Head-to-head reliability
Mazda Mazda6 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda Mazda6 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda Mazda6 vs FORD F 150: The Mazda6 averages 53.8 complaints per year and 22 recalls, while the F-150 averages 1,131.1 complaints and 145 recalls. The F-150's most common issue is the 10-speed transmission, while the Mazda6 faces electrical and rust problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda Mazda6 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda Mazda6
The Mazda Mazda6 is a midsize sedan that averages about 54 complaints per year over the past decade, with 22 recalls. Owners report a mix of electrical glitches, engine overheating or oil pressure warnings, brake and lighting problems, and serious rust on older models. It's a car that can be reliable but demands attention to electrical and structural issues, especially in rust-belt states.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that generates roughly 1,131 complaints per year, far more than the Mazda6, with 145 recalls. The dominant issue is the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners say shifts hard, jerks, clunks, or loses power. Electrical problems like camera malfunctions and battery cable issues are also common, making it a truck that needs careful inspection before buying.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda Mazda6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 538 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 22 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 37 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 53.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 27 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda Mazda6
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM101
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER89
- 03ENGINE79
- 04SERVICE BRAKES60
- 05POWER TRAIN51
Owners report the check engine light coming on followed by sudden loss of acceleration and steering, as well as infotainment screens freezing or going black and steering wheel controls failing. These glitches can leave you stranded or distract you while driving.
Complaints include overheating while driving and low oil pressure warnings shortly after an oil change. These symptoms can lead to expensive engine damage if not addressed promptly.
One owner reported replacing brakes 15 times starting at under 19,000 miles, along with repeated light replacements due to wiring harness issues. This suggests potential premature wear or electrical faults that could affect braking reliability.
Several complaints describe severe rust on the front crossmember and frame, especially on older models from rust-prone states, with recalls applied as partial fixes. Structural rust can compromise safety and is costly to repair.
“was driving on the highway when the check engine light came on. not 10 minutes later, I lost acceleration and steering. managed to get to the shoulder just in time before my car pretty much died. the water light and battery light came on when I came to a stop…”
“AFTER PURCHASING A 2019 MAZDA6 IN JULY 2019, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS IN WHICH I START THE CAR AND THE DISPLAY SCREEN FREEZES OR IS BLACK, NOT DISPLAYING ANYTHING. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONTROL BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK. I'VE ALSO EX…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners of the 10-speed automatic report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power while driving. These transmission problems can be dangerous and often require major repairs.
Common complaints include front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available warnings, plus battery cable issues. These failures can disable driver-assist features and leave you without critical safety aids.
Headlight problems are frequently reported, which can reduce visibility at night and increase crash risk. Recalls exist for headlights, but owners still report issues.
Engine-related complaints appear, though less frequently than transmission issues. Problems can include rough running or stalling, which may lead to costly repairs.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda Mazda6 — 22 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
The risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
The defect: 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, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. M…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland,Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, O…
The risk: Corrosion may weaken the mounting point for the passenger side lower control arm, unexpectedly changing the steering alignment and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross member and either install a side member and drain hose and apply wax to protect from rust, or install a drain hose and an improved front cross member, free of charge. The recall…
The defect: 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, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mazda Mazda6 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda Mazda6 has far fewer complaints per year (about 54) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131), meaning you're statistically less likely to face frequent problems. However, the F-150's issues are often more severe, especially transmission failures that can cause sudden power loss. In practice, the Mazda6 may be easier to live with day-to-day, but the F-150 demands a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has about 21 times more complaints per year than the Mazda Mazda6 (1,131 vs. 54), largely due to transmission and electrical issues.
- Mazda6 owners report sudden loss of acceleration and steering linked to electrical faults, while F-150 owners report hard shifting and power loss from the 10-speed transmission.
- Structural rust on the front crossmember is a recurring complaint for older Mazda6 models, especially from rust-belt states, whereas F-150 complaints focus more on powertrain and electronics.
- The F-150 has 145 recalls versus 22 for the Mazda6, indicating a higher rate of safety-related fixes over the same period.
- Check for rust on the front crossmember and frame, especially if the car has lived in a salt-belt state; look for bubbling paint or flaking metal underneath.
- Test all electronics: infotainment screen, steering wheel controls, and warning lights; listen for any hesitation or loss of power during a test drive.
- Test drive the 10-speed automatic extensively: feel for hard shifts, jerks, or clunks between gears, especially 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8; any hesitation could signal a costly repair.
- Check for electrical warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dashboard; these indicate sensor or wiring problems.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report to see if recalls (especially for rust or airbags on the Mazda6, or transmission/electrical on the F-150) have been performed.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the undercarriage for rust on the Mazda6 and the transmission behavior on the F-150 during a test drive.
- Scan for stored trouble codes even if no warning lights are on, as intermittent electrical issues may not show during a short drive.
- For the F-150, verify that the 10-speed transmission has had any software updates or repairs; ask for service records.
- For the Mazda6, check the oil pressure warning system and coolant levels, and look for signs of overheating like a sweet smell or low coolant.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mazda Mazda6 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 17 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 2 | 33 |
| 2019 | 6 | 36 |
| 2018 | 58 | 56 |
| 2017 | 60 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda Mazda6 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda Mazda6 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda Mazda6 total complaints
- 538
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda Mazda6 total recalls
- 22
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda Mazda6 avg complaints/year
- 53.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda Mazda6
- Mazda Mazda6 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN