2016 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AWAY BY AMBULANCE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10865664 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10897585 at NHTSA ↗

AIR BAGS AND BAD TIRES - I HYDROPLANED ON AN INTERSTATE AND TOTALED MY CAR AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND CONTINUED TO GO UP A 30FT EMBANKMENT. ON THE WAY BACK DOWN I TOOK OUT A VERY LARGE METAL LIGHT POLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. AFTER INSPECTION OF MY CAR MY TIRES WERE BAD. I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW IN 7 MONTHS AGO.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10904570 at NHTSA ↗

FUELING CAR AND PUMP AUTO-SHUTOFF DID NOT WORK CAUSING GASOLINE TO OVERFLOW THE TANK AND SPILL ON THE GROUND. WAS NOT HOLDING THE HANDLE OR ATTEMPTING TO TOP-OFF THE TANK. EXPERIENCED SAME ISSUE ONE WEEK LATER WITH 2016 MAZDA6 AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10908084 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT, REFLECTIONS FROM THE DASH AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD ARE VERY PRONOUNCED AND CAN SIGNIFICANTLY EFFECT VISIBILITY. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS AND I KNOW ALL CARS HAVE THE PHENOMENON ON OCCASION. UNFORTUNATELY THIS MAZDA 3 RESTRICTS VISION AS I HAVE DESCRIBED EVERY DAY THE SUN IS OUT FOR 90% OF THE DRIVING TIME. IT IS MORE THAN A DISTRACTION, I BELIEVE IT IS A HAZARD AND ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR BECAUSE OF IT.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10924991 at NHTSA ↗

THE CLUTCH FAILED AT 7000 MILES. DEALER, HENNESSEY MAZDA IN ATLANTA SUBURBS, DENIES RESPONSIBILITY, WILL NOT HONOR WARRANTY, ATTRIBUTES FAILURE TO DRIVER MISUSE. DRIVER DENIES "'RIDING THE CLUTCH" AND MAJORITY OF USE WAS HIGHWAY TRAVEL. DEALER QUOTED REPAIR COST AT $1600, LATER REDUCED TO $1126. CLUTCH FAILED AT TRAFFIC LIGHT NEAR RESIDENCE. DRIVER WAS THEN UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR; CAR BECAME DISABLED AT TRAFFIC INTERSECTION.

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10968198 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR STARTED SHAKING AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. I PULLED OVER AS BEST I COULD AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT RATS HAVE CHEWED THROUGH THE ENGINE HARNESS AND OTHER WIRING. THEY SAY THEY HAVE SEEN DOZENS OF CASES IN BROOKLYN AND QUEENS JUST LIKE THIS. THEY SAID THAT RATS ARE ATTRACTED TO THE COATING ON THE WIRES. MAZDA WON'T ISSUE A RECALL OR REPAIR THE WIRING. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I GUESS THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR DIE BEFORE THEY FIX IT? MY CAR IS 18 MONTHS OLD WITH …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,062 miles reported. Look up ODI 11019165 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN AUGUST OF 2017. THE DEALER (ROMANO MAZDA, 3120 ERIE BLVD E, SYRACUSE, NY, 132140) WAS CONTACTED AT [phone removed] AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE REACHED; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE WAIT TIME, THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE CALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11020382 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: 2016-09-23 (September 23, 2016)

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from the recirculation pipe welded connection.

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 recirculation pipe 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 0216I.

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: 2019-04-04 (April 4, 2019)

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.

Consequence: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.

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.