2016 Mazda CX-3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 48 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 10.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 10.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 4.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
Electrical System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 10; Exterior Lighting: 6; Back Over Prevention: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Engine: 4; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Seat Belts: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 24 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2016: 6; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 8; 2020: 6; 2021: 4; 2022: 1; 2023: 8; 2024: 9; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10824302 · 2016-02-04 (February 4, 2016)
I BOUGHT A MAZDA CX-3 ON DECEMBER 31ST 2015. ON JANUARY 27TH I DROVE THE CAR FROM HOME TO WORK FOR 20 MINUTES AND I ENTERED PARKING LOT WITH MAY BE 15 MILES AN HOUR! I MADE MY 90 DEGREE TURN INTO PARKING STALL WITH MAY BE 5 MILES AN HOUR AND PUSHED THE BRAKE TO FULLY STOP! CAR ALMOST STOPPED BUT SUDDENLY SOMETHING WEIRD HAPPENED AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED! IT STOPPED BY HITTING THE SNOW BANK AND ANOTHER CAR! I AM SHOCKED AND VERY SCARED!
Owner-reported narrative. 350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10824302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903247 · 2016-09-02 (September 2, 2016)
I TURNED INTO A PARKING SPOT AND WAS SLOWING DOWN .EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR SPED UP INTO A WOODED AREA. THE CAR SHOT INTO THE TREES. WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE I TRIED TO STOP IT BUT IT JUST KEPT GOING. THE CAR STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A TREE. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND REALIZED THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE AND THE GEAR SHIFT WAS IN PARK.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10903247 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11291926 · 2019-12-29 (December 29, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2016 MAZDA CX-3 ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY 280 IT SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER, I COULDN'T DRIVE THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT OF ANYTHING. NOT KNOWING THE PROBLEM I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER, HAD TO TOW TO THE MAZDA DEALER. THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS NO ENGINE CHECK LIGHT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS. AS THEY WORKING ON THE CAR THEY ALSO IDENTIFIED THE BRAKES WERE WORN OUT WELL BEYOND THE MINIMUM STANDARDS. ALSO THERE WAS NO BRAKE WARNING L…
Owner-reported narrative. 81,587 miles reported. Look up ODI 11291926 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288896 · 2019-12-13 (December 13, 2019)
THE HEADLAMPS CONTAIN AND HOLD MOISTURE CAUSING A SOFTER LIGHT AND LESS VISIBILITY. I AM AFRAID THE MOISTURE WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11288961 · 2019-12-13 (December 13, 2019)
WHILE DRIVING ON A 4-LANE ROAD (~45 MPH), THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE START/STOP BUTTON LIGHT TURNED RED. AFTER COASTING INTO A GAS STATION, THE CAR COULD NOT INITIALLY BE RESTARTED. IT COULD BE RESTARTED AFTER ADDING GASOLINE, ALTHOUGH THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT EMPTY WHEN THE CAR DIED. THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/8 TANK, AND 9.3 GALLONS FUEL COULD BE ADDED TO THE TANK, WHICH HAS A CAPACITY OF 11.9 GALLONS. AFTER ADDING FUEL AND RESTARTING, ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF AND THE CAR C…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288961 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11444038 · 2021-12-16 (December 16, 2021)
Engine stalled while driving and all the dashboard lights turned on. Could not turn engine back on again. Upon inspection, it was found that the fuel injector pump was faulty and was subsequently replaced by the dealership. Fast forward a year, check engine light came on and vehicle began to stall again. Dealership states that the fuel injector burnt out due to the initial fault in the fuel injector pump. Furthermore, it burnt out my catalyst.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11444038 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11735158 · 2026-05-01 (May 1, 2026)
It’s a safety risk with this car. The converter burns super fast, causing issues that seem like it’s related to transmission or alternator.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11735158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956244 · 2017-02-22 (February 22, 2017)
WHILE DRIVING HOME THROUGH PITTSBURGH, PA IN ABOUT AN INCH OF SNOW I CAME TO A 90 DEGREE TURN ON A RESIDENTIAL CITY STREET. I TOOK THE TURN AT NO MORE THAN 15 MPH AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND TO THE TURN, INSTEAD SLIDING INTO THE CURB CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT STEERING ASSEMBLY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OF THE TIRES HAVE LITTLE TO NO GRIP IN THE SNOW. PAST INCIDENTS HAVE ALL INCLUDED THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, ON A HALF INCH OR MORE OF SNOW, AND LOSING GRIP WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE OR STEER. MOST INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT SLOWER SPE…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956244 at NHTSA ↗