NHTSA Data Explorer

Mazda 3

Data refreshed May 30, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Mazda 3.

Complaints

3,090

Active records

Recalls

32

Active records

TSBs

2,076

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

2

Injuries

165

Crashes

223

Fires

33

Top reported issues — Mazda 3

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

1,332

Operating state

722

Reporting mechanism

487

Steering behavior

379

Thermal issue

341

Safety restraint issue

293

Driver assistance issue

266

Noise

183

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

182

Braking behavior

180

Engine behavior

164

Infotainment behavior

159

Lighting behavior

157

Performance issue

147

Electrical issue

144

Vibration/harshness

128

Safety restraint behavior

127

Fluid issue

100

Starting behavior

57

Smell

54

Powering on/off behavior

39

Wiper/washer behavior

36

Access/entry issue

35

Recent change

30

HVAC behavior

29

Ride/handling behavior

22

Communication/network issue

16

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2025 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed May 23, 2026


1 injured
Crash

The vehicle was involved in a rear and side impact collision and the car was totaled on 5/14/2026. The air bags did not deploy. There was a recall on the air bag system immediately after purchase 6/28/2025 and it was taken in July of 2025 to Mazda of Columbia, SC and it was “repaired.” The airbags of the truck that collided with the Mazda did deploy.

2016 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed May 12, 2026


The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3.The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact stated that the vehicle's steering wheel would fail to operate as needed. The contact stated that an abnormal, clunking noise would emit from the steering wheel while turning at various speeds. The contact also stated that the steering wheel felt loose while driving at high speeds, fearing that he would lose control of the vehicle if he did not firmly grip the steering wheel. The contact…

2025 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed May 5, 2026


I am reporting a catastrophic failure of the rear seatbelt restraint system in my 2025 Mazda 3. The rear seatbelt guide geometry is badly designed, allowing the webbing to bunch and jam during normal operation. This physical obstruction prevents the seatbelt from retracting, leading to three severe safety hazards: 1) Total failure to restrain occupants. 2) Structural damage to the vehicle's safety cell. 3) Public hazard where the obstructed door rebounded open into oncoming traffic. …

2017 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Apr 16, 2026


Many modern trucks, SUVs, and cars use LED headlights that are excessively bright and create dangerous glare. When approaching these vehicles from the opposite direction, the headlights can be blinding — similar to having a flashlight shined directly into your eyes — causing temporary loss of visibility. The glare also affects drivers traveling in the same direction, as the intense light reflects sharply off rear‑view and side mirrors. This creates a persistent distraction and makes it…

2015 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Apr 15, 2026


The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, or while attempting to reverse, the rear camera flashed on and off for approximately five minutes and then started working as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) by the owner of the vehicle; however, the fix failed to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall…

2010 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Apr 4, 2026


The AT light came on the dash, added transmission fluid because it was a little low but the light still has not gone off. I think there is an electrical problem within the transmission. It's had shifting issues since purchasing this vehicle. I also have a small child that comes with me to work and I do not want my car to catch on fire while we are in this vehicle.

2026 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Apr 3, 2026


Steering sticks in one direction doesn’t recenter by itself stiff while driving even city or freeway

2014 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Mar 25, 2026


The rear backup sensors no longer work and did not give any indication they stopped working. They do not detect cars driving up from behind when driving or switching lanes or objects or people behind the car anymore when you reverse. This happened without any notice or warning indications.

2018 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Mar 24, 2026


While I was driving on the highway, I went to use my front wipers and there was no response when trying to active them. The rear wiper, front and rear washer fluid sprayers all worked. No warning lights or other signs of failure were present. I took the car to a local repair shop and they diagnosed it as a bad Body Control Module. Once the module was replaced and reprogrammed, the wipers worked as intended. Safety Recall 3219D describes the issue I had perfecly. My VIN is out of the range of…

2015 MAZDA MAZDA3

Filed Mar 24, 2026


While parked on a slight downhill grade, gasoline started leaking and created a significant puddle on the ground. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms. An independent service center ran numerous tests over two days, including a smoke test. Diagnosis: There is a hole in top section of fuel tank and the fuel tank needs replaced. Recommendation was to not drive vehicle with fuel tank over half full. Due to the potential of leaking fuel in the presence of a hot ignition source increasing…

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated May 30, 2026. Refreshed nightly.