All cars · Mazda6

2008 Mazda6.

The 2008 Mazda6 has too few complaints to score: 16 in its first 3 years. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 20 to 24 mpg combined. The best Mazda6 year is 2019.

Not enough data. Only 16 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.

Best year 2019 · Worst year 2003

Photo shows a 2018 Mazda6. Vauxford, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Most common problemElectrical19% of owner complaints Recalls5Free fix at any dealer Better year to buy20196.2× fewer complaints than average Government investigation2 openOwners reported enough to trigger one

Owner complaints16first 3 years

Fuel economy20–24 mpgcombined, EPA

Front crash★★★★☆NHTSA, driver

How serious. Out of 111 owner complaints, owners reported:

15crashes

6injuries

2fires

5tows

Under government investigation 216 repair notes from Mazda6

Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.

Every Mazda6 year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.

20031611.6× the complaints 2004591.7× fewer complaints 2005611.6× fewer complaints 2006521.9× fewer complaints 2007531.9× fewer complaints 2008–few complaints 200994about average 2010422.4× fewer complaints 2011234.3× fewer complaints 2012621.6× fewer complaints 2014581.7× fewer complaints 2015611.6× fewer complaints 2016831.2× fewer complaints 2017333× fewer complaints 2018442.3× fewer complaints 2019166.2× fewer complaints

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

electrical19%

fuel system, gasoline19%

brakes19%

airbags19%

visibility12%

Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.

Transmission problems in every Mazda6 year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 65K

0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 35K to 98K miles on the car (49 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

airbags complaints mostly came at 68K–122K miles

Recalls 5

airbags 2019
These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
airbags 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
airbags 2017
The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion and other factors, including manufacturing variability that, over time, could cause the inflator t…

Show all 5 recalls

equipment 2009
THIS MAY RESULT IN THE BOLT(S) SNAPPING OFF DURING USE OR WITHOUT A LOAD. THE UNSECURED RACK AND LOAD CAN THEN COME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING CREATING A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
fuel system, gasoline 2008
MAZDA IS RECALLING 7,200 MY 2007-2008 MAZDA6 VEHICLES WITH CALIFORNIA EMISSION SPECIFICATIONS.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Problems Mazda6 told dealers about

Mazda6 sent dealers 216 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

Engine crank/no start
When dealing with customer complaints of excessive condensation and/or water within the…
When dealing with customer complaints of excessive condensation and/or water within the…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Government investigations

OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015

NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.

Safety

Stability controlOptional

Collision warningNot offered

Lane departure warningNot offered

Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★☆ · side ★★★☆☆ · rollover ★★★★☆

NHTSA front crash test of the 2008 Mazda6 — Front crash test · NHTSA

Fuel cost and engines

About $2700–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.

Quick answers

Is the 2008 Mazda6 reliable?

There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 16 complaints in its first 3 years.

What are the most common 2008 Mazda6 problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (19%), fuel system, gasoline (19%) and brakes (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2008 Mazda6 have?

5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Mazda6 get?

20 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

At what mileage do 2008 Mazda6 problems start?

Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 35,600 and 98,000 miles. The middle report was at 65,000 miles, from 49 complaints.

Does the 2008 Mazda6 have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.

How much does the 2008 Mazda6 cost in fuel a year?

About $2700 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2008 Mazda6 have?

2.3L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.

What Mazda6 year is better than the 2008?

By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2011 and 2017.

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works