Mazda 3
Registered from 2003 to 2023.
About this model
The Mazda3 is a compact car manufactured by Mazda since 2003 over four generations. The body styles have been a 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan across all generations. It was sold as the Mazda Axela in Japan until 2019. From 2013 until 2019, it was called the Mazda 3 Axela in China.
From the Wikipedia article Mazda3, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2015 2.0 petrol. 1,970 of 11,027 tests failed, 18%.
Better than 30% of 2015 cars. The typical one fails 15%, across 894 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 53% | 1,045 |
| Brakes | 34% | 673 |
| Tyres and wheels | 23% | 445 |
| Visibility | 8% | 155 |
| Lights and electrics | 7% | 137 |
| Body and structure | 2% | 38 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Where it stands out against its peers
- Suspension: failed more often than 93% of 2015 cars — 53% of its 1,970 failed tests, where an ordinary 2015 car has 25%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Suspension — 53% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- A suspension joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Brakes — 34% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
- Tyres and wheels — 23% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
- Lights and electrics — 7% of its failures
- Visibility — 8% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 29% of its inspections, against the 20% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 10% | 7% | 238 | |
| 20–40k miles | 15% | 10% | 1,886 | |
| 40–60k miles | 17% | 14% | 3,776 | |
| 60–80k miles | 19% | 17% | 3,200 | |
| 80–100k miles | 21% | 19% | 1,356 | |
| 100–120k miles | 21% | 20% | 402 | |
| 120–140k miles | 28% | 21% | 112 | |
| 140–160k miles | 29% | 20% | 35 |
11,005 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 2.0 petrol · 156 hp · 1426 kg · 2725 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 2.0 petrol · 152 hp · 1386 kg · 2725 mm wheelbase · 5.8 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 2.0 petrol · 125 hp · 1355 kg · 2724 mm wheelbase · 6.0 L/100km (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 2.0 petrol · 118 hp · 1280 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 2.0 petrol · 118 hp · 1321 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 5.0 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.0 petrol · 127 hp · 1323 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 petrol · 130 hp · 1327 kg · 2700 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 2.0 petrol · 128 hp · 1333 kg · 2698 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 1.6 petrol · 104 hp · 1331 kg · 2640 mm wheelbase · 6.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.6 petrol · 103 hp · 1322 kg · 2638 mm wheelbase · 6.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2011 | 1.6 petrol · 103 hp · 1331 kg · 2640 mm wheelbase · 6.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2010 | 1.6 petrol · 1299 kg · 2639 mm wheelbase · 6.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00030/24
The images of the front-, side-, and rear-view cameras may not appear on the centre display monitor due to improper processing logic in the view monitor camera control module.Loss of camera images when in reverse and/or using the 360° monitor can increase the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00177/22
The impeller in the low-pressure fuel pump may become deformed causing fuel pomping failure. This may result in the engine no start and/or stall, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of Motor Vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/00510/22
Corrosion of the tailgate shock absorber may lead to its breaking. This may result in sudden opening of the tailgate and pieces of luggage falling onto the road, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users