2010 Mazda MAZDA6: pulls to one side

Filed Jan 31, 2023 · Suspension · TN

The rear subframe is corroded with rust to the point of about to break into pieces. I did not have control of the vehicle and could not drive above 40mph, sudden pull to one side while braking, loose steering. I could have had a wreck if the subframe would have broke before taking the vehicle in to be inspected by an independent service center. I live over an hour to the nearest Mazda dealership and the car is not drivable. No warning lamps came on and I first noticed the problems around January 11,2023. The part looks completely tissue thin all over and the rest of the components look new bolted to it. I do have pictures from the independent service center. I think the car needs to be seen by a regional service manager like a Mazda engineer. This is not just rust this is a defective part that was to thin to begin with.

Filed Jun 13, 2022 · Suspension · MI

Crossmember rust from recall campaign 2818I is able to effect structural attachment despite recall work. The recall installed an "improved: cross member. This was not an actually replacement cross member, rather additional plate steel between the rear and front of the existing attachment points of the defective OE cross member. Improved cross member contains no provisions to support rapidly corroding lower control arm attachment point in original cross member. Added member for recall also does not appear to additionally support lateral stresses from control arm. Evaluation of original cross-member seemed inadequate to detect structural integrity based on condition of the cross member today. "improved" cross member does not support mounting points of the control arm. Based on recall documents, some "improved" cross members have supports for Lower Control Arm (LCA) mounts. This issued occurred with sudden change in steering and braking characteristics. Vehicle suddenly started pulling right. Issue further exacerbated after follow on braking. Passenger wheel suddenly lost alignment and camber is indicating lower attachment geometry change. I was able to control vehicle, but with significant effort.

Filed Oct 10, 2018 · Steering, Suspension · 109,600 miles · OH

My son was driving the car approximately 40mph on a state route in a rural area and experienced a sudden loss of steering control and sharp pull to the right when he was trying to brake. This nearly caused him to hit a truck. When he regained control he noticed the steering wheel was not aligned while going straight and the car continued to pull to the right. When he managed to make it home we jacked it up and removed the right front tire. I noticed that the cross member on the right side was completely rusted through. This was the only noticibly large area of rust on the car. The car is now undriveable.

Filed Sep 11, 2018 · Body, Steering · 200,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mazda 6. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the steering wheel started to pull to the right. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the passenger side subframe was severely corroded and flaky. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,00. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Sep 5, 2018 · Steering · 175,000 miles · OH

Corrosion related steering issues. The frame of the car has rusted out where the lower control arm on the front passenger side connects to the frame. While coming to a quick stop the ABS kicked in and the car pulled to the right with a popping sound. The car would randomly pull to one side when driving resumed. Took the car in for new brakes and was informed that the frame has rusted out. Finding other like concerns I took the car to mazda with no communication regarding the status of my vehicle. The car is 8 years old and should not have frame rust to the point of failure.

Filed Jul 21, 2018 · Suspension · 110,000 miles · MA

Front subframe corrosion. We were fortunate in that we noticed the car pulling to the right, slowed down, heard a "pop" and lost control of steering but we were going slow pulled over and towed to garage. The part has a 3 week delivery time and the price has recently doubled from 600.00 to 1,200.00 in the few daysour mechanic called to get. This seemsto be a serious safety issue but no recall.

Filed Jun 25, 2018 · Brakes, Steering · 128,000 miles · KY

I was on a city street travelling around 35 MPH. While approaching a stop light and applying the brakes the car suddenly started pulling to the right and almost pulled the entire vehicle into a ditch. The vehicle came to a stop at the edge of the grass. I pulled the vehicle over further to avoid traffic and noticed the right tire was now touching the wheel well. After having the vehicle towed the mechanic informed me that there was extensive corrosion underneath the vehicle which had LED to the failure.

Filed Jun 15, 2018 · Body · 84,000 miles · PA

On am of 06/08/2018, I felt something give in front end - felt like a broken strut initially. Driving home at 55-60 MPH that afternoon, car became noticeably difficult to control - pulling hard to the right which caused audible metallic scraping noises from inside car and required me to keep steering wheel turned left at 30-45 degrees in order to maintain straight line. Car was very difficult to turn or keep under control. Made it to family member's house near my mechanic, and made arrangements to drop car off. On 06/12/2018, mechanic called to inform me that right front subframe/engine cradle was rusted through to the point that it had cracked. He was shocked that it didn't fail catastrophically at speed on highway. Mazda dealer advised to call mazda directly to file complaint. Mechanic could not find a used/salvaged cradle to make repairs and mazda dealer informed him that a cradle they ordered in december 2017 had just arrived in may 2018 - quoted price to repair was roughly $1,600 parts/$1,000+ labor. Car was bought new in september 2010 and has just shy of 84,000 miles.

Filed Oct 27, 2014 · Steering, Suspension · 500 miles · CT

This vehicle does not track straight, even on a level road. At highway speeds (above 50 MPH) it has a decided pull to the left, regardless of the lateral slope of the road. Constant clockwise pressure on the steering wheel is necessary in order to keep vehicle from drifting in a leftward direction. If driver attention is diverted for only an instant the vehicle is likely to partially intrude into the lane to the left, which on an undivided highway could be an oncoming traffic lane (hence the safety issue). I called this to the attention of my mazda dealer's service department at least twice within the first year after purchase (january 2010). Their answer was no answer--they could not find anything wrong mechanically and there were no bulletins from mazda on the subject. They verified the alignment and rotated the tires left to right, but neither of these solved the problem. Nearly five years later the problem still exists and seems even more pronounced than it was originally. A recent check with the dealer indicated that there is still nothing from mazda. Possibly it is a defect that applies only to my car and not in general to that model, but I have no way of determining that at this point.