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I have a recurring problem with my Mazda 6 oil pan gasket. With 38,000 miles, the car has been brought in 4 times for the same issue, and twice the gasket was replaced under warranty. Now 5 months out of the warranty I’m told it will be over $500 to replace yet again since the new gasket is actually part of the oil pan itself. It sounds like I’m being taken for a ride by this dealership. First, isn’t it odd to have this same problem 4 times? Second, can I replace the gasket without having to replace the entire pan if the gasket is the problem? And since I am not that handy around cars I suspect I will need to have the work done – so what would a reasonable rate be for a repair in New York?  

Something is wrong here but I don't know what it is.
As far aas I know from every other car the oil pan and the gasket are two separate items and you do not have to replace the oil pan every time the gasket leaks. You remove it and put on a new gasket and then put it back on the car. BUT that does not mean it isn't possible with this car because I am not familiar with this car to make a judgement.
However an oil pan gasket mostly never goes bad,,,and 3 in a row is unbeleivable bad luck.
If oil keeps leaking out of the top of the pan rim because of the gasket then there must be something else wrong. If pressure is builging up in the oil gallery then maybe the PCV valve is giving you trouble. Thats the cheap thing on top o the valve cover ($3.oo and replace it youself in one minute)
Do yourself a favor and do this: Buy a Hanes manual for you yr/make/model
car--about $25.oo. They are either at an auto parts store or you can order it online  at Haynes.com. Do not buy a Chilton- the haynes is easier to understand--unless you want to--your choice.
It will tell you all about the oil pan.
You dont mention what caused you to be aware of the problem so i have no comment there.
$600.oo is a lot-even in new york,,,,,but i  still dont understand whay you hae to replace the metal pan. Labor I would guess s $100.oo an hour. Nice work if you can get it.  

This problem your having is a huge issue with mazda 6 owners everywhere, i own a 2003 mazda 6 3.0l ,v6 ,auto it has 93,000 miles and my dealership told me last oil change that my drain plug bolt is stripped out and I will need to replace the entire oil pan. After alot of research i found out alot the pan and bolt are made of aluminum so they cannot be re tapped or died which basically is rethreaded. A genuine mazda part oil pan is $256 and some cents and down here in PA it was going to be around $250 to install it grand total he said approx $500, WTF daylight robbery i was pissed because no doubt they stripped it out in the first place but the excuse was oh well the threads eventually wear out, thats bs he just cross threaded it after an oil change and you cannot do a damn thing about it if your out of warranty. However dont take it up the rear from them though you had this problem while under warranty and it has not been fixed so they should honor the problem as still been under warranty because it wasnt fixed. It sounds like if the gasket was replaced twice that is no longer the source of the leak, if you dont get anywhere with the dealer go to a trustworthy mechanic im sure you know someone who may know a mechanic , sounds like the drain plug bolt like mine either stripped out threads or worse the threads in the oil pan itself aswell, then you will need a new oil pan and new gasket and possibly bolts providing the old ones dont break on the way out. You can buy these items online for 1/2 the price as mazda parts too pan is $150 and gasket is $50, not sure on bolt prices. labor for install shouldnt be more than $200, hope that helps