2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems and recalls

Owners have filed 117 complaints on the 2013 Mazda Mazda3, and NHTSA has issued 1 recall. The most cited component is the Exterior Lighting (36 complaints).

117
Complaints
1
Recalls
7
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
4
Injuries
61.3
Severity index

Severity index 61.3 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 61.3p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 76 of 145 by severity index among 2013 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 48% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2013 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Exterior LightingExterior Lighting: 36 complaints (30.8%)36 31%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 32 complaints (27.4%)32 27%Power TrainPower Train: 18 complaints (15.4%)18 15%Service BrakesService Brakes: 15 complaints (12.8%)15 13%StructureStructure: 11 complaints (9.4%)11 9%EngineEngine: 11 complaints (9.4%)11 9%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 10 complaints (8.5%)10 9%SteeringSteering: 9 complaints (7.7%)9 8%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3630.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3227.4%
POWER TRAIN1815.4%
SERVICE BRAKES1512.8%
STRUCTURE119.4%
ENGINE119.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER108.5%
STEERING97.7%

Complaints filed per year

014272013: 52014: 92015: 102016: 192017: 272018: 112019: 112020: 62021: 82022: 32023: 62024: 12025: 11314151617271819202122232425
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20135
20149
201510
201619
201727
201811
201911
20206
20218
20223
20236
20241
20251
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (8 against 17).

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.