2014 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
138 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
34,625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 88 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 138 complaints (19.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 35 | 25.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 12.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
| Electrical System | 26 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 |
| Engine | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Parking Brake | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 |
Unknown Or Other: 27; Electrical System: 26; Service Brakes: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 21; Engine: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Parking Brake: 8; Power Train: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 34 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 11 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 50 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 |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 21 |
| 2020 | 6 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 16 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2014: 14; 2015: 10; 2016: 7; 2017: 13; 2018: 12; 2019: 21; 2020: 6; 2021: 7; 2022: 6; 2023: 11; 2024: 16; 2025: 9; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 35 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 10593507 · 2014-05-22 (May 22, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AIR PRESSURE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10593507 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10597877 · 2014-06-12 (June 12, 2014)
ON MAY 7, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 PM I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, ON A HILL, AT TOWSON WOODS APARTMENT COMPLEX. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AT OVER 3/4 OF THE WAY UP. I WAS STANDING ABOUT 10 FEET OUTSIDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS OFF AND STATIONARY, TALKING TO A FRIEND FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS OF ITS OWN ACCORD. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT, WHICH FAILED, AND THEN I JUMPED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT AND TRIED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AS FAR AS IT COULD GO, WHICH DID NOT STOP THE CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,853 miles reported. Look up ODI 10597877 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10714143 · 2015-05-01 (May 1, 2015)
PURCHASED AS NEW VEHICLE. FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE I SMELLED GASOLINE IN GARAGE AFTER PARKING OVERNIGHT. AFTER 1,000 MILES/3 MONTHS THE GAS SMELL BECAME INCREASINGLY STRONGER AND GAS MILEAGE PLUMMETED FROM 30 MPG TO 18 MPG. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THE SEAMS OF FUEL TANK WERE LEAKING--ENTIRE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED; NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10714143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11252054 · 2019-08-28 (August 28, 2019)
JULY 2018 I NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL GETTING REALLY HOT AND MAKING A POPPING SOUND AFTER DRIVING IT ON HOT PAVEMENT. THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK AND I HAD TO GET A NEW ROTOR, REAR DRIVER'S BRAKE CALIPER AND NEW BRAKE PADS. I HAD TO WAIT 3 WEEKS FOR THE CALIPER TO COME IN. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ODD ALL THE OTHER CALIPERS WERE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY EXCEPT THE REAR PASSENGER ONE. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED A RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. FAST FORWARD 1 YEAR - AUGUST 2019, I WAS SMELLING FUEL AROUND THE DRIVER'S W…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11252054 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10655090 · 2014-11-14 (November 14, 2014)
I INITIALLY HAD ISSUE GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE 3RD AND 4TH GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR). I COULD FEEL GEARS GRINDING DURING SHIFTING (WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED). THE DEALER REPLACED THE THIRD GEAR. AFTER THE FIX, THE CAR NOW HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO AND OUT OF GEAR 2 AND 3. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AFTER THE INITIAL START-UP OF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY IF THE WEATHER IS COLD (50F OR COLDER). WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY PRESSED, I CAN STILL FEEL THE GEAR ROTATING AND GRINDING DURING SHIFTING. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, A…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10655090 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10892374 · 2016-08-02 (August 2, 2016)
7/27/16 3:30 PM WEATHER CLEAR AND DRY ' TEMPERATURE 78 DEGREES MILEAGE ABOUT 24,000 ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE I ACCELERATED ONTO WASHINGTON SR 520 EASTBOUND AT EXIT 51 TO GET UP TO MERGING SPEED. I KEPT THE CAR IN SECOND GEAR AND THE ENGINE REVVED TO ABOUT 5,000 RPM. I DON'T THINK I HAVE EVER DRIVEN THE CAR OVER 4500 RPM IN THE NEARLY 3 YEARS I HAVE OWNED IT. I AM NOT SURE WHY I DIDN'T SHIFT INTO THIRD AS I USUALLY DO. THIRD GEAR IS MY DEFINITELY MY PREFERRED GEAR FOR THIS MANEUVER AND IT ALWAYS WORKS WELL FOR MERGING ONTO A…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10892374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144176 · 2018-10-30 (October 30, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO WARNING. THE DEALER HERITAGE MAZDA CATONSVILLE (6616 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, CATONSVILLE, MD 21228, [phone removed]) RECHARGED THE BATTERY AS AN INTERIM REPAIR DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER. HOWEVER, THEY HAD NOT PROVIDED A PERMANENT REMEDY SO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WITHIN DAYS, THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO HAVE A LOSS OF POWER AND STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NO RECALL CAMPAIGN AND HAD ONLY 1 TSB ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11144176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11197077 · 2019-04-18 (April 18, 2019)
SAFETY RECALL-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT I NOTICE MY BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. AFTER THAT EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN PRESSING MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THE CAR EVEN TRIED STOPING AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WE WERE SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO GET IT TOWED BUT I BELIEVED THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DEALERS DIDN'T FIX THE RECALL AND INSTAED THEY BYPASSED IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,527 miles reported. Look up ODI 11197077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10730474 · 2015-06-25 (June 25, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND DECIDED TO PASS A DIESEL TRUCK TO GET OVER IN TO THE EXITING LANE ON THE RIGHT.... I STARTED TO PASS THE DIESEL AND REALIZED THAT I WOULD NEED TO PASS FASTER TO MAKE THE EXIT... I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL IN HARDER TO ACCELERATE AND AS I WAS PICKING UP SPEED MY CAR JUST LOCKED UP.... IT FELT LIKE THE CAR STALLED..... AND THE CAR WENT OFF.... I HAD TO VERY QUICKLY PULL OUT OF THE LANE AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS THE CAR WAS NO LONGER OPERATING... I NARROWLY MISSED BEING PLOWED BY THE DIESEL TRUCK... AND WAS ABLE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10730474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10761787 · 2015-09-05 (September 5, 2015)
ON FEBRUARY 23, 2015, I PURCHASED A NEW 2014 MAZDA 3 S GRAND TOURING SEDAN WITH TECHNICAL PACKAGE, VIN # [XXX]. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 5,470. SINCE PURCHASE, THIS CAR HAS HAD A STALLING PROBLEM THAT IS INTERMITTENT, UNPREDICTABLE, AND NOT REPRODUCIBLE ON DEMAND. STALLING MEANS IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND LITERALLY COASTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS TIME MAY VARY FROM 2 TO 10 SECONDS IN A GIVEN INSTANCE. DURING THIS TIME THE MOTOR IS RUNNING, THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND NO CODES ARE THROWN. …
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10761787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574502 · 2014-03-24 (March 24, 2014)
BOUGHT NEW VEHICLE AT END OF JANUARY 2014 AND PROBLEMS ARISES FEBRUARY 2014. STEERING OF THE VEHICLE IS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CANNOT EASILY MAINTAIN STABLE LINE. TO STAY STRAIGHT HAVING TO KEEP THE WHEEL ABOUT 5 DEGREES TURNED TO THE LEFT. WHILE MAKING SLIGHT RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE WHEEL BECOMES UNSTABLE AND JERKS LEFT IF GOING ON BUMPS OR DIPS. VERY UNSAFE. DEALER ADMITS THE PROBLEMS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE PART BECAUSE MAZDA ENGINEER SAID ITS WITHIN SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR MAZDA. HOW IS A NEW VEHICLE OK TO DRIVE WHEN IT CAN'T DRIVE STRAIGHT …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574502 at NHTSA ↗