Faults:

Alternator was replaced at 10k.

Manual transmission at 20k.

Battery died 3 times in 5 years.

Headliner started to fall apart when the car was 4 years old.

Leather seats started to wear badly after 4 years.

General Comments:

The quality of Mazda 6 does not match the quality one would expect from a Japanese car.

Faults:

Here's a short list (I'm sure I'm forgetting some...)

- Dash board squeaks & rattles (from the beginning).

- Paint cracking issue on roof.

- Transmission/powertrain computer replaced due to extremely violent shifting.

- Metal-on-metal squealing noise from front-end when turning while backing up (mysteriously went away on its own after repeated inspections by the dealer).

- Warped rotors - at least 3 brake rotor turnings and 1 full rotor replacement (gave up on this issue).

- Brakes, to this day, continue to make a clunk sound when applied (calipers? linkage? gave up on this issue, too).

- Brake master cylinder.

- Console lights @ shifter went out.

- LCD fields on radio display stopped working.

- Broken engine mount.

- Alternator/alternator bearings.

General Comments:

Driving this car over the last 6 years has been like driving a completely different car every single day. Monday it's peppy and responsive, Tuesday it's a complete dud. Problems appear, disappear, then come back again.

It's a great looking car, but sadly, since the day I purchased this car it has been a real pain. So many things continue to go wrong with this car that I've just become numb to them as they occur, and refuse to even have them looked at.

The dealers (multiple) have proven to be really of no help at all - they can never seem to replicate the issue.

I will never purchase another Mazda product.

Faults:

75k miles, rack and pinion wore out.

96k miles, variable valve timing actuator wore out.

103k miles, clutch is slipping in 3rd, 4th, and 5th.

General Comments:

I'm sorry for all your guy's bad luck with your 6's.

The issues I've had with mine are over being driven hard. Yes I admit, I've driven several sets of tires off this car. It is a pleasure to drive. and just loves to be pushed hard.

My rack and pinion wore out because it wasn't made to take the abuse of off road rally style drifting in the desert.

The VVT actuator went out cause I neglected to check my oil and it ran too low.

My clutch well... let's just say light to light the 2.3 is pretty surprising. I plan to replace the clutch with a stage2, possibly stage3 replacement, and swapping out for a lighter flywheel to drop some rotating weight.

Faults:

This is and was a good car, however after 5 years and 70,000 miles, the problems started, and not cheap problems; alternator, transmission replacement. I had enough! I take good care of my cars, and this was really disappointing.

General Comments:

This car handles very well. Get the 6 cylinder if you're going to do any serious driving. I really liked this car; just wish it could have been more dependable.

Faults:

1 Headlight & 1 Fog-light bulb went a couple months ago. Easily replaced under warranty.

Starter slightly grinding on cold mornings. Replaced (under warranty) just to be safe.

General Comments:

Couldn't be happier with this car. It handles like nobody's business when you put the right kind of rubber on its feet. Reliability is almost an insult to me - I drive this car like I hate it. Like I'm being chased by the cops. The fact that NOTHING major has broken on it yet? I feel defeated. Three years of thrashing and still nothing has gone wrong with this bulletproof beast. It's been my favorite car, by far. Warranty's expiring soon so I'm getting a little nervous. Not sure if I should keep killing it and hope for the best or just break down and get the Mazdaspeed 6 (droooool). I just love when someone asks my opinion of this car, I could talk people's ears off about what a great value this is. Mazda has made a real gem here.

Highly, HIGHLY recommended.