Mazda Mazda3

Where it stands out against its peers

• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 95% of 2012 cars — 14% of its 226 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 3%.
• Seats: more complaints than 94% of 2012 cars — 7% of its 226 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 2%.
• Electronic stability control (esc): more complaints than 91% of 2012 cars — 7% of its 226 complaints, where an ordinary 2012 car has 3%.

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.

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

84% of 2021 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• Do not drive

  15V621000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. An engine that stalls increases the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2015. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repairs have been completed. Mazda will provide rental cars until that time. Owners may contact the Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800- 222-5500, option #6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8615J.

• 14V173000

  Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7314D.

• 16V644000

  If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

  Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

• 16V684000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

  Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0116I.

• 16V685000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

  Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the recirculation pipe weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0216I.

• 17V393000

  If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.

• 17V745000

  An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace any incorrect exhaust valve springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1717K.

• 19V272000

  Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.

  Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.

10 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2021, still open.

• Loss of Electric Power Steering Assist

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2010, closed November 2010.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Mazda filed 65 bulletins about the 2026 Mazda3.

• Electrical system: 28
• Structure: 8
• Engine: 7
• Power train: 5
• Service brakes: 2
• Wheels: 2
• Exterior lighting: 1
• Fuel/propulsion system: 1
• Seats: 1
• Visibility/wiper: 1
• Other: 9

• This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-063/24 09/06/24 DESCRIPTION The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system can malfunction with the following… · August 2026
• DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start and DTC U2011:1C is stored. Zinc-plated whisker may form inside the EPS motor and… · August 2026
• DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment.… · July 2026
• This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-017/25 12/16/25, 09/08/25, 07/14/25, 05/15/25 and 03/21/25 DESCRIPTION Mazda Connect… · July 2026
• This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no… · July 2026
• This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-009/25 08/22/25 and 02/18/25 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience a Connected Vehicle… · July 2026
• This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-012/25 10/06/25, 08/21/25, 05/15/25 and 02/27/25 DESCRIPTION Customers having MAZDA CONNECT… · July 2026
• This SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted below in Red. SA-027/26 04/16/26 DESCRIPTION The Mazda DCA-8000 is required for all warranty battery testing.… · July 2026

57 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.