The Lane Check

Home › Cars › Mazda › Mazda6 › 2010

2010 Mazda Mazda6 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
7%
11 of 149 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2010 Mazda Mazda6. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 7% of relevant complaints.

Better than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 76 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 5%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 149 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (7%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 7%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
11
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
225
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
9
5 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

STRUCTURE60 · 27%
AIR BAGS54 · 24%
SUSPENSION43 · 19%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER33 · 15%
STEERING29 · 13%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING21 · 9%

The years either side

2010
7%
11 of 225
2011
7%
7 of 135
2012
14%
6 of 99
2013
too few complaints
2014
26%
34 of 137
2015
23%
12 of 60
2016
29%
20 of 77
2017
14%
8 of 60
2018
68%
39 of 58
2019
too few complaints
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
no data
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2010 compares with other Mazda Mazda6 years

Of the 8 Mazda Mazda6 years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the 2nd-best on engine and transmission share (7%). The worst is the 2018 (68%), the best the 2011 (7%). By volume, the 2010 drew 225 complaints (11 drivetrain), against 135 for the 2011.

Mazda Mazda6 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2010 Mazda Mazda6

  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE03/14/2014CRASH1 INJURED
MY SON TOOK MY CAR TO SCHOOL. HE WAS GOING TO LEAVE AFTER SCHOOL LET OUT, HE WAS GOING TO GIVE HIS FRIEND A RIDE HOME. THIS IS A 6 SPEED CAR. HIS FRIEND GOT IN THE CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, MY SON WAS TALKING TO HIS BROTHER, HE WAS NOT IN THE CAR. MY SON HAD PUT THE KEYS ON THE DRIVER SEAT, HIS FRIEND PUT THE KEY IN T…

One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2010 Mazda Mazda6 fuel system recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

fuel system, gasoline14V114000 · Mar 2014

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured September 14, 2009, through May 2, 2011, and equipped with 2.5L engine. In the affected vehicles, spiders may weave a web in the evaporative canister vent hose, blocking it and causing the fuel tank to have an excessive amount of negative pressure.

Risk: Negative pressure could cause the fuel tank to crack resulting in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module and inspect and clean the canister vent line. If a web was found in the line, the fuel tank and check valve on canister vent line will…

fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly11V134000 · Feb 2011

MAZDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 MAZDA6 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 8, 2008, THROUGH FEBRUARY 8, 2010. A CERTAIN TYPE OF SPIDER MAY WEAVE A WEB IN THE EVAPORATIVE CANISTER VENT LINE AND THIS MAY CAUSE A RESTRICTION IN THE LINE. IF THIS OCCURS, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE MAY BECOME EXCESSIVELY NEGATIVE WHEN THE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM WORKS TO PURGE THE VAPORS FROM THE CANISTER.

Risk: AS THE CANISTER IS PURGED REPEATEDLY DURING NORMAL OPERATION, THE STRESS ON THE FUEL TANK MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN A CRACK, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO FUEL LEAKAGE AD AN INCREASED RISK OF FIRE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CLEAN UP THE CANISTER VENT LINE, AND INSTALL A SPRING TO PREVENT THIS TYPE OF SPIDER FROM ENTERING THE VENT LINE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED…

7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module19V782000 · Oct 2019
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced…
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module18V717000 · Oct 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,…
suspension: front: control arm18V631000 · Sep 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2010 Mazda Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,…
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module18V018000 · Jan 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana,…
air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module17V429000 · Jun 2017
Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of…
air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive16V594000 · Aug 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, to December 3, 2009. The protective coating may not have been…
latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch13V425000 · Sep 2013
Mazda is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured February 4, 2008, through August 24, 2012. The door latch mounting screws may become loose.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2010 Mazda Mazda6? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2010 Mazda Mazda6

Does the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 149 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (7%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

What is the most common problem with the 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 is structure: 60 of 225 complaints (27%) name it, followed by air bags (54) and suspension (43). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 7% of the relevant total.

Is the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 7% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 99% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 8 Mazda Mazda6 years we score, it ranks 2nd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Mazda Mazda6?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Mazda Mazda6 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 9 in total: 14V114000 (fuel system, gasoline), 11V134000 (fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Mazda Mazda6 years are better?

The 2010 has the lowest engine and transmission complaint share of the Mazda Mazda6 years we track (7%). The other years run higher. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/mazda-mazda6

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

Check a VIN

Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.