2009 MAZDA MAZDA6 Complaints

Rear suspension cross-member corroded to the point that a minor pothole separated the right lower control arm mounting point from the cross-member, rendering the car undrivable. The rest of the car is fairly rust-free.

2009 Mazda 6 Rear subframe and springs are deemed unsafe due to extreme rusting and corrosion. The vehicle is registered and has been registered in both NY and PA (salt states), however was regularly washed and garage maintained. Vehicle will no longer pass inspection due to this issue and Mazda indicates no recall for the rear at this time and is ignoring that this is a highly prevalent issue. Mazda recalled and acknowledged this issue on these makes/models related to the front; however refuses to acknowledge and repair/recall the issue extending to the rear. The vehicle is in otherwise good shape, and the extreme rusting to the subframe/springs is not consistent with normal wear and tear. This is an extremely prevalent issue arising to these vehicles being ignored by Mazda. Mechanics are indicating the issue is extremely deteriorated and not safe, but that the vehicle is in otherwise good shape and the issue is consistent with faulty parts.

Vehicle jerks at low speed when accelerate and idle when accelerate, P0766 Code shows, engine noise and gears jump, when reverse the vehicle jerks.

The sensors on my alarm system will randomly activate, with alarm going off at 30 second intervals. The problem began approximately 6 months ago. I took the initiative to replace my cars battery, along with the battery in my fab. I really thought that solved my problem, as a first step fix. I began once again to identify the sound of my car alarm in multiple parking lots throughout time. I have been investigating this problem, and have read that this alarm problem has been sited by many Mazda 6 owners. I am the original owner of the 2009 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, and have 67,000 miles driven. I called the Repair Department at my dealership, and was told that it cost $185.00 for just the diagnosis. My auto insurance company policy price is based on using a secured vehicle. Right now I only can leave it unlocked in my garage, otherwise, my vehicle is at risk of being stolen.

This 2009 Mazda 6 hit a chuck hole in the Buffalo NY area, virtually severing the connection between the rear cross member (aka cradle or sub frame) and the right rear wheel and rendering the car all but undriveable. Mechanic said the failure to sufficiently rust proof the subject parts caused severe deterioration of the rear sub frame. This is essentially the same problem that led NHTSA to issue a recall on this vehicle for the front engine cradle in 2018.

I noticed a rattling sound that seemed to come from the rear passenger side wheel. I took it to a mechanic who told me that the rear sub-frame was so rusted that the damper had come loose from the sub-frame and caused the rattling sound. He said that he was unable to reattch the damper because the sub-frame was too rusted. The only solution was to remove the loose damper to eliminate the rattling sound and continue driving that way OR have the rear sub-frame replaced which would cost from $4,000-$6,000.

I have a 2009 Mazda 6, the subframe/engine cradle has completely rusted out on the right side causing the lower control arm to detach from the frame while I was driving almost causing a accident luckily I was driving slow at the time. There was a recall for this exact issue, I contacted Mazda and they have no open recalls and can not help me

"What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?" - Rear subframe. Total rust through due to improper steel alloy and insufficient paint. Same as happened for the front subframe. Front subframe was recalled as 2818I (Mazda's number) and 19V-323, 18V-631 (NHTSA numbers). NHTSA should also mandate rear subframe be recalled. "How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?" - Total catastrophic structural failure of rear suspension. Would result in a total loss of control while driving. This would likely lead to a severe, possibly fatal accident at-speed. "Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?" - As reported by independent service center. "Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others?" - no, this exact vehicle has not been inspected by manufacturer. Manufacturer is doubtless aware of the issue. A cursory google search leads to dozens of identical cases. "Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?" - there were no warnings of the failure prior to discovery by service center.

I took my car to the mechanic for some routine maintenance and they called to tell me they discovered that the rear subframe is completely corroded. They say the car is not safe to drive, as it could come apart at any moment, and it will cost so much to repair (current estimate is $8000 and still climbing!) that it may be better for me to buy a new car (which I cannot afford). The mechanic expressed shock at how badly the subframe has deteriorated. He said it is in much worse shape than the rest of the car, which I have always maintained carefully. In 2019 my car was recalled for a defective front cross-member, which the dealer replaced. I was told at the time that it was recalled because the coating applied to it was defective and did not protect the part from corrosion. Based on my research, it seems that the same defective coating was applied to the rear subframe, and that it is why it has rusted so quickly and severely. I see that the NHTSA is already aware of this issue - [XXX] . The exact problem I am having is described in [XXX] : "Mazda6 owners told NHTSA there was severe corrosion of the right rear subframes that caused the steering rack mounting bolts to fail." It is completely unacceptable that Mazda replaced the defective part in the front but has not replaced the similarly defective part in the rear, which has failed for the same reason. I am furious that this has made my beloved car, which is otherwise in very good shape and runs beautifully, undriveable. Mazda should be required to repair this severe safety defect, which is entirely their responsibility! Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Purchased the vehicle, brought it to our mechanic. Was told that the rear subframe was completely rusted, making it unsafe to drive.