2022 Mazda Mazda3 Problems & Owner Complaints

Air Bags 12 1 crash 2 injury

“I was rear ended while at complete stop by someone going over 40mph on 12/19/22. My airbags did not deploy and my seat belts did not lock out. Directly after being hit my phone flashed a safety fracture malfunction on the dash board and then sent the notification to the mazda app on my phone.”
NHTSA complaint #11500455, 2022 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“I recently received a warning on the dashboard that there is an airbag malfunction and needs to be taken in to get serviced. The warning continues to appear. This appears similar to a recent recall of 2024-2025 Mazda 3s and CX-30s, but there does not appear to be a recall issued for 2022 Mazda 3 models. I have scheduled an appointment for July 24, 2025 at the Mazda dealership to get my vehicle inspected, but because there is no active recall, Mazda states that I may have to pay for the diagnosis and any repairs. I disagree that I am required to pay for any diagnosis/inspections/repairs.”
NHTSA complaint #11675382, 2025

“The passenger-side "airbag off" light does not go off, even with an adult in the passenger seat. This is a US car without an ability to disable the airbag, so this should never happen. We assume this means that the airbag will not inflate in an accident. It happens on about 60% of drives with a passenger, and the dealer was unable to reproduce.”
NHTSA complaint #11632713, 2024

Electrical System 4

““My 2022 Mazda 3 is experiencing an ‘in-network malfunction’ related to the vehicle’s internal communication system. Multiple technicians have told me this is an internal vehicle network/communication fault, not caused by wear or damage. The dealer refuses to repair it unless I pay out-of-pocket, even though this appears to be a manufacturer defect in the electrical network system, (TCU)This malfunction affects the reliability of the vehicle’s electronics and could impact safety systems while driving. Mazda has not taken responsibility for diagnosing or repairing the issue, and I believe this…”
NHTSA complaint #11703034, 2025

“Car doesn't start if sitting more than 4 days untouched. When i went to the dealer, they informed me they know about the issue but nothing can be done about it. They even told me what the issue was, there's something in the car (they don't know what) that draws a lot of power non stop. kills the battery and some time will get stuck mid ignition. I've replaced the battery a few times as well. It's very stressful trying to deal with it after a 12-16 hour shift at work. knowing it will happened again and again, over and over.”
NHTSA complaint #11693896, 2025

“Purchased the car new in April 2022. They have replaced the battery twice in the last year. They now tell me that there are no replacement batteries made for my vehicle and have acknowledged a problem with the battery made by Johnson control. The battery will not hold a proper charge after the vehicle is shut off. They have offered a loaner car but cannot tell me how long it would take to resolve the issue. In order to drive the vehicle I have to carry a jump pack in the car with me in case the battery goes dead and will not start.”
NHTSA complaint #11555198, 2023

Engine 2

“I purchased the car on 02/05/2022, the car mileage is close to 15, 500 miles, on 03/03/2023 the car displayed a vehicle issue message stating low oil level. I checked the oil level dipstick and it was in fact below the minimum line. I added 1 quart of oil as advised by owner's manual. On 3/13/2023, I had an appointment with the dealership for inspection and the dealership confirmed there are no oil leaks and stated the car is fine. The car was not due for oil change and that time, so it had burned a substantial amount of oil. The dealership told me to keep an eye on the oil levels. For the mea…”
NHTSA complaint #11511602, 2023

Power Train 2

“Humming or wining noise coming from back of vehicle when driving in highways around 75 mph.”
NHTSA complaint #11521951, 2023

“with less than 7000 miles on a new Mazda3, the transfer and transfer housing went out. This meant the all wheel drive did not operate properly, which could have caused an accident in the right conditions. This was covered by warranty, as well as a shock, strut, and numerous related parts. In total, the warranty covered the total $4395 to repair a car with less than 7000 miles on it.”
NHTSA complaint #11516740, 2023

Seat Belts 2 1 crash 2 injury

“I was rear ended while at complete stop by someone going over 40mph on 12/19/22. My airbags did not deploy and my seat belts did not lock out. Directly after being hit my phone flashed a safety fracture malfunction on the dash board and then sent the notification to the mazda app on my phone.”
NHTSA complaint #11500455, 2022 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“On 8/11/2022, my car indicated a message on my dashboard that said “Air Bag System Malfunction. Have the Vehicle Inspected.” I also received a Safety & Security message in my Inbox on my app that stated “Air bag system and seat belt pre-tensioner system malfunction. Vehicle airbags and seat belt pre-tensioner may not operate correctly in an emergency. Have the vehicle inspected by your dealer.” This message was received multiple times. I called the dealer and they weren’t sure what it meant so I took it to them on October 6, I dropped off my car at the dealer. They called me a few hours later…”
NHTSA complaint #11493145, 2022

Structure 2

“Driver door does not open from inside the vehicle. Door opens when opened from outside the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11648817, 2025

“Constant rattling after only 2,000 miles. Sounds like it’s coming from behind the glove box. Another constant rattle from the head up display.”
NHTSA complaint #11521950, 2023

Forward Collision Avoidance 1

“The contact owns a 2022 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated unexpectedly. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was illuminated. The contact slammed on the brake pedal and bumped his head. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. The vehicle stopped independently while the contact was driving on a busy highway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to another dealer; however, the fa…”
NHTSA complaint #11608484, 2024

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“Driver door does not open from inside the vehicle. Door opens when opened from outside the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11648817, 2025

Seats 1

“When adjusting the driver seat, the vehicle began to display "Air Bag System Malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected." This was with roughly 20 total miles on the odometer. It is a new car - Mazda3 Turbo Sedan 2022. After researching online, this is a very common problem with new Mazda3s and there are many customers with the exact same issue. The customers have also made complaints to the NHTSA. Mazda has a technical service bulletin for this problem (Bulletin no:08-001/22) and states the issue is due to "Driver-side air bag module circuit: open circuit or resistance high". This issue also oc…”
NHTSA complaint #11470333, 2022

Unknown Or Other 1

“Constant rattling after only 2,000 miles. Sounds like it’s coming from behind the glove box. Another constant rattle from the head up display.”
NHTSA complaint #11521950, 2023

Vehicle Speed Control 1

“Transmission control unit (TCU) failure with error code P061B in 2022 Mazda 3. Problem began approximately 6 months after purchase (February 2023, mileage 8181). Despite five repair attempts by Russell & Smith Mazda Houston (August 8, 2023; January 22, 2025; April 8, 2025; October 13, 2025; December 23, 2025), dealer has been unable to correct the issue. TCU malfunction substantially impairs vehicle use and creates serious safety hazard.”
NHTSA complaint #11706801, 2025