Mazda Mazda6 GJ Inspection Checklist

lowInfotainment / MZD Connect glitches and screen wear

Look for: MZD Connect can freeze, drop Bluetooth or suffer commander-dial faults; touchscreens can delaminate or develop blotches with heat.

If you find it: Software updates resolve many glitches; screen or head-unit replacement for hardware faults.

Any · ~$0-1200

lowRoad noise and minor cabin rattles

Look for: Even facelifted cars are criticised for coarse-chip road noise; trim rattles develop with age.

If you find it: Quieter tyres and sound-deadening help road noise; re-clip/retrim for rattles.

Any · ~$0-500

lowRear suspension bush and link wear

Look for: Rear multilink bushes, sway-bar links and drop links wear with age, causing clunks and vague handling.

If you find it: Replace worn bushes and links; a common ageing-suspension refresh.

From 100k+ km · ~$300-900

lowPaint and clear-coat fragility (especially red)

Look for: Mazda's thinner factory paint, notably Soul Red, chips and stone-marks easily under Australian conditions.

If you find it: Paint protection film / careful detailing; touch-up chips early to prevent rust.

Any · Varies

lowDirect-injection intake valve carbon build-up

Look for: Like all direct-injection engines, the SkyActiv-G has no port fuel wash over the back of the intake valves, so carbon slowly accumulates and can cause rough idle and minor power loss at high km.

If you find it: Walnut-blast / intake clean if symptomatic; quality fuel and regular oil changes slow it.

From 100k+ km · ~$300-800

lowCarbon / soot in the variable valve timing and idle quality

Look for: Some owners report a rough or hunting idle and minor oil weeping from valve cover and cam seals as the engine ages.

If you find it: Replace valve cover gasket and cam seals; clean throttle body and PCV system.

From 120k+ km · ~$200-600

lowCylinder-deactivation low-speed shudder (later GL)

Look for: Later cylinder-deactivation 2.5 engines can transmit a faint shudder through the body at low rpm when running on two cylinders; some owners find it intrusive but it is not a fault.

If you find it: Software updates and healthy engine mounts minimise it; otherwise normal behaviour.

Any · ~$0-600

lowWater pump / minor oil weeps at age

Look for: Higher-km examples can develop a weeping water pump or valve-cover/cam-seal oil seepage.

If you find it: Replace water pump and gaskets as part of routine ageing maintenance.

From 130k+ km · ~$300-700

Mazda6 GJ / GL inspection checklist

All engines

2.2L SkyActiv-D twin-turbo diesel

2.5L SkyActiv-G 2.5T turbo petrol