CSR

Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2016 Mazda MAZDA3

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

103

Complaints

7

Crashes

1

Fires

5

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 have filed 103 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2016 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 22 of them (21%). The typical failure was reported at 36,806 miles, the median across the 46 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints halved year on year: 6 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 21 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 6 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (6)

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

23V487000 · July 14, 2023

The defect
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.
The risk
A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 236,100 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

19V272000 · April 4, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
The remedy
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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 187,880 vehicles across all model years covered

PARKING BRAKE

17V393000 · June 22, 2017

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The remedy
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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 227,814 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE

16V685000 · September 23, 2016

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

Mazda North American Operations · up to 3,849 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

16V684000 · September 22, 2016

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

Mazda North American Operations · up to 17,484 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

15V621000 · October 2, 2015

Do not drive until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The remedy
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.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 14,411 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 103.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22 21%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 21 20%
SERVICE BRAKES 13 13%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 12 12%
POWER TRAIN 9 9%
ENGINE 7 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 7 7%
AIR BAGS 6 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 6%
PARKING BRAKE 6 6%
SEATS 4 4%
STRUCTURE 4 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 23.

2016 2024 2026
2016 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 19,000 miles

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, GOING WEST, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN MOTION HIT ME, BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER I WAS FACING EAST AND WENT UP A CURB AND INTO A WALL OF A HOMEOWNERS YARD

NHTSA complaint 11365211. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

1 injured · crash · towed · 6,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AWAY BY AMBULANCE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA complaint 10865664. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10897585. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 18,000 miles

AIR BAGS AND BAD TIRES - I HYDROPLANED ON AN INTERSTATE AND TOTALED MY CAR AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND CONTINUED TO GO UP A 30FT EMBANKMENT. ON THE WAY BACK DOWN I TOOK OUT A VERY LARGE METAL LIGHT POLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AFTER INSPECTION OF MY CAR MY TIRES WERE BAD. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 7 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA complaint 10904570. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

117,000 miles

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 had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they acknowledged that the heard the noise coming from the vehicle; however, they could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of

NHTSA complaint 11737400, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

142,000 miles

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving and while starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster was inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument cluster screen was peeling, and critical information for the vehicle was not displayed. Additionally, the infotainment system became intermittently inoperable due to the failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concerns that the inoperable instrument cluster created a hazardous and unsafe condition due to the complete loss of instrument panel functionality. The approximate failure

NHTSA complaint 11709605, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The “spidering” on the infotainment screen is spidering making it hard to see when in reverse.

NHTSA complaint 11680982. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my 2016 Mazda 3 manual transmission, which experienced a sudden and complete clutch failure at less 60,000 miles — without any warning lights or diagnostic alerts. I am deeply concerned that: •There was no dashboard warning, even as the clutch system failed •The gear indicator was inaccurate in prior days, which may have been an early sign of failure •There was no protection mechanism to prevent complete drivetrain failure during normal use.

NHTSA complaint 11678732. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The "Infotainment System" is activating itself and cycling through various options when I slow down or stop. It calls random numbers and changes settings on the system. It is distracting and dangerous. This is a known "ghost touch" problem for this model of vehicle, but the Mazda dealer I contacted in Knoxville, TN said it would cost nearly $300 to repair the problem (by replacing the entire system).

NHTSA complaint 11676724. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mazda supposedly repaired/replaced the backup camera issue under the recall. However, within one day it was doing the same thing again...the screen dims or flickers off when backing up the car. I told Mazda about that and they said I need a new screen, which would not be covered under the recall. This is a safety hazard that they should be required to address.

NHTSA complaint 11667630. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda MAZDA3

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2024 12 3
2021 49 1
2020 32 2
2019 74 6
2018 107 4 1
2017 83 2
2015 130 4
2014 138 4
2013 117 1
2012 226 1
2011 132 2
2010 686 3

Other 2016 Mazda models

Every Mazda on this site — 81 vehicles, 161 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
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