2011 Mazda Mazda3 Problems & Owner Complaints

Air Bags 29 8 crash 10 injury

“TAKATA RECALL: I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR MAZDA3 IN JAN 2011. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF EVEN THOUGH A OVER 100 POUNDS PERSON IS SITTING ON THE CHAIR. I NOTICED IT ON THE FIRST YEAR WHEN I WAS BACK TO THE MAZDA DEALER IN NEWARK CALIFORNIA FOR THE MAINTENANCE, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE PERSON IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER CHAIR IS SO LIGHT. I GOT A CAR ACCIDENT ON 2012, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT POP UP. I DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW THIS WEBSITE UNTIL I RECEIVE THE DASHBOARD RECALL. MY MAZDA GOT SOME RECALLS. THE CURRENT RECALL IS…”
NHTSA complaint #11063957, 2012 · crash · 4 injury(ies)

“The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the insurance company and can be made available for inspection upon request. During the crash, no airbags deployed, which significantly increased the risk of serious injury or death. The lack of airbag deployment left my partner and me completely unprotected at the moment of impact, including the number of time…”
NHTSA complaint #11713964, 2026 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WERE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND SHE WAS SEVERELY REAR ENDED. THE APPROXIMATE TRAVEL SPEED WAS 65 MILES PER HR ON THERE FREEWAY.”
NHTSA complaint #11053777, 2017 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

Seats 20 1 crash 3 injury

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10475341, 2012 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“SUNDAY NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN MY DRIVERSIDE SEAT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE SEATS HARNESS THATS BOLTED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THAT EXACT SAFETY ISSUE HAD A RECALL. IVE MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT SCHEDULING MY CAR TO BE SERVICED BY MAZDA. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL CALL ME BACK. THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN.”
NHTSA complaint #11352597, 2020 · 1 injury(ies)

“DRIVER SEAT GETS REALLY HOT AND BURNS YOUR BACK. HAVE TO TURN OFF AFTER 10 MINS. EVEN ON LOWEST SETTING. KEEPS GETTING TOO HOT. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10512381, 2012 · 1 injury(ies)

Unknown Or Other 18

“I was driving it and randomly the AT and TC , and check engine light came on and the car went into limp mode, after doing some research it appears to happen to all 2009-2011 Mazda3's and it's a safety hazard. It's a safety hazard because of when it's stuck in limp mode sometimes if your at a light or something it'll start shifting and if you're not holding the brake completely down it will make the car lurch forward like 2-3 feet more if you don't react fast enough. This is a serious problem as it can cause a wreck. And you never know when it's going to happen there will be no symptoms it will…”
NHTSA complaint #11701203, 2025

“The car is jerking and check engine light is on. Also when you are stopped and press on the gar it takes a bit to get speed. The transmission control module needs to be replaced. There seems to be this issue on many mazda's just not sure why a recall hasn't been done for this case.”
NHTSA complaint #11608963, 2024

“Transmission Control Module Failed while driving. Do to this there was a loss in ability to properly shift which made driving dangerous. There has been several online reports and accounts about this specific car signaling a check engine light coming on, AT light coming on and when other indirect or incorrect codes like Solenoid (A), (B), or (C). Luckily I did not crash therefore, I have no inspections have been necessary by police or insurance representatives. But I did have my local mechanic shop diagnose the problem. I noticed the car shifted a little weird but, no lights, warning, or messa…”
NHTSA complaint #11495977, 2022

Electrical System 15 2 crash 2 fire

“DURING SHORT DRIVE ON SURFACE ROADS (UNDER 45 MPH), ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND MELTED PLASTIC CLIPS; FUSE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS DID NOT WORK.”
NHTSA complaint #11207236, 2019 · fire

“EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE AROUND THE FIVE SPEED GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM ONLY WITH RADIATED HEAT MELTING THE ADJOINING DRIVERS SEAT. NO OTHER INDICATIONS OF FIRE ANYWHERE ELSE AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF DUE TO THE VEHICLES WINDOWS BEING ROLLED-UP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO LACK OXYGEN WHICH IN TURN, CAUSED THE FIRE TO SMOLDER AT WHICH POINT THE OWNER APPROACHED THE CAR AS HE WAS GOING TO WORK AND OBSERVED AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO FIRE OFFICIALS. CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THAT TIME. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10672012, 2014 · fire

“WHILE DRIVING A LOUD GUN LIKE SOUND HAPPENS. SOUND WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE OFF OR VOLUME TURNED DOWN. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BOSE AMP FAILURE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE OR DIAGNOSE FOR FREE. CONTACTED BOSE AND THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THEY NO LONGER HONOR AND REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WILL CHARGE $1300 JUST FOR THE AMP ALONE.”
NHTSA complaint #11383565, 2020 · crash

Steering 13 1 crash

“ON APRIL 8 WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON NAUTILUS STREET IN LA JOLLA, POINTED DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE, MY IDLING VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDBRAKE, THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO STEP INTO THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF, THE DOOR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BREAKING HER TAIL LIGHT, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN BACK OVER.”
NHTSA complaint #11196467, 2019 · crash

“UNKNOWN. Electric power steering just suddenly stopped working for no apparent reason. Very hard to steer. DANGEROUS!”
NHTSA complaint #11485378, 2022

“When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn’t show th…”
NHTSA complaint #11460872, 2022

Structure 13 1 crash 1 injury

“AIRBAG NOT INFLATE AT THE ACCIDENT BUT INFLATED AFTER 2 NF INJURIES . PERSONS HURT BY STEERING WHEEL.”
NHTSA complaint #10870411, 2016 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“THE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED I DONT KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED”
NHTSA complaint #11407248, 2021

“THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE CLOCK AND INFO DISPLAY SEPARATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.”
NHTSA complaint #11340089, 2020

Power Train 12

“The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the clutch became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11498447, 2021

“I GOT THIS CAR BACK IN AUGUST NOT KNOWING ABOUT MAZDA'S CLUTCH ISSUES. I GOT THE CAR WITH ABOUT 101,000 MILES, AND WHEN I GOT TO ABOUT 112,000, MY CLUTCH FAILED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN KANSAS. I WAS SHIFTING UP FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NONE OF MY GEARS WERE WORKING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I BECAME WORRIED THAT THIS IS GOI…”
NHTSA complaint #11387260, 2020

“DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE SEAM ON DASH IS SPLITTING ABOVE AIRBAG”
NHTSA complaint #11097633, 2018

Exterior Lighting 10

“MECHANIC'S REPORT 12/28/2019: "RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS MAJOR MOISTURE CONTAMINATION. HID CONTROLLER FAILURE DUE TO MOISTURE; HID BULB OUT. REPAIR EST. $1,500 - $2,000." MY 2011 MAZDA 3 MILEAGE IS 36,915. I WILL TAKE THIS TO MAZDA SERVICE DEPT. ON 1/2/2020 FOR EVALUTAION. THEIR REPAIR EST. ON PHONE WAS $2,000+ - PARTS ONLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM REPORTED ONLINE BY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND YEAR. CLEARLY THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ISSUE. ONE THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT. (I FIRST NOTICED MOISTURE SOMETIME AFTER A DRIVE-THRU CAR WASH 3 MONTHS AGO.)”
NHTSA complaint #11292095, 2019

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO THE ABS MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11066510, 2018

“THE FRONT LIGHTS SEEM TO BUILD CONDENSATION AND CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THAT IS EMITTED FROM THEM AT NIGHT, LEADING TO A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IT ALSO AFFECTS THE TURN SIGNALS AND CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ELECTRONIC FAILURE THAT COSTS OVER $1,000 TO FIX THAT MAZDA CLAIMS IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS HAS BECOME A HUGE PROBLEM AND ONE QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TURNS UP HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE, ISSUE A RECALL IN ORDER TO FIX THE AFFECTED UNITS AND FORCE MAZDA'S HAND TO LAY THE COST BURDEN ON THEM AND NOT THE CUSTOMER AS IT IS COMP…”
NHTSA complaint #11052690, 2017

Suspension 7 1 crash 1 injury

“AIRBAG NOT INFLATE AT THE ACCIDENT BUT INFLATED AFTER 2 NF INJURIES . PERSONS HURT BY STEERING WHEEL.”
NHTSA complaint #10870411, 2016 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel started to shake. The contact stated that the tire pressure warning light and check engine warning lights intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the suspension, seat connector, and an unknown software needed to be updated. The contact then stated that due to the suspension failure, the tires were worn prematurely. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufac…”
NHTSA complaint #11497383, 2022

“I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF A KNOWN REAR CAMBER ISSUE ON THE REAR SUSPENSION OF THE MAZDA 3. THE REAR WHEELS ON MAZDA 3 TILT INWARD AT THE TOP. REAR CAMBER ALIGNMENT MATCHED TO "FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS" DOES NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE, AND TILT IS STILL PRESENT - CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. MAZDA RECOMMENDS ROTATING THE TIRES TO AVOID UNEVEN WEAR, BUT THIS DOES NOT CORRECT THE TILT. ROTATING THE TIRES ACCORDING TO MAZDA'S RECOMMENDATION WITH REAR WORN TIRES BEING PLACED ON THE FRONT CAUSES ROAD NOISE ISSUES. I JUST PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND WAS TOLD, "THIS IS HOW THE MAZDA3 WAS BUILT TO ASSIST IN ROA…”
NHTSA complaint #10511938, 2013

Tires 7

“DECEMBER 6, 2018 DEAR NHTSA, I HAVE A 2011 MAZDA 3 WITH FOUR (4) WESTLAKE RP18 205/55R16 91V RADIAL TOURING TIRES. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO NOTIFY THE COMPANY THAT AT LEAST THIS LOT OF TIRE OR THIS TIRE LINE IS STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES ON PAGE 2. THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPLICATION TO THIS DEFECT INCLUDING BENDING OF TIRE SHIELD, EASY PUNCTUATION AND EASY BLOW-OUT. ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND EVEN DEATH. FOR INSTANCE, RECENTLY ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS PUNCTURED BOTH OF MY 2 BACK TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE FLAT WITHIN 30 MINUTES WHILE I WAS OUT SHOP…”
NHTSA complaint #11156610, 2018

“AN APPROXIMATELY 2 YEAR OLD OHTSU TIRE STARTED TO SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR.”
NHTSA complaint #11015060, 2017

“TIRE WEAR TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT @ 21K MILES. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10663051, 2014

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 5 2 crash

“ON APRIL 8 WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON NAUTILUS STREET IN LA JOLLA, POINTED DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE, MY IDLING VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDBRAKE, THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO STEP INTO THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF, THE DOOR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BREAKING HER TAIL LIGHT, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN BACK OVER.”
NHTSA complaint #11196467, 2019 · crash

“AIRBAGS: DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT OF A STREETLAMP POLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE QUARTER. FRONT FARRING DAMAGED AND REPLACED. I WAS TURNING LEFT, IT WAS RAINING, THE GLARE OF THE LIGHT BLINDED ME ENOUGH TO GO UP ON THE CURB AND IMPACT THE STREETLAMP POLE. I REPLACED THE FARRING AND HAD MY MAZDA3 FULLY ALIGNED. ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2016. REPLACED BATTERY 4 TIMES, ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. SEAT HEATERS HAVEN'T WORKED EVER. DRIVERSIDE SEAT STARTED WIGGLING AFTER CONTACT WITH STREETLAMP POLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11310455, 2018 · crash

“MAZDA HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TCM. MINE GOES IN AND OUT AND I CAN'T PULL IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE ACCELERATION GOES DOWN. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT KNOWN THE THIS PARTICULAR PART IS KNOWN TO GO OUT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THE FIRST PICTURE IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MANUEL MODE AS YOU CAN SEE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 5 FOR FIFTH GEAR WHICH U CAN SEE THAT IT'S HARD TO TELL AND THAT IS WHEN IT'S WORKING WHEN IT GOES OUT THE CARS ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN AND THERE'S NO DIGITAL DISPLAY AT ALL. THE SECOND PICTURE IS WHEN IT'S I…”
NHTSA complaint #11311429, 2020

Seat Belts 5

“PASSENGER SEAT BELT SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WHEN HOOKED UP. IT STAYS OFF WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN IT.”
NHTSA complaint #11014762, 2016

“THE SEAT BELT JUST STOPPED LOCKING IN PLACE, COMPLETELY STOPPED. IT WON'T CLICK INTO PLACE THEREFORE I CAN'T WEAR THE SEAT BELT. WHICH MEANS I SHOULDN'T EVEN DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM FIX IT! *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10641214, 2014

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED TO HOLD THE SEAT BELT CLIP IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO CLEANED THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, HOWEVER FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,000. UPDATED 11/14/13*LJ. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER DECLINED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRENTY DUE TO THE FAILED AREA CONTAINING A STICKY SUBSTANCE. UPDATED 11/25/2013 *JS”
NHTSA complaint #10544383, 2013

Service Brakes 4 1 crash

“ON APRIL 8 WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON NAUTILUS STREET IN LA JOLLA, POINTED DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE, MY IDLING VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDBRAKE, THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO STEP INTO THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF, THE DOOR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BREAKING HER TAIL LIGHT, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN BACK OVER.”
NHTSA complaint #11196467, 2019 · crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS ILLUMINATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBLE FAILURE DUE TO THE ABS MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKE STOP LAMPS WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
NHTSA complaint #11066510, 2018

“SOMETIMES TURNS ON THE LIGHT OF ACTIVATED AIRBAGS AND EVEN IF THE EMERGENCY LEVER IS FULLY RAISED, THE CARRAIGE MOVES AS IF IT WERE DOWN.”
NHTSA complaint #11013296, 2016

Visibility 4

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, WHEN HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER SEACOAST MAZDA (180 SPAULDING TURNPIKE, PORTSMOUTH, NH 03801, (603) 436-6811) WHERE THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED HE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE IN COLD WEATHER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,500.*LN CONSUMER STATED PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS OFF WITHOUT THE KEY.*JB”
NHTSA complaint #11389730, 2015

“ON FEBRUARY 5, 2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 0525 HOURS THE SUNROOF GLASS ON MY 2011 MAZDA 3 EXPLODED ONTO ME. I WAS VERY CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAD MY EYES ON THE ROAD AND SAW NO OBJECT AND WAS NOT PASSING AN OVERPASS WERE SOMEONE MAY HAVE DROPPED SOMETHING. THE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS AROUND 50 DEGREES. I WAS NORTH BOUND ON I-15 IN CORONA, CA. I BELIEVE THE SUNROOF JUST SHATTERED ON ITS OWN. I PULLED THE OVER IMMEDIATELY AND ATTEMPTED TO DISCOVER THE CAUSE. I WAS UNABLE TO COME TO ANY OTHER CONCLUSION OTHER THAN THE SUNROOF JUST FAILED. THIS WAS VERY STARTLING AND MADE ME JERK THE WHEEL. LUCKILY I DIDN'T ST…”
NHTSA complaint #10681616, 2015

“MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER MAZDA3 AND THE SUNROOF EXPLODED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. HER CAR WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING. THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR AND MY DAUGHTER AND HER FRIEND WERE COVERED IN GLASS SHARDS. MADZA REFUSES TO TAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT AND SAYS I NEED TO PROVE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WHICH THE AUTO BODY SHOP SAYS IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DO WITH GLASS. MY DAUGHTER SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A GUNSHOT WHEN THE WINDOW EXPLODED AND THANKFULLY SHE DIDN'T LOOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR FROM THE FORCE OF THE WINDOW SHATTERING AND THE GLASS FALLING INSIDE THE VEHICLE.... *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10574706, 2014

Visibility/Wiper 4

“The Dashboard is peeling above the display screen that shows information for Radio,CD, AUX, Time, Volume, Temp Outside, etc (black display screen with orange text/font). Above this display screen the dashboard is lifting up. Which has created about a 1 inch+ gap/spacing between the display and dashboard This gap has resulted in the following: 1). Inhaling of windshield fluid through AC vents (4 total on dashboard) -- when using windshield wipers to dispense windshield fluid to wipe windshield clean of dirt/debris. You can smell the funes from the windshield fluid. And windows are not open w…”
NHTSA complaint #11471565, 2022

“DASHBOARD IS HOLD DOWN FAILS THROUGH TERRIBLE DESIGNED SYSTEM. DASHBOARD IS HELD DOWN WITH CHEAP PLASTIC CLIP ON CONTROL SCREEN. THROUGH QUICK ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH ALL SIMILAR MAZDA VEHICLES THROUGH MANY YEARS. MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGES ISSUE WITH EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY; HOWEVER, ONLY FOR 7 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR 2018 (WHICHEVER IS THE LATER). ADVISE FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS, THIS "REPAIR" DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AND ISSUE DOES OCCUR AFTER REPAIRING. THIS ISSUES CAUSES AN OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW AS WELL AS A DISTRACTION. MAZDA EXPECTS CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR RE…”
NHTSA complaint #11342898, 2020

“MY DASHBOARD HAS SEPERATED FROM MY CONTROL PANEL DUE TO HEAT IN FLORIDA EVEN THOUGH I USE SUN VISOR EACH DAY. ALSO I NOTICE THAT THE ELECTRONIS DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO WORK WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK THE DOOR, AFTER TURNING THE KEU TO THE OPEN POSITION AND RETURNING THE KEY BACK TO THE START POSSITION THE CAR RE LOCKS ITSELF ABOUT 70% OF THE TIME”
NHTSA complaint #11021086, 2014

Engine 3

“Defective Driver's seat construction made by Mazda Mfg Corp. I was the first person to report this cheaply made driver's seat failure to Mazda Corp in Irvine, CA in early 2015 or 2016. Recall was finally issued a year afterwards because Mazda dragged their feet, and only after I threatened to sue them if I was ever in an accident, and the seat was to totally fall apart, and maim me for life did they finally take action. The Recall fix (cheap bandaid clamp that again failed because seat frame welds had failed as well) was never done right, and as a result the seat totally fell apart, and Ed How…”
NHTSA complaint #11567016, 2022

“Transmission slips out and shift shock in first gear to second year. Over revving and bucking on the freeway. These are BAD transmissions”
NHTSA complaint #11419819, 2021

“WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP . SUPER HARD TO PULL OVER. VERY DANGEROUS. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT COME UNILL I TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON. I HAVE READ MANY POST ON LINE OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE AND I'M SHOCKED THIS IS NOT A ACTIVE RECALL OR HAVEN'T CAUSED ANY DEATHS.”
NHTSA complaint #11355694, 2020

Fuel/Propulsion System 3

“The Baffle in my tank has broken loose for uncertain reasons. This seems to be a common problem with Mazda and has had a recall in the 2015 models even.”
NHTSA complaint #11491777, 2022

“CAR WAS HARD TO START IN 2014..REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG .CLEAN THE MAF SENSOR AND AIR INTAKE .USED 89 GRADE GAS .NOTHING WAS CHANGE .CAR WAS NOISE FROM THE BACK IN 2016.DIDNT FIND OUT THE PROBLEM .THEN 2WEEKS AGO SOMETIMES CAR STARTED AND FAILED RIGHT AWAY .DO MATTER THE ENGINE WAS COLD OR WARM .TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP .REPLACED FUEL PUMP .COSTED $988.CAR JUST GO BACK THE NORMAL FINALLY .SO THE FUEL PUMP HAD PROBLEM IN 2014.BUT JUST DIDNT DIE.FUEL PUMP SHOULD LAST LIFETIME WITH THE CAR .WE HAD SOME OLDER CAR LIKE 11YEARS .THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMP .THEY SHOULD RECALL IT .I SEEN A LOT PEO…”
NHTSA complaint #11093480, 2014

“AROUND 3000 MILES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED ISSUE OF NOT GOING INTO FIRST GEAR FROM A STOP. DEALER INVESTIGATED AND SAID THAT THIS IS A QUIRK WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND CAN BE SAFELY IGNORED BY STARTING IN A HIGHER GEAR, WHICH WEARS OUT THE TRANSMISSION FASTER. AS OF THREE WEEKS AGO AT THIS POINT, TRANSMISSION DEVELOPED INTERMITTENT ISSUE WHERE IT "POPS" OUT OF SECOND GEAR OR GRINDS AND DAMAGES INTERNAL PARTS BEFORE AUTOMATICALLY MOVING TO NEUTRAL. THIS OCCURS AFTER A NORMAL SHIFT. ALSO HAS DEVELOP ISSUE WHERE IS DOES NOT PROPERLY GO INTO REVERSE, INSTEAD GOING INTO FIRST GEAR. DEALER SAYS…”
NHTSA complaint #10544673, 2013

Vehicle Speed Control 3 1 crash

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A POLE IN A DOG PARK. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED IF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.”
NHTSA complaint #10862616, 2016 · crash

“OEM YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR, FIRST SET OF TIRES LASTED 20,000 MILES. SECOND SET LASTED 20,000 MILES. THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE KEEPS THE TREAD VERY NICE, IT'S THE SIDEWALLS THAT GO COMPLETELY BALD. VERY DANGEROUS IN THE SNOW AND WET ROADS. FIRST I TOOK STS TIRES (YOKOHAMA AUTH.) DEALER TO COURT FOR LYING ABOUT TIRES BEING STILL GOOD. THEN TOOK YOKOHAMA TO COURT....... DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME DOING THIS..... YOKOHAMA IS PAYING SOMEONE OFF AND GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER. LITERALLY THE JUDGE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. GOT SCREWED BIG TIME. SOMEONE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOKONUMBNUTS FINALLY GETS…”
NHTSA complaint #10787609, 2012

“WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN MY BRAKING WAS NORMAL AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED UNTIL ABOUT 10-15 MPH, HOWEVER FURTHER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE DIDN'T CONTINUE TO STOP THE VEHICLE SMOOTHLY AND I NOTICED THE ENGINE REVVING AND 'JERKY' CONTINUED FORWARD MOTION. HAD A VEHICLE BEEN STOPPED AT THE SIGN IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE CRASHED, INSTEAD I RAN THE SIGN SLIGHTLY. I QUICKLY FIGURED OUT THE PROXIMITY OF THE BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALLOWED MY (LARGE) FOOT/SHOE TO CATCH THE EDGE OF THE ACCELERATOR WHEN I WAS BRAKING. I COULDN'T DETECT A CHANGE IN PEDAL 'FEEL' W…”
NHTSA complaint #10482255, 2012

Wheels 3

“TIRE WEAR TO THE POINT OF REPLACEMENT @ 21K MILES. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10663051, 2014

“DRIVING SOUTH ON IH-35 IN SAN MARCOS, TEXAS, A BLOWOUT OCCURRED IN RIGHT REAR TIRE. DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE DRY AND SUNNY. THE TIRE IS A TOYO A20, SIZE P205/55R16 89H. THE INNER TIRE WALL SEPARATED COMPLETELY FROM THE REST OF THE TIRE. DRIVER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. THESE TIRES WERE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED FROM DEALER IN 2011. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10651576, 2014

“TIRES CUPPING AND WEARING QUICKLY ON INSIDE OF BOTH TIRES IN THE SAME MANNER. RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION WITH MECHANICS INDICATE THE ISSUE IS LIKELY DUE TO CAMBER. CAMBER IS WITHIN MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS, BUT CAUSES EXTREMELY RAPID TIRE WEAR. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10495314, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling 2

“AIR CONDITIONER COILS ARE CONTINUALLY PRODUCING MOLD. CHANGE AIR CABIN FILTER REGULARLY, MOLD IS EVEN GROWING ON FILTERS. WHEN COILS ARE TOUCHED, BLACK MOLD COMES OFF ON RAG. I HAVE SEVERE MOLD ALLERGIES AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE COILS CLEANED PROFESSIONALLY AS WELL AS THE AC VENTS CLEANED TO REMOVE SPORES. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WITH ANY CAR I'VE EVER HAD. *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10546961, 2013

“I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME BUT I WAS BEING PULLED SLOWLY FORWARD ON TO A BUSY ROADWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE SHOULDER TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MY FOOT PLACEMENT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS (I.E. CARPETS). WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. AS AN ENGINEER, I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WHAT EVER HAPPE…”
NHTSA complaint #10436649, 2011