2015 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A RAILROAD TRACK, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, BUT DID NO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 550.

Owner-reported narrative. 550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650657 at NHTSA ↗

THERE IS A SHARP OBJECT IN THE REAR OF THE DRIVERS SEAT OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/TRIM COMBINATION. IT IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE LAYER OF VINYL AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT. AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE PERSON BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD RESULT IN THIS SHARP PROTRUSION TO COME TROUGH THE VINYL RISKING INJURY TO THAT PERSON. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 36 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660567 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE MAZDA, AND WAS HIT AT 50MPH SPEED BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE DRIVER HAD FALLEN ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, SO DID NOT BRAKE PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. DURING THE COLLISION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT CATCH ME, AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FULL STRENGTH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE WHERE I HAD HIT WITH EYE DAMAGE, AND SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE ALL OVER THE FACE WITH NERVE NUMBNESS ON THE WHOLE LEFT SIDE. OF CONCERN IS WHY NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10670216 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM, THE BLUETOOTH FUNCTION, AND THE USB SYSTEM REBOOTED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694192 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD HAS BEGUN CHIPPING IN MULTIPLE PLACES IN ONLY THE FIRST 1.5 MONTHS / 1400 MILES OF USE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE (VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD IS IMPAIRED). WHAT IS SURPRISING IS THE RAPIDNESS AT WHICH THEY OCCUR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694384 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO PLACED AIR IN ALL FOUR TIRES AND RESET THE CODE. WITHIN LESS THAN A WEEK, THE TPMS WARNING LAMP CAME BACK ON AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10713778 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE NAVIGATION DISPLAY HAS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING, UNEXPECTEDLY RESTARTED. ONCE WAS LISTENING TO RADIO, RADIO DID NOT STOP BUT SYSTEM RESTARTED. OTHER TIME, WAS ON CALL, AND SYSTEM RESTARTED BUT CALL DID NOT DISCONNECT, USER ON OTHER END COULD NOT HEAR ME AND I COULD NOT HEAR THEM. WHEN SYSTEM RESTARTED, CALL CONTINUED. CALLED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM FIRMWARE UPDATE NEEDED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN, WAS TOLD THAT NO FIRMWARE UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE ISSUE.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,103 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721334 at NHTSA ↗

THE DAY WAS HOT AND I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH THE AC SET TO 72 DEGREES IN MY 2015 MAZDA 3 WITH JUST 21K MILES ON IT. MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHARGING SYSTEM/BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY IN THE DASH. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. THE CAR'S ECU/PCM DID NOT SET ANY CODES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THAT HOT DAY. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION LUCKILY I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. DEALER AND MAZDA HAV…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748004 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2015-10-02 (October 2, 2015)

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 systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. An engine that stalls increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2015. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repairs have been completed. Mazda will provide rental cars until that time. Owners may contact the Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800- 222-5500, option #6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8615J.

Reported: 2016-09-22 (September 22, 2016)

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 attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0116I.

Reported: 2017-06-22 (June 22, 2017)

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.

Consequence: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.

Reported: 2023-07-14 (July 14, 2023)

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.

Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.