10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
13,569 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #11

Feb 152023

MAZDA3

  • miles
Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882

- Hendersonville, TN, USA

problem #10

Jun 012020

MAZDA3

  • miles
Blower motor stopped working summer of 2020. Had it replaced at the dealership and it again stopped working in summer of 2021. Had it replaced once again and it is now making horrible noises again as it did right before it blew up the last two times

- Youngsville, PA, USA

problem #9

Feb 042020

MAZDA3

  • miles
I have had my car since 2013 and had no problems with it until I got a new battery for my car. As soon as I got a battery my car would die every other day. I took it to many mechanics and back to the Mazda dealer to see if they could fix it. The mechanics didn't know what was wrong with it and when I took it to Mazda they said it was because my car door light was on, even though it never was. They claimed they fixed it and two days later my car was dead again. Every mechanic and the Mazda dealer said nothing was wrong with the car and they didn't know what was happening. The vehicle sits now because I can't keep calling my insurance company every other day to come out and jump start my car for me.

- Lorton, VA, USA

problem #8

Nov 022017

MAZDA3

  • miles
When driving the affected vehicles in heavy rain or in deep puddles, the alternator belt may slip, causing the power control module (PCM) to incorrectly assume failure of the charging system. 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."

- Hicksville, NY, USA

problem #7

Dec 132016

MAZDA3

  • 51,969 miles
The number 3 engine mount broke at 52,000 miles.

- Tallahassee, FL, USA

problem #6

Dec 272015

MAZDA3

  • 25,530 miles
While driving the car engine suddenly turns off. Radio and headlights remain on, but power steering stops functioning. This has happened 5 times, 4 times on surface streets and once merging onto the highway. Local Mazda dealership could not find anything wrong the two times I have taken it in. There is no code being displayed.

- Santa Cruz, CA, USA

problem #5

Mar 082015

MAZDA3

  • 56,000 miles
A few weeks ago, the low battery indicator came on indicating that I needed to replace my key fob battery. My car has a keyless ignition/ push-button start. I replaced the battery in each of my key fobs about a week later. After an additional week, my car will not start with either key fob. The dashboard states that the key is not found, even though I replaced both key fob batteries. I had to take the ignition cover off and insert the key to start the car. Mazda is charging me $100 just to get this looked at.

- Olathe, KS, USA

problem #4

Mar 042014

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 6,500 miles
I started the car and the check engine light came on. Shifted into gear the "at" light came on. Brought it in for service and they need to replace the "trans valvebody". looks like a recurring theme here. The car is a 2013 Mazda3 I grand touring hatchback that is only about 7 months old and has less than 7000 miles.

- Jamaica Plain, MA, USA

problem #3

Nov 262013

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • miles
I am a fire investigator with lexington fire department. I responded to a structure fire on the listed date. It was determined that the fire originated in the engine compartment of the vehicle and spread to the building. The vehicle belongs to hertz rental car. The individual renting the vehicle reported that he had experienced problems shutting the engine off and that the vehicle had turned on after he turned it off. He reported he had parked, left the vehicle and it was running when he returned. No recalls were located for this vehicle.

- Lexington , KY, USA

problem #2

Nov 222013

MAZDA3

  • 5,600 miles
On Friday 11/22/13 4pm I went to get my oil changed and car serviced. It was the end of the day & the technicians leave at 5pm. After I received my car at 5:10pm, I decided to take side streets to go pick up my brother, instead of taking the freeway. The car started slowing down and eventually stalled in the middle of the intersection. The engine light and the traction control system (tcs) turned on. I got to the side & called the Mazda tuttle-click in irvine, ca service center. He told me since the engine light wasn't blinking that it wasn't a serious problem & call again or take it back tomorrow morning if it started blinking. I took the car out again & immediately the check engine light started blinking. I stopped in a parking lot & called again. They eventually agreed to take the car back to run diagnostics. On 11/25/13 I called back to ask if my car was ready to be picked up. They said they were waiting for a transmission valve part to come in. If this isn't related to human error and it was pure coincidence, then that's a big coincidence. Also, the car would've stalled on the freeway on my way back to san diego if I hadn't gone to pick up my brother.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #1

Sep 102013

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 3,660 miles
My new 2013 Mazda3 with only 3660 miles failed on a busy highway. First, the engine made a loud noise every time I shifted gears (manual shift.) then, I could not change gears at all, and the engine failed----I just barely got it to the shoulder before it quit entirely. The dealer says the clutch needs to be replaced. I've had the car less than 6 months.

- Linwood, NJ, USA