2016 Mazda Mazda3: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 102 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 6 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
102
Complaints
6
Recalls
7
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
72.5
Severity index
Severity index 72.5 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 140 2016 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 ranks 56 of 140 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 60% of its model-year peers. See the full 2016 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 22 | 21.6% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 20 | 19.6% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 13 | 12.7% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 12 | 11.8% |
| POWER TRAIN | 9 | 8.8% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 7 | 6.9% |
| ENGINE | 7 | 6.9% |
| PARKING BRAKE | 6 | 5.9% |
The single most-reported system is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, cited in 22 of 102 complaints (21.6%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 12 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 8 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 2 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 1.5x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V272000 | 04/04/2019 | 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. |
| 16V684000 | 22/09/2016 | 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 |
| 16V685000 | 23/09/2016 | 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 pi |
| 17V393000 | 22/06/2017 | 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. |
| 15V621000 | 02/10/2015 | 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 sy |
| 23V487000 | 14/07/2023 | 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. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.