MazdaModel report

Mazda MAZDA3 Problems by Model Year

NHTSA recorded 2,991 consumer complaints across the 22 model years of the Mazda MAZDA3 (2004–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2010 has the most, with 686. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (392 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.

Best and worst MAZDA3 years →

All MAZDA3 model years

Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.

Year	Complaints	Median mi	Recalls	TSBs	Score (50 = typical)	Trend
2025	8	—	1	153	—	Too new
2024	12	1,900	3	255	—	Too new
2023	12	2,500	0	329	—	Too new
2022	24	27,287	0	436	—	Rising
2021	54	1,700	1	634	29 · Fewer	Stable
2020	32	2,000	2	726	10 · Fewer	Falling
2019	74	5,000	6	827	65 · More	Falling
2018	110	29,850	4	462	35 · Fewer	Rising
2017	84	28,692	2	510	16 · Fewer	Rising
2016	104	36,806	6	667	58 · Typical	Rising
2015	130	33,500	4	744	67 · More	Rising
2014	138	34,250	4	882	47 · Typical	Rising
2013	117	40,660	1	504	9 · Fewer	Falling
2012	226	39,500	1	446	52 · Typical	Falling
2011	132	45,100	2	284	37 · Typical	Falling
2010	686	59,036	3	291	99 · More	Falling
2009	115	33,681	3	226	69 · More	Stable
2008	303	40,046	2	225	79 · More	Falling
2007	222	73,000	2	225	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2006	166	71,000	1	190	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2005	97	65,915	2	207	Not compared (before 2008)	Falling
2004	145	59,151	2	209	Not compared (before 2008)	Rising

Parts named most often, all years

Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.

Steering392 16%
Other or unknown377 16%
Electrical system366 15%
Body and structure282 12%
Brakes277 11%
Air bags259 11%
Transmission and drivetrain249 10%
Engine211 8.7%

Example complaints

One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

2007: “I was driving and my power steering went out. As I was going around a turn getting it home it started working again. After that my power steering would come and go while driving until it stopped working all together after a few months of intermittent malfunction. I was in motion while it stopped working and randomly started working again. Several times.”

NHTSA complaint #11407160, filed 2021-04, 180,000 miles

2010: “I am having a starter problem. I have replaced the battery and have had diagnostics done on alternator and starter. Both passed except there was a recall on 2010 Mazda's that isn't showing under my VIN number. Recall number 09v126000. I've taken it to get looked at and have an appointment with Mazda. I just don't want to be rejected for this recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11355439, filed 2020-09, 96,000 miles

2013: “My Mazda 3 sedan with a 6 mt has an issue while coasting in 4th gear between 25-40 MPH and accelerating up hill that the gear will jump into neutral without depression of the clutch. There is no grinding or other odd noises other than the shifter snapping out of gear. This happens often enough that I have begun to skip the gear entirely.”

NHTSA complaint #11377553, filed 2020-12, 60,000 miles

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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology