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Chevrolet Malibu vs Mazda MAZDA6: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2021, owners filed an average of 752 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 108 about the Mazda MAZDA6.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuMazda MAZDA6
Model years compared2006-20212006-2021
Owner complaints12,0351,731
Complaints per model year752108
Recalls3924
Years to avoid200920092010
Best years20192021201320152017
Most common problemSteeringAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-32 mpg combined (2021)No data

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,1192006 Mazda MAZDA6: 17320062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Mazda MAZDA6: 1562008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Mazda MAZDA6: 11120082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Mazda MAZDA6: 3862010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Mazda MAZDA6: 22520102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Mazda MAZDA6: 1362012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Mazda MAZDA6: 10020122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Mazda MAZDA6: 232014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Mazda MAZDA6: 13720142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Mazda MAZDA6: 602016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Mazda MAZDA6: 7820162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Mazda MAZDA6: 602018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Mazda MAZDA6: 6020182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Mazda MAZDA6: 62020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Mazda MAZDA6: 220202021 Chevrolet Malibu: 902021 Mazda MAZDA6: 18
Chevrolet MalibuMazda MAZDA6

Problems compared

MalibuMAZDA6
Steering3,935127
Electrical2,933183
Engine2,043147
Transmission1,360112
Driver assistance1,28032
Brakes1,114104
Airbags760473
Body264265
Suspension221211

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Mazda MAZDA6

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Mazda MAZDA6?

Between 2006 and 2021, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Mazda MAZDA6 2. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda MAZDA6 drew fewer complaints per model year (108 vs 752), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Mazda MAZDA6?

From 2006 to 2021, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 39 recalls and the Mazda MAZDA6 by 24.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Mazda MAZDA6 should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Mazda MAZDA6: 2009 and 2010.

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