2016 Mazda Mazda3 problems and recalls
Owners filed 38 complaints on the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 in the last three full years, out of 102 on record. The most cited component is the Electrical System.
102
Complaints
6
Recalls
7
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
5
Injuries
66.8
Severity index
Severity index 66.8 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.
Ranked 61 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 57% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.
Components cited in complaints
| 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% |
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 |
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (38 against 25).
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. |
Other Mazda Mazda3 model years
Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.
- 2012sev 43.9
- 2013sev 61.3
- 2014sev 61.7
- 2015sev 77.3
- 2017sev 50.8
- 2018sev 79.3
- 2019sev 46.5
- 2020sev 46.2
- 2021sev 59.7
- 2022sev 65.3
- 2023sev 118.7
- 2024sev 68.7
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.