2017 Mazda Mazda3: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 2 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
83
Complaints
2
Recalls
6
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
1
Injuries
38.6
Severity index
Severity index 38.6 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 136 2017 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 ranks 95 of 136 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 30% of its model-year peers. See the full 2017 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 27 | 32.5% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 20 | 24.1% |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 11 | 13.3% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 7 | 8.4% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 5 | 6.0% |
| ENGINE | 5 | 6.0% |
| STRUCTURE | 4 | 4.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 | 3.6% |
The single most-reported system is UNKNOWN OR OTHER, cited in 27 of 83 complaints (32.5%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 2.4x 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. |
| 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.