Car Defect Radar
Get the report
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Confirm 1 recall before you buy.

Ask the seller for proof the repair was completed, or run the free VIN check. Recall repairs are done at no cost by a dealer.

Recalls

1 total · 1 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Tires recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 21V101000 · Feb 2021

A sudden air leak from the tire air valve may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four tire air valves with new parts, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4721B.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

49 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
25

Most reports here involve fluid leaks.

fluid leaks 13sudden stalling 3
A recent report: My rear differential case cracked, anytime the four wheel drive system was engaged the entire drivetrain would lock up. Luckily we were only on side roads so going less than 30 mph if we had been on…
Read full complaint

My rear differential case cracked, anytime the four wheel drive system was engaged the entire drivetrain would lock up. Luckily we were only on side roads so going less than 30 mph if we had been on the highway when this happened we could have been in an accident or lost control. The dealer did confirm the problem and it was fixed under an extended warranty. There was no warning just all of a sudden a loud bang and all the wheels locked up. I have a copy of the video inspection done at the dealer if there's anyway to send that. I can get a copy of the repair invoice if needed

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11713224 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1fire 1
A recent report: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A PARKING LOT, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND…
Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL AT A PARKING LOT, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE POLICE WAS AT THE LOCATION BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVABLE BUT WAS TOWED AT A TOW LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED LOCAL DEALER MORONG FALMOUTH MAZDA (187 US-1 #1311, FALMOUTH, ME 04105: (207) 781-4020) AND WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500.*DT*JB

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11403223 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
6

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 5loss of braking 1
A recent report: At red light, close behind car in front of the mazda. After light turns green, start driving the mazda after car in front moves forward. Although the car in front is moving forward at a higher rate…
Read full complaint

At red light, close behind car in front of the mazda. After light turns green, start driving the mazda after car in front moves forward. Although the car in front is moving forward at a higher rate of speed, increasing the distance between it and the mazda, the automatic emergency brake kicks on and stops the vehicle abruptly. Luckily the cars behind the mazda reacted in time and did not rear end it.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11613907 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
7

Most reports here involve fire. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

fire 1loss of steering 1
A recent report: At 31,000 miles the control arm lower ball joints are torn on both lower. They must be replaced. This is a safety hazard. This should not be an issue with low mileage on this car.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11695896 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
5

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 2electrical shorts 1airbags not deploying 1
A recent report: The latches inside the driver's seatbelt receptacle feel like they wear out over time. The only reason I can tell is because there is a really noticeable creaking that develops from inside the…
Read full complaint

The latches inside the driver's seatbelt receptacle feel like they wear out over time. The only reason I can tell is because there is a really noticeable creaking that develops from inside the receptacle while the seatbelt is connected. This is worse for drivers with bigger waists and as the driver's waist continues to tug on the seatbelt during operation, the creaking gets worse over time. There are no electronic warnings. The seatbelt still properly connects and there are no electronic messages saying that anything is wrong with the seatbelt. My driver's original seatbelt receptacle has already been replaced once under warranty at a Mazda dealership. Now the second seatbelt receptacle is starting to do the same thing again after about 6 months of use. I fear that even if I get it replaced a second time, this will just continue to happen. Perhaps there is a manufacturing defect. As this issue continues to get worse, I fear that this creaking will develop into a major failure with the seatbelt connection itself.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11500412 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: The driver window, upon attempted to be let up, will start to go up then go all the way down, ignoring the function to go up. This is a safety concern, as harsh temperatures and foreign objects are…
Read full complaint

The driver window, upon attempted to be let up, will start to go up then go all the way down, ignoring the function to go up. This is a safety concern, as harsh temperatures and foreign objects are able to enter the vehicle cabin at any time, including driving. The problem has been reproduced by a dealer, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. There are no warning indicators for this issue beyond witness the failure occur in real time.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11644043 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of an unknown Class Action Lawsuit Number however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the…
Read full complaint

The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of an unknown Class Action Lawsuit Number however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11631026 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 49 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 10 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2021 has 49 complaints on file, more than the 2020 (32) and more than the 2022 (24). Of the 15 model years of the Mazda Mazda3 we cover, the 2010 has the most (686). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.