2019 Mazda MAZDA3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
5,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 42 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 74 complaints (20.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 21.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 9.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 15 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Service Brakes: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Engine: 11; Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 10; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Visibility/Wiper: 8; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 39 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 39; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2020 | 23 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2019: 18; 2020: 23; 2021: 6; 2022: 7; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 4; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11209904 · 2019-05-25 (May 25, 2019)
GOT ALERT REGARDING AIR BAGS WHILE DRIVING. ALSO REAR MIRROR FELL OFF THE PLASTIC CASING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. THEY BOTH HAPPENED AT DIFFERENT INSTANCES. BUT BOTH HAPPENED WHEN I WAS DRIVING FREEWAY AND SCARED ME. TOOK INTO MAZDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT BOTH WERE KNOWN ISSUE AND AIRBAG ISSUE IS UNANNOUNCED RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11209904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11217419 · 2019-06-02 (June 2, 2019)
- REAR VIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. HOT DAYS WILL BREAK DOWN THE ADHESIVE AND CAUSE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR TO FALL OFF. - BRAKES VIBRATE HARSHLY WHEN IN SPORT MODE. FASTER THE VEHICLE GOES, THE MORE HARSH THE BRAKES WILL VIBRATE. - ACCELERATION IS JERKY ON LOW END (1ST/2ND) GEAR. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, OR GOING UP-HILL ON LOAD, ACCELERATION WILL FEEL JERKY WHEN TRY TO KEEP A STEADY SPEED BETWEEN 5-15MPH. CAR FEELS NORMAL WHEN PUSHING THE ACCELERATION HARDER.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11217419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11219653 · 2019-06-13 (June 13, 2019)
ON JUNE 6, 2019 AT ABOUT 6:45PM WHILE DRIVING IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE TRANSITION FROM THE 241 FWY TO THE 91 FWY I RECEIVED AN ERROR ON MY DASH (ATTACHMENT 1) THREE TIMES WITHIN ABOUT 10 MINS "PUSH BUTTON START MALFUNCTION"" THE CAR DID NOT STOP, OVER HEAT OR MALFUNCTION IN SUCH A WAY TO PREVENT ME FROM DRIVING TO MY DESTINATION, WHICH WAS 15 MILES AWAY ON JUNE 7, 2019 ON MY WAY TO WORK TRAVELING AT ABOUT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON THE 5 FWY AT ABOUT 10 AM IN THE MORNING WITH THERE BEING NO VEHICLES AROUND THE CAR THE CAR DID AN EMERGENCY BREAK …
Owner-reported narrative. 225 miles reported. Look up ODI 11219653 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11222845 · 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
"AIR BAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED" NEW VEHICLE 4/14/2019! ONCE WHILE TURNING IN PARKING LOT ON 4/17@151MI, TWO OTHER TIMES 30-35MPH ON 4/25@458MI AND 4/29@551MI ON ODOMETER. ON ALL OCCASIONS 2+HRS OF DRIVE TIME THERE WERE 4-6 STOPS. AT OTHER TIMES UNDER AN HR WITH 1 STOP NO PROBLEM. I HAD NO PASSANGERS SO NO OTHER SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE WHEN I GOT THE WARNING. BUT, ON 2 OTHER OCCASIONS WHEN I HAD A FRONT SEAT PASSANGER WEARING THEIR SEATBELT DOING THE ABOVE NO WARNING AT ALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 151 miles reported. Look up ODI 11222845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228320 · 2019-06-28 (June 28, 2019)
EVERY TIME IT RAINS SPARE TIRE WELL FILLS WITH WATER
Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228320 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11229042 · 2019-07-02 (July 2, 2019)
THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING, MOST RECENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES STATING "SAFETY AND DRIVER SUPPORT SYSTEMS PARTIALLY DISABLED, DRIVE SAFELY". I LOSE BLIND SPOT MONITORING, LANE KEEP ASSISTANCE, RADAR, AND CITY BRAKE SUPPORT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11229042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11231363 · 2019-07-12 (July 12, 2019)
SUDDENLY THERE WAS A ERROR SAYING AIRBAG SYSTEM HAS MALFUNCTIONED IN THE MIDDLE OF MY COMMUTE. AND IT HAS BEEN REOCCURRING. AND I HAVEN'T HEARD A PEEP FROM THE DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231363 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11233508 · 2019-07-19 (July 19, 2019)
MY CAR'S COLLISION WARNING ENGAGED WITHOUT CAUSE. IT MAKES THE CAR BRAKES ABRUPTLY FOR NO REASON. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS DURING HIGHWAY SPEED. IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR IN THE 4 MONTHS THAT I OWN THE CAR. SOME OTHER OWNERS ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,278 miles reported. Look up ODI 11233508 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V363000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | Seat Belts:Front:Warning Light/Devices
Reported: 2019-05-14 (May 14, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. Due to incorrect programing, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may erroneously turn off although the passenger air bag is deactivated. In addition, the seat belt status indicators for both the front passenger seat and/or rear seats may erroneously turn off although the front passenger and/or rear seat belts are unfastened.
Consequence: Incorrect indicator warning lights may lead the driver and/or passengers to be unaware of deactivated air bags or unfastened seat belts, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag/seat belt status indicator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3319E.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V425000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 2019-06-07 (June 7, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The lug nuts on all four wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a wheel detaching from the vehicle.
Consequence: A wheel separating from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the front and rear wheel lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3519F.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V497000 · Engine | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Consequence: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V514000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Head Restraint
Reported: 2019-07-05 (July 5, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The seat cover material on both front seats may interfere with the head restraint lock release button, causing it to stick in the release position and not allow the head restraint to lock into place.
Consequence: Loose head restraints may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the lock release buttons on both front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3819F.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V558000 · Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
Reported: 2019-07-29 (July 29, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with manual dimming mirrors. The adhesive between the interior rearview mirror and the housing may not be properly bonded, allowing the mirror to detach from the housing. Note: Vehicles equipped with auto dimming mirrors are not affected by this recall.
Consequence: Rearward visibility will be reduced without the rearview mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the interior rearview mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3919G.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V907000 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Reported: 2019-12-19 (December 19, 2019)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System (SBS) can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and suddenly stopping the vehicle.
Consequence: Stopping the vehicle unexpectedly increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the SBS software. In addition, vehicles with certain production dates will receive an instrument cluster software update or replacement and a replacement owner's manual. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4219L.
NHTSA campaign record ↗