MazdaMazda62012Overview/mazda/mazda6/2012/base/

2012 Mazda Mazda6

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Mazda6.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Mazda6 is a passenger car that recorded 99 owner complaints, with air bag issues as the most common concern, alongside six recalls. Within the model’s complaint history from 2002 to 2021, this year sits well below the peak of 386 complaints for 2009 but far above the low of just 2 for 2020, placing it in a moderate reliability position for the generation.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132012

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 590 CCA battery, OE oil filter LF0514302B. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 590 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnBRAKEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-65R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterLF0514302B alt YF0914302A
Engine air filterL51813Z40A alt CY0113Z40A
Fuel filterL51813ZE0 alt CA3813ZE0
Spark plugZZJ118110
Battery0000806096WB
Front wiper bladesGS3M67330B alt GS3L67330B
Serpentine beltCY0115907B alt L51815909A
ThermostatZZJ115171B alt 9XB06807S
Cabin air filterGS3L61148

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length194.5 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height57.9 in
Wheelbase109.8 in
Curb weight3549 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Mazda6 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.80 sec — 2012 i Sport Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012i Sport Sedan 2.5L I-47.80 sec16.00 sec170 hpFWD
2009s Grand Touring V6 Sedan 3.7L V66.10 sec14.70 sec272 hpFWD
2009s Grand Touring V6 Sedan 3.7L V66.10 sec14.60 sec272 hpFWD
2009s Grand Touring V6 Sedan 3.7L V66.20 sec14.70 sec272 hpFWD
2009s Grand Touring V6 Sedan 3.7L V66.30 sec14.80 sec272 hpFWD
2009i Touring Sedan 2.5L I-47.90 sec16.20 sec170 hpFWD
2009i Touring Sedan 2.5L I-48.00 sec16.10 sec170 hpFWD
2009i Grand Touring Sedan 2.5L I-48.10 sec16.40 sec170 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 22.0-29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.6
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity6.1
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs11-12 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts54-64 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17-20 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug22.0-29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub175-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)620 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5.0-6.0 ohms
Ignition Timing13 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10-1.22 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number96R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance590 cca
Standard BCI Group Number96R

Service checks

Pressure Test21 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief16-21 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-181 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)29.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)29.0 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket17-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle38-48 ft-lbs / 59-74 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0055 in / 0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.35 in / 0.937 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.3 in / 0.91 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9020–23 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-76 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–76 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1103 ft. lbs., step 2: 360 degrees, step 3: 35-39 ft. lbs., 85-95103 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts. Coat bolt threads with clean engine oil.

1Bolts 1-1615 ft. lbs
2Bolts 1-1626 ft. lbs
3Bolts 1-1690 degrees
4Bolts 1-1690 degrees
5Bolts 1-1690 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134-39 ft. lbs., Step 2: 57-61, Step 3: 80-8534–39 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
16-9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 906–9 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant at 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 60,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
At 22,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (clean)
Every 25,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 37,500 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (clean)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2012 Mazda Mazda6 sits at a notable inflection point in its generation's record: complaints had peaked in 2009 at 386 (the highest in the dataset), accompanied by 10 recalls and 2 federal investigations, then declined through 2010 (225 complaints, 9 recalls) and 2011 (134 complaints, 6 recalls, 1 investigation) before reaching 99 complaints in 2012 with zero open investigations and 6 recalls. Recalls across this period show a similar trajectory, dropping from a high of 10 in 2009 to 6 by 2012, while TSBs remained persistently high at 244 in 2012, indicating ongoing technical service attention rather than new systemic defects. After 2012, complaints continued declining to a low of 22 in 2013 before ticking upward again in 2014, but recalls remained lower (4 in 2013, 4 in 2014) compared to the 2012 level. The 2012 model's top complaint categories—air bags (25 complaints) and exterior lighting (20 complaints)—suggest specific component concerns rather than broad powertrain or structural issues, with 5 crash-related complaints and 2 fire-related complaints on record. The data indicates 2012 benefited from a multi-year correction after the 2009 peak, with complaints and investigations both declining meaningfully by this model year.

6
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
244
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
99
Owner complaints
5 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 99 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags25
Exterior Lighting20
Unknown Or Other9
Electrical System,Exterior Lighting5
Suspension4
Structure4
Electrical System4
Air Bags,Unknown Or Other3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V717000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 12/10/2018

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… Remedy: 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…

19V782000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 31/10/2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall… Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 244 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-039/252025-08-21StructureSome vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 Mazda6 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.