2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
40,611 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 5 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System: 1; Steering: 1; Tires: 1; Wheels: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 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 (2). 1 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 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10649833 · 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
THE FRONT DASH SEPARATES AND THE MANUFACTURE WON'T STAND BY IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10649833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10692764 · 2015-03-07 (March 7, 2015)
2011 MAZDA 3 REAR TIRE WEAR ISSUES: CAR HAS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, (INSIDE EDGES) EVEN WHEN TIRES GET ROTATED, CAR IS ALSO ALIGNED CORRECTLY, NO FRONT END ISSUES. AFTER NORMAL DRIVING, THE TIRES GET A BAD FEATHERING WEAR ISSUE, CREATING UNEVEN (INSIDE EDGE) WEAR AND PREMATURE TIRE USAGE. THIS SHOULD BE REVIEWED AND RECALLED OR CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT SHOULD OCCUR. IT'S A MANUFACTURE DEFECT IN ENGINEERING, AND VERY COMMON, COSTING OWNERS THOUSAND OF DOLLARS OVER OWNERSHIP LIFE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 61,222 miles reported. Look up ODI 10692764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10896029 · 2016-08-15 (August 15, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA M3S. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. ...UPDATED 09/12/16 *BF *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10896029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11018646 · 2017-08-21 (August 21, 2017)
EXCESSIVE ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF MOISTURE/WATER GETTING IN HEADLIGHT (PASSENGERS SIDE) CAUSING HEADLIGHT NOT TO WORK. PROBLEM FIRST BEGAN 7/1/2016. WATER GETTING INTO HEADLIGHT AND EFFECTING THE AFS SENSOR ALSO. AFS SENSOR NOT WORKING NOW. AFS SENSOR QUIT WORKING ON OR ABOUT 6/1/2017. HEADLIGHT QUIT WORKING 2/1/2017. NON WORKING HEADLIGHT AND NON WORKING AFS SENSOR IS CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11018646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11081983 · 2018-03-29 (March 29, 2018)
THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT HAS ACCUMULATED A LOT OF MOISTURE (1/2 CUP OR MORE) WHICH RESULTED IN THE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONING WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY HAD THIS HAPPENED AT NIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGE ITS A COMMON PROBLEM, SAID IT WAS A SEAL PROBLEM THAT BURNED OUT THE BALLAST, BUT THAT IT WASN'T COVERED BY A WARRANTY OR RECALL. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM (GOOGLE MAZDA 3 HEADLIGHT MOISTURE AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF EXAMPLES) AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED/FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL QUOTE OVER $1000 TO REPAIR THIS PR…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11081983 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V644000 · Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
Reported: 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Consequence: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V082000 · Seats
Reported: 2017-02-09 (February 9, 2017)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
Consequence: If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.
NHTSA campaign record ↗