declined on 2017-2020 models. This has the potential of causing accidents by making instrumentation unreadable, random dialing bluetooth phone connections, etc. As stated search for "Ghost touch Mazda" and you will find many references and complaints. The problem is ongoing since 2021. The component has apparently been upgraded but will cost 700+ to repair.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Display screen has developed the common “spider web cracking” with my 2017 Mazda 6. There has been no accident on my vehicle and it is causing issues with being able to clearly see what is showing. My driver seat “heated seat” has melted the lower back leather material. The heating element doesn’t heat the bottom of the seat and just the lower back part. It has caused the leather to melt
DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT -LOWER BACK GETS VERY HOT ON LOWEST SETTING AND DOESN'T HEAT ACTUAL SEAT. CAN FEEL IT THROUGH A WINTER COAT. WHEN ACCIDENTLY TOUCHED WITH BARE SKIN, ALMOST BURNED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The car seat involved is a Nuna RAVA convertible car seat that was sent to the manufacturer solely due to a safety recall. I declined the self-repair recall option and requested that Nuna perform the recall service, which they agreed to. During recall servicing, Nuna inspected the car seat and advised in writing that internal Styrofoam/EPS foam in the headrest was missing or broken and that the car seat is not recommended for continued use and is not safety tested in that condition. Despite determining that the seat is unsafe, Nuna returned the car seat to me without providing a replacement, credit, or other safety remedy. The manufacturer has stated that the damage is unrelated to the recall and has refused to replace the seat, offering only a discount toward purchasing a new car seat. As a result of the recall process, I am left without a usable car seat for my child. The car seat has been inspected by the manufacturer and remains available for inspection upon request. I am requesting assistance with recall compliance, as the recall has resulted in an unusable child safety product with no remedy provided.
I PURCHASED A 2017 MAZDA 6 GRAND TOURING IN JULY 2017, NEW FROM CLASSIC MAZDA IN MENTOR, OHIO. THE DUNLOP TIRES THAT CAME ON MY CARE ARE COMPLETE GARBAGE AND UNSUITABLE TO DRIVE ON IN THE RAIN. THEY BEGIN TO HYDROPLANE WITH EVEN THE SLIGHTEST AMOUNT OF WATER ON THE ROAD, AND ARE DOWN RIGHT DANGEROUS IN ANY WEATHER MORE SEVERE THAN LIGHT RAIN. THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF INSTANCES OF WHITE-KNUCKLE DRIVING 10-15MPH SLOWER THAN THE REST OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE CAR BECOMES UNDERIVABLE IN THE RAIN. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE OR TIRES THAT PERFORMED THIS POORLY NOR HAD SUCH A STARK TRANSITION FROM FEELING PLANTED AND CONFIDENCE INSPIRING IN THE DRY TO SLIDING OFF THE ROAD WHEN IT RAINS. THESE TIRES ARE GOING TO GET ME INJURED OR KILLED! AS BAD AS THEY ARE BRAND NEW ON A BRAND NEW CAR, I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT IT WILL BE LIKE AS THESE BEGIN TO WEAR!!
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda 6 equipped with a Yokohama 125/70r17 spare tire, DOT number unknown. Upon inspection of his vehicle, the contact discovered that the original spare tire that was placed in the vehicle by the manufacturer was 2.8 inches lower than the original tires placed on the vehicle. The contact stated that this failure could lead to hazardous driving conditions when placed on the vehicle. The contact had yet to be experience a failure. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the matter.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
LED HEADLIGHTS ON THIS MODEL CONTINUE TO FLICKER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BECOME SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED NOT ALTERNATOR RELATED TO ENTIRE ASSEMBLY WORKMANSHIP ISSUES. COMPANY REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. OTHER COMPLAINTS EXIST FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 MAZDA 6. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD BE SEEN THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWNING MAZDA (LOCATED AT 18827 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703, (562) 924-1414), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .