JM1GL1VMXM16081802021 MAZDA Mazda6Touring
2021 MAZDA Mazda6 was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 17 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failur...
Executive Summary
2021 MAZDA Mazda6
2021 MAZDA Mazda6 was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. 17 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA — review the complaint section for the most common failure patterns.
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- MAZDA
- Model
- Mazda6
- Year
- 2021
- Trim / Series
- Touring
- Body Style
- Sedan/Saloon
- Vehicle Type
- PASSENGER CAR
- Drive Type
- 4x2
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 4-cyl 2.5L 187 hp
- Transmission
- Automatic
- Doors
- 4
- Manufacturer
- MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
- Assembly
- HOFU, YAMAGUCHI, JAPAN
- GVWR
- Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)
Assembly Plant Quality
Plant: HOFU, YAMAGUCHI
No specific quality data available for this plant. No documented recall or complaint concentrations on record.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ No high-risk recall components found
Driver Assistance Features
ADAS equipment data from NHTSA vPIC database
Deferred Failure Risk
Components and defects approaching or past their known service milestones
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEARComplaint Intelligence
17 complaints analyzed across 3 system categories
42% of complaints filed in Jul & Jun — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME17 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
The Infotainment system malfunctions. The rear view camera freezes, not with the current conditions but a still picture of a street I do not recognize. This puts not only myself at risk for an accident but those of others as well. This malfunction has been taken into the dealership on two different occasions. Each time the dealer couldn't solve the issue. There is currently a class action lawsuit regarding the Infotainment system.
Twice had low oil warning lamp appear. First time in July 2023, 2nd time in June 2024. Both times oil has just been changed 2-3 months prior. Saw articles that there was a recent lawsuit, which is why I am filling complaint as well. Not for lawsuit, but for repairs so this does not occur again.
Engine oil low warning 2k miles after oil change and again a week after topping oil off.
My car displayed a low oil level light between oil changes and after checking the dipstick it was low. No sign of visible oil leak so upon further research I was made aware of a TSB about defective valve seals causing excessive oil consumption. My cars VIN is in the affected range outlined in the TSB. Now when I drive it's likely that slow but permanent damage could be occuring in my vehicle.
Low oil light comes on. Using excessive oil between oil changes.
Oil Consumption Defect. I bought car on 7/10/21. Mazda aware of the problem at the time and still sold me the car. Since then I have had to add oil in between oil changes. Mazda states problem cannot be fixed. My car vin # included with defected cars. My Limited New Car Warranty will be up soon. I am aware others have concacted you with this problem. Can you tell me what is being done about this?
Excessive oil burn. I have 12,7000 miles on my engine and the car is burning ~1 quart of oil every 3k miles and increasing.
I been having problems with oil consumption in between oil changes,I am concerned with the potential for damage to other engine systems aside from the reported issue with the gasket stem seals. I been taking my car to the dealership and I been told they don’t have a solution and they don’t know how to fix it. This is a new car!!!
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the oil light continually illuminated on the instrument panel while driving at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer where he was informed that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of oil. Upon investigation, the contact discovered information that a defective valve in the engine might have been the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 11,800.
Vehicle displays low engine oil light about every 1,000 miles due to burning oil from faulty valve stem seals from factory assembly. Mazda has acknowledged the defect but plans to only refill engine oil. The defect could lead to possible injury due to low oil which could cause the engine to seize and cause sudden loss of power.
The engine oil low light has illuminated multiple times. I verified that there is no external engine oil leak. I have added oil and driven it for a couple thousand miles and the light is now on again. The car is brand new and should not be burning oil. Its a known issue as Mazda has a service bulletin but no fix for it. This is the bulletin number TSB-01-012/21.
Excessive oil consumption. Recently purchased new vehicle with 0 miles. Oil low level warning light on at 3500 miles. Manually checked oil level. Added one quart. Online research indicates problem is created by faulty valve guide seals which allows oil into the engine combustion chamber and exhaust. Vehicle will be taken to dealership for inspection.
The low oil pressure light had turned on shortly after my first oil change (roughly at around 6k miles). I had the service done at a trusted service shop back in April 2021. I wrote it off mentally thinking that it was just a one off thing and that the shop may have made a mistake and underfilled the engine because of unclear specifications between the mazda6 Turbo version vs other models within the same lineup. I measured the oil and confirmed it was low and topped it off with over a half quart of oil and never bothered with it again. Six months later I return to the same shop for an oil change at 11k miles. I had no issues up until the 17k miles month mark when I am about to schedule the oil service the low oil pressure light turns on once again. I top it off and go online to see similar experiences with the same issue experienced by other drivers.
Low engine oil light came on at around 13,700. Last oil change was at 10,000 miles. Checked oil dipstick, oil level slightly below first marker hole.
The issue I am experiencing is one that many are in regards to the oil consumption. My check oil light came on prematurely in regards to the recommended scheduling for these sorts of vehicles, at around 3500 miles approximately. This is a vehicle that experienced this issue under 10k miles.
Sunroof exploded while on the highway. Nothing hit the glass. Glass was facing outward and no evidence if anything striking it. Major safety concern, easily could have blinded my wife or I.
Visibility/safety issue with OEM Mazda windshields. Objects appear highly distorted from all angles, making it hard to judge distance, read road signs, and drive safely without a disorienting level of distraction occurring at all times. Some objects appear magnified while others seem shrunken, as well as shorter or taller than they actually are. Straight lines appear rippled and in some cases, completely broken. Operating the vehicle for more than a few minutes results in rapid eye fatigue, motion sickness, and vertigo.
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
The blue line shows 17 total NHTSA complaints filed over 5 years, with the worst year being 2022 (9 complaints).
The amber reliability line shows an improving trend — scores have risen from the earlier years toward 96/100 more recently, suggesting the most serious issues are older and may have been addressed through repairs or recalls.
Notably, despite 17 complaints on file, no recall has been issued — either the defect pattern has not met NHTSA's threshold for a formal campaign, or a recall may be forthcoming.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $34,084 (~$568/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 2021 MAZDA Mazda6 — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for JM1GL1VMXM1608180. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | JM1GL1VMXM1608180 |
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Make | MAZDA |
| Model | Mazda6 |
| Trim | Touring |
| Vehicle Type | PASSENGER CAR |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sedan/Saloon |
| Doors | 4 |
| Seat Rows | 5 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
| Transmission | Automatic |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 4 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.5 |
| Horsepower | 187 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION |
| Assembly City | HOFU |
| Assembly Country | JAPAN |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | JM1 |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | X |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | M |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | 1 |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | 608180 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 17 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 6/15/2026, 8:47:41 AM.