2021 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
49 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
1,700 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 49 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 20.4% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 8.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 18 |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 2 |
Engine: 18; Unknown Or Other: 7; Electrical System: 6; Air Bags: 4; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 4; Service Brakes: 4; Power Train: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 46 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 |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2021: 6; 2022: 19; 2023: 6; 2024: 10; 2025: 7; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 11407653 · 2021-04-15 (April 15, 2021)
2021 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING FAILED SBS SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE SMART BRAKE SYSTEM SLAMS ON THE BRAKES UNNECESSARILY, WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT FEATURE COULD NOT BE DISABLED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11407653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11434720 · 2021-09-28 (September 28, 2021)
The error code "B14FO-76 FORWARD SENSING CAMERA DEVIATION - WRONG MOUNTING POSITION" was discovered, and verified, by a Safelite Auto Glass service center when the 2021 Mazda 3 was in for a repair (stone chip) to the windshield on September 21, 2021. There were no warning messages nor lights to alert the driver as to the improper installation/mounting of this device. There has been no known modification to nor obstruction of the FSC -- its condition is now as it was received new from the dealer. Improper mounting ("Wrong Mounting Position") of …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11434720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448467 · 2022-01-22 (January 22, 2022)
Context: ADAS was not on. Lane keep assist is disabled in system settings entirely as it is dangerous. Blinkers were on, I was pulling out from parallel parking into left turn lane onto a straight road with slight incline. Car is of the Turbo trim on stock tires. Upon finishing pulling out of parallel parking spot and gassing the car, torque vectoring or some underlying collision avoidance may have phantom activated. I felt torque shift to the wrong tires, unsettling the car, and the wheel -- with no human input -- jerked to the left to force …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11572078 · 2024-02-15 (February 15, 2024)
A bolt head underneath the car snapped for the steering mechanism. The problem was indicated by a clanking noise I heard for many 1000s of miles. It's been as long as I remember, but I had no idea what it really meant. It's 2.7 years old with 30,653 miles right now. There were no warnings. The wheel could have come off at any moment I was driving it. The bolt was likely over-torqued or had a manufacturing defect causing it to snap. I have pictures for when the car was propped up at a technician. One side is completely non rusted. The other s…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11572078 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11460348 · 2022-04-10 (April 10, 2022)
A have a new 2021 Mazda 3 Hatchback with 3,500 miles. As I was driving and approaching a traffic light to stop, my car shut down completely while in traffic. I turned on my hazard lights, put the car in the park position, and restarted the vehicle. As I proceed with driving, when I made a right turn onto the blvd, a minute after turning when I came to another stop, the vehicle shut down again. I called Romano Mazda in Syracuse, NY. They set me up with an appointment for the following week and gave me a rental. They kept my vehicle for 3 d…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11626518 · 2024-11-20 (November 20, 2024)
My 2021 Mazda 3 was bought used in August 2023 and is about a year old in my possession. it has been at the Mazda dealership for repairs multiple times since August 2023. it dangerously stalls and hesitates when trying to accelerate from a stop position. When the brake pedal is released and I start to accelerate like merging onto highways,the car rumbles or shakes slightly and then shuts off. I Came across a review online that had the exact same problem and it stated a PCM update solved the issue. I have been to the dealer frequently since p…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11626518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11499817 · 2023-01-02 (January 2, 2023)
Car emits a very audible squeak when shifting right above 30mph and 40mph, car surges at lower and constant speeds, tach will slowly drop when applying throttle, surge slightly, then function as normal again
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11499817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11460158 · 2022-04-08 (April 8, 2022)
My car started to show a warning on the dashboard that the airbag system is malfunctioning. The alarm would come on for a few seconds, then turn off, then repeat like that multiple times every drive. At the time it started, my car had less than 500 miles on it, and it continued after that until I got it fixed. I took it to the Mazda dealership where I bought it, and they said it was a short circuit to the driver's side airbags. They told me that could have caused the airbags to deploy prematurely or not at all in an accident. I am also a part o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11460158 at NHTSA ↗