What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Mazda MAZDA3

Typical pattern

3.6% of complaints about the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 5.0 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (22 complaints), typically at 5.9 yr or about 28,330 miles.

Complaints
138
Median age at failure
5.0 yr
Median mileage
36,112 n=61
Crash / fire / tow
10.9% of reports
Safety recalls
6 1 do not drive

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
22 reports · 28,330 mi
5.9 yr
4.5%
Other
21 reports · 69,000 mi
6.3 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

15V621000 2015-10-02 Do not drive
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured May 21, 2015, to August 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank with a shut-off valve that can allow fuel to enter into the fuel tank emissions systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.

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.

23V487000 2023-07-14
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.

A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

19V272000 2019-04-04
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility.

Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.

17V393000 2017-06-22
Parking brake

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.

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.

16V685000 2016-09-23
Fuel system, gasoline:storage

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from the recirculation pipe welded connection.

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

16V684000 2016-09-22
Fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly

Mazda Motors North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured January 4, 2014, to September 18, 2015. The fuel tank of the affected vehicles may have been improperly handled during manufacturing and, as a result, the welded attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.

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

In owners’ own words

Electrical system 20,000 mi 3.3 yr in service
A SENSOR (YELLOW/ORANGE COLOR) APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE SETTINGS IN THE CAR SAY "BATTERY MGT. SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". AT THE TIMES WHEN THIS ERROR IS NOT ON THE DASHBOARD, THERE IS NO MESSAGE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. MY CAR ONLY HAS 23K MILES. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO A SENSOR CHECK BECAUSE IT IS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD.
Electrical system 44,000 mi 4.3 yr in service
MY 2016 MAZDA 3 IS DOING THE SAME THING AS WHAT YOU JUST HAD A RECALL ON WITH THE SOFTWARE BUT MAZDA UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND IT'S BACK AGAIN MY CAR IS HAVING TROUBLE GOING IT MISFIRES MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IT'S ON IT TAKES A LOT OF RPMS TO GO IT'S SUCKING UP MY GAS I'VE ALREADY HAD TO REPLACE MY BATTERY BECAUSE MY CAR IS DYING MY FUSE BOX SMOKES EVERY NOW AND THEN AND I ONLY HAVE 45000 MILES THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING
Electrical system 28,330 mi 4.3 yr in service
MY CAR HAS 28330 MILES. I BOUGHT THE CAR TWO YEARS AGO. LAST WEEK I WAS PARK IN FROM OF MY HOUSE. IN THE MORNING, I GOT IN THE CAR AND MY STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T TURN. I TOOK IT TO MAZDA AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $3200 TO FIX THIS. THEY WON'T TELL MY WHAT HAPPEN OTHER THAN I NEED A NEW STEERING RACKS. I BARELY DRIVE THIS CAR, NEVER ROUGH, ALWAY SERVICE IT. THIS CAR IS TOO NEW TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MAZDA WILL NOT EVEN TRY TO HELP ME. THIS CAR IS MY LIFELINE.
Other 20,000 mi 3.3 yr in service
A SENSOR (YELLOW/ORANGE COLOR) APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE SETTINGS IN THE CAR SAY "BATTERY MGT. SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". AT THE TIMES WHEN THIS ERROR IS NOT ON THE DASHBOARD, THERE IS NO MESSAGE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. MY CAR ONLY HAS 23K MILES. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO A SENSOR CHECK BECAUSE IT IS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD.

Other MAZDA3 model years

202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004

How to read this