The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for the replacement of the headlights, and the mechanic discovered that the rear suspension was rusted and corroded while the vehicle was on the lift. Additionally, the passenger’s side rear spring was detached. The mechanic advised the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The rear suspension needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle was not included in a rear suspension recall for corrosion and a case was not opened with the manufacturer. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.
Mazda MAZDA6 headlights problems
113 of the 2,239 owner complaints about the Mazda MAZDA6 describe headlights failing or too dim, most of them for the 2012 model year.
- owner complaints
- 113
- worst model year
- 2012
- typical repair cost reported
- $500
- typical mileage
- 60,000
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Airbag light 3Wipers 2Tire blowout 2Fire or smoke 2Knocking 2Warning lights 1Sudden acceleration 1Stalling 1
What owners say
The contact owns a 2004 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the driver’s and passenger’s side headlights were inoperable and failed to illuminate as needed. The contact replaced the bulbs, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the electrical wires had shorted out due defective wire coating. The mechanic attempted to fix the failure by covering the electrical wires, but the failure persisted. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 165,000.
Car is mint for age. Stock oem hid style headlights failed, headlights are still clear. The turn signals failed and activated safetys. Ground plug under air filter assembly that is a piece of metal bolted to car with 5 wires that plug into it corroded so bad no ground connection and each of the wires made no connection to the plug. No info on how to diagnose and/or repair. Common problem. Took everything apart and soaked all corroded parts in a solution of CLR, everything put back together clean with dielectric grease. Numerous shops could not diagnose including 1 dealer. Said headlights needed to be replaced at $500+/ side parts only. Very common on the rare factory installed HID systems. Wiring is different.
The headlights are increasingly failing. They are so dim that i can not safely drive at night. They burn out easily. I have to replace them about 4 times a year now. In the first few years of owning the car the headlights were fine. But now it is a major safely issue for myself and others on the road. It seems like with age the headlights or components are wearing out. I am considering getting rid of this car only due to the headlights. I have considered changing to a xenon system but i am scared of the wiring and do not want to risk a wiring issue. This is my only concern with this car and it appears that most who have the same car have the same headlight issue. This should be recalled to save lifes! It is dangerous to drive this car at night with such poor lighting.
The driver's side low beam headlight wiring harness melts and seems to be continuing problem. Even after replacing stock, (which melted,) with a better wiring harness it still began to melt and loose circuit, but like I said it was doing this before ever being replaced. Happens every couple months are so depending on amount of night driving. I have read several complaints about this happening to several owners of the same vehicle on the same drivers side with the same original harness and replacements doing this same melting and frequent on/off short circuit malfunctioning. Possibly causing a fire or fried wiring or loss of headlight causing unsafe conditions
I purchased this vehicle for my 16 yr old daughter 1 yr ago. The car has a clean carfax and has had no accidents. Upon purchasing the car the headlights continue to burn out. Taking it to a Mazda dealership i learned the headlight assembly unit was melting. I had to purchase 2 used headlight assembly because new from the dealership are 1,000 a piece. 2 used but perfectly working headlights were installed and within a yr the headlights had burned out again. I went to change the bulbs only to learn the headlight assembly were once again burnt. I have to purchase 2 new headlight assembly again but the mechanic can not guarantee that this burning situation won't occur. After calling around to places to find headlight assembly I have come to find out many are burnt. This seems like a real problem considering you need headlights to drive at night. Spending 1,000 everytime my headlights burn out seems 100% unreasonable and the fact that there is cleary a wiring issue within the headlight assembly unit itself seems to be a problem. I have been on multiple forums and this is a common issue. Please fix the problem!!!!!!
The front and rear suspension pops, clunks, the vehicle shakes, vibration also happens, it also causing tires to be replaced faster than normal they go bold in the center its causing now the axles to shake at night time you can see the reflection from headlights bouncing, they have tsb's on this suspension issue however not for 2018 only 14-16 mazda 6s I believe and supposedly the issue was corrected well they lied because mine is a 18 and it is a disaster, my transmission is now shifting very hard from 1st to second gear, turn wheel it makes a loud clunk sound or popping sound, go over a dip in road does the same thing, you go over a bump the vehicle feels soggy, it like dribbles, it causes the vehicle to sway.. It's horrible, also the brakes was shaking at 15k miles, found out it's tsbs on this issue and of course the dealership didn't fix for free, charged me over 600 dollars for a issue that has a tsb on.
The low beam headlights are so dim you barely can see anything often I have to turn on high beam lights
Led headlights on this model continue to flicker while driving at night at highway speeds become serious safety concern. Had vehicle inspected not alternator related to entire assembly workmanship issues. Company refuses to acknowledge it. Other complaints exist from other people.
Headlight on both sides go out often. After having this issue far too many times, I looked online hoping to find a solution and discovered multiple mazda owners are having same problem. Its a malfunction in the mazda that needs to be fixed by mazda this happened ever since I bought the car in 2011 I had to replace the headlight bulbs twice a year at least .
Related recalls
Exterior lighting: turn signal
- What is wrong
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2017 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured August 12, 2016, to September 28, 2016 and equipped with optional accessory fog lights. Due to an incorrect combination switch being installed, the turn signals may not automatically cancel by the rotation of the steering wheel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- A vehicle continuously driven with the turn signal flashing may result in confusion to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the combination switch, free of charge. The recall began December 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1‑800‑222‑5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0316J.
Recall number 16V753000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: fog lights
- What is wrong
- On certain mini vans and passenger vehicles, the socket holder in the fog lights is installed in the lamp casing using pressure. During operation of the fog light, the heat from the bulb can expand the socket holder. The expansion can force the socket holder rearward. After repeatedly being subject to this expansion, if the fog light is also subjected to vibration during vehicle operation, the socket holder with the bulb holder and the wiring harness may separate from the fog light casing.
- Risk
- Should this occur, the bulb socket and the harness can drop inside the bumper and possibly but rarely, the heat generated by the bulb can cause the bumper to burn.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a spring to prevent the socket holder from separating from the lamp case. Owner notification began on july 14, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact mazda at 1‑800‑222‑5500.
Recall number 03V206000 · Recall details
Questions about the Mazda MAZDA6 headlights
Which Mazda MAZDA6 years have headlights failing or too dim problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2012 (29 complaints), 2010 (19 complaints) and 2009 (15 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix headlights failing or too dim on the Mazda MAZDA6?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $500 (median of 5 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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