2018 Mazda Mazda6

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
26–29 mpgcombined; city 23–26, highway 31–35; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$11,200–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,010–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
5 starslowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
2over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
58filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2018 Mazda6. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda6. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine32010
Power train9000
Unknown or other9010
Electrical system4010
Fuel/propulsion system4000
Service brakes4000
Fuel system, gasoline3000
Suspension3000
Structure2000
Visibility/wiper2000
Wheels2000
Back over prevention1000
6 more parts
Equipment1000
Other/i am not sure1000
Seat belts1101
Steering1000
Tether, lower anchor (ON CAR SEAT OR VEHICLE)1000
Vehicle speed control1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006193
  2. 2007165
  3. 2008111
  4. 2009386
  5. 2010225
  6. 2011135
  7. 201299
  8. 201323
  9. 2014137
  10. 201560
  11. 201677
  12. 201760
  13. 201858
  14. 20196
  15. 20202
  16. 202117

Every Mazda6 year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mazda6 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery

NHTSA campaign 21V875000 · reported Nov 12, 2021 · 121,038 vehicles potentially affected

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.

Risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

NHTSA's record and documents

Engine; Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA campaign 19V497000 · reported Jun 27, 2019 · 262,220 vehicles potentially affected

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

Risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 549 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2018 Mazda6, the latest on Sep 11, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (160), electrical system (144), engine and engine cooling (97), engine (74), power train (45).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2018 Mazda6.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: midsize cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
6
Front-Wheel Drive		2.5 L, 4 cylAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline26 / 35 / 29
6
Front-Wheel Drive		2.5 L, 4 cylManual 6-spdRegular Gasoline24 / 33 / 27
6
Front-Wheel Drive		2.5 L, 4 cyl, turboAutomatic (S6)Regular Gasoline23 / 31 / 26

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data