Problems with paintwork and corrosion on Mazda: affected models and engines

In 8 models from Mazda there are 11 documented faults with paintwork and corrosion. The most important: recall over corrosion in the seat height mechanism, fragile paint and bodywork corrosion on the Mazda 3 (BK) and recall for corrosion of the tailgate damper bracket.

Reviewed on 29 October 2026How we work

Documented faults, from most to least important

Severity × frequency. Below each one, the Mazda models it appears in.

- High severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IIRecall over corrosion in the seat height mechanismYes: Mazda recalled around 28,745 Mazda6 GH cars built between August 2007 and August 2010 because the driver's seat height adjustment mechanism can corrode and stop working.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IFragile paint and bodywork corrosion on the Mazda 3 (BK)According to the reports gathered by fiches-auto.fr, the paint on the first-generation Mazda 3 is fragile and corrosion appears: it is the most cited non-mechanical fault in the listing (12 cases out of 140 reports).
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IIRecall for corrosion of the tailgate damper bracketYes: the brackets that hold the Mazda3 BL's tailgate gas struts can rust from road salt and break, so the tailgate may not stay open or may slam shut.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 ICorrosion of the rear wheel arches on the bodyworkAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, rear wheel arch corrosion is the most-cited non-mechanical problem on the first-generation Mazda 6: 28 mentions out of 206 reports. There is no official campaign to back it up.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IIRecall over corrosion in the boot or tailgate gas strutsYes: on Mazda6 GH cars built between October 2007 and August 2008, the end caps of the boot or tailgate gas struts can corrode, with a risk of it slamming shut.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-5 ITailgate gas strut failure due to corrosionYes: Mazda recalled first-generation CX-5s built between November 2011 and December 2015 because the gas strut that holds up the tailgate can corrode inside and lose pressure or break, letting the tailgate fall if it is not held.
- Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda MX-5 IIIBlocked soft-top drains and rust on the sills and rear wingsOn the MX-5 NC, the soft-top drain tubes can clog and overflow into the body structure; British owners cite rust at the bottom of the rear wheel arches, on the sills and under the boot lid.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 3 IVThe paint on the bodywork, bumpers or trim can flakeSeveral owners describe the paint on the bodywork, bumpers or trim becoming brittle and flaking over time, especially in areas of rubbing; the manufacturer does not acknowledge a systemic defect and there is no campaign about it.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IIFragile 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.
- Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IIIFragile Mazda 6 bodywork paintAccording to fiches-auto.fr, 4 of the 33 accounts about the Mazda 6 (2012-2022) point to fragile paint. It is owner data, with no confirmation from the press or the manufacturer.
- Low severityFrequency: RareMazda 3 IMazda 3 (BK) tailgate struts that break from corrosionGebrauchtwagenberater.de records, citing the KBA, a recall because corrosion can break the tailgate struts on Mazda 3 BKs built from 2007 onwards.

By Mazda model

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Frequently asked questions

What faults with paintwork and corrosion do Mazda cars have?

Which Mazda models have the most problems with paintwork and corrosion?

Mazda 6 II (3 faults), Mazda 3 I (2 faults), Mazda 6 I (1 fault) and Mazda MX-5 III (1 fault).