2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 226 complaints on the 2012 Mazda Mazda3, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Power Train (40 complaints).

226
Complaints
1
Recalls
9
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
43.9
Severity index

Severity index 43.9 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 43.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 112 of 130 by severity index among 2012 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 14% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2012 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 40 complaints (17.7%)40 18%EngineEngine: 32 complaints (14.2%)32 14%Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 31 complaints (13.7%)31 14%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 25 complaints (11.1%)25 11%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 20 complaints (8.8%)20 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 18 complaints (8.0%)18 8%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 18 complaints (8.0%)18 8%StructureStructure: 17 complaints (7.5%)17 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN4017.7%
ENGINE3214.2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3113.7%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2511.1%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL208.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM188.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER188.0%
STRUCTURE177.5%

Complaints filed per year

015302011: 22012: 162013: 202014: 302015: 152016: 112017: 302018: 182019: 222020: 132021: 172022: 92023: 102024: 62025: 711121314301516171819202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20112
201216
201320
201430
201515
201611
201730
201818
201922
202013
202117
20229
202310
20246
20257
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.6x those in 2020 to 2022 (23 against 39).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
16V64400006/09/2016STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATEMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 20

Other Mazda Mazda3 model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.