2012 Mazda 6 problems

• 2.2 MZR-CD 125-185 (R2, 2008-2013)

  125–185 hp · R2

  It retains the 2.0's sensitivity to oil dilution and carbon build-up, and adds a problem of its own: fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de independently document timing chain stretch as a known weak point on the Mazda6 and Mazda3. Check that there is no chain noise when cold and review the service history.^[2][3][4][5]

  With caution

Faults that affect 2012 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: CommonTimingTiming chain stretch on the 2.2 MZR-CDThe 2.2-litre redesign (2008-2013) replaced the 2.0's belt with a timing chain that, according to fiches-auto.fr and gebrauchtwagenberater.de, stretches more than expected on the Mazda6 and Mazda3, and, being the same engine, presumably on the CX-7 too; a rattle when cold is the first warning.
• High severityFrequency: CommonLubricationOil dilution from leaking injector seals and DPF regenerationsOn the 2.0 and 2.2 MZR-CD, injector seals that age badly and incomplete particulate filter regenerations on short journeys can let unburnt diesel into the sump, diluting the oil and leaving the engine with less lubrication.
• High severityFrequency: OccasionalTurboTurbocharger wear or failureThe MZR-CD's variable-geometry turbo appears among the faults cited by Mazda6 and Mazda3 owners, with cases of whistling, loss of boost pressure and, in one documented case, a repair of over €3,600 in France; it tends to be made worse if the oil has previously been diluted.
• Medium severityFrequency: CommonIntakeCarbon on the injectors, EGR valve and intakeUrban use and short journeys encourage carbon to build up on the injectors, EGR valve and intake of the MZR-CD, with loss of power and jerking; documented on the Mazda6 and Mazda3, on both the 2.0 and the 2.2.

• 1.8 MZR 116-126 hp (L8-DE, 2002-2015)

  116–126 hp · L8-DE, L8-VE

  Gebrauchtwagenberater.de rates the petrol engines of the Mazda6 GG as reliable, the 1.8 among them; fiches-auto.fr records one case of a blown engine among 16 testimonials for the 1.8 of the Mazda6 GG, and a thermostat and a lambda sensor beyond 160,000 km in two testimonials for the GH. There is no data of its own for the Mazda5 and the MX-5 with this engine; the teaser of the auto motor und sport article (paywalled) only says that the MX-5 NC is not very problematic as a used car, without naming the engine.^[2][7][8][9]

  Buy

• 2.0 MZR 140-160 hp (LF-DE, LF-VE, 2003-2015)

  140–160 hp · LF-DE, LF-VE

  Gebrauchtwagenberater.de considers the petrol engines of the Mazda3 and Mazda6 reliable and attributes no faults specific to the 2.0; fiches-auto.fr adds isolated cases of oil consumption (3 among 17 testimonials in the Mazda3 BK and 2 among 19 in the Mazda6 GG) and of sensors, and a damaged big-end bearing at around 50,000 km.^{[7][8][10][11]}

  Buy

• 2.5 MZR 170 hp (L5-VE, 2008-2013)

  170 hp · L5-VE

  There is almost no data: fiches-auto.fr gathers only 3 testimonials for the 2.5 of the Mazda6 GH, with no engine faults at all, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de describes the petrol engines of the GH as durable without naming the 2.5 explicitly.^[2][4]

  Buy

Faults that affect 2012 cars

• Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalCylinder head and blockBig-end bearing damage in the 2.3 MZR, with isolated cases in the 1.8 and 2.0Gebrauchtwagenberater.de cites big-end bearing damage as a known weak point of the 2.3 MZR of the Mazda6 GG, and fiches-auto.fr adds two isolated cases: a Mazda6 1.8 with a blown engine and a Mazda3 2.0 with a damaged big-end bearing at around 50,000 km.
• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalLubricationOil consumption in the 1.3, 1.6 and 2.0 MZR at high mileageIn the smaller petrol MZR engines, oil use appears mainly at high mileage: gebrauchtwagenberater.de places it in the Mazda2 DE from around 150,000-200,000 km, and fiches-auto.fr records isolated cases in the 2.0 of the Mazda3 and Mazda6 and in the 1.3 of the Mazda2.Appears at around 150,000 km
• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalIgnitionMisfires from spark plugs and ignition coils in petrol MZR enginesSpark plugs appear among the fault points of the Mazda2 DE in the ADAC statistics cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de, and fiches-auto.fr attributes the misfires of the Mazda3 1.6 to coils, spark plugs or sensors.

• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSuspensionNoise and wear in the front suspension top mounts and bearingsThe TÜV report cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de lists the suspension axle among the points that most often draw attention in German roadworthiness inspections; French owners document noises from the shock absorber top mounts and worn bearings.
• Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalGearbox and clutchPremature clutch wear and difficulty engaging first gearThe manual gearbox clutch on the Mazda6 GH has limited durability and at times first gear is hard to engage at the first attempt, according to a German used-car guide; fiches-auto.fr also records a clutch failure case among the owners consulted.
• Low severityFrequency: OccasionalBodywork and interiorFragile paint that chips from small impactsTwo owner sources, one French and one Polish, report that the paint on the Mazda6 GH chips easily from small gravel strikes; it is a cosmetic defect, not a safety one.