2011 Mazda MAZDA3 Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 10%of 132 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the steering of the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3, 10% of the 132 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“When driving the steering wheel locks up . Super hard to pull over. Very dangerous. Could have been killed. The power steering light and engine light come unill I turn vehicle off and on. I have read many post on line of this happening to this vehicle and I'm shocked this is not a active recall or haven't caused any deaths.”
NHTSA complaint #11355694, filed 2020-09, 160,000 miles“My clutch blew on 2/7/17 while I was driving on a multilane busy city street. All function of the manual transmission ceased as I was driving, and I coasted across a lane and to the side of the road. I am thankful that I did not get hurt. However, I am very concerned that my car, a 2011 MAZDA3, stopped working while I was driving! This directly put my life in danger! …”
NHTSA complaint #11014909, filed 2017-08, 77,745 miles“On april 8 while picking up my daughter from school on nautilus street in la jolla, pointed downhill on a steep grade, my idling vehicle lost power without warning, I lost control of steering and brakes had to stop the vehicle with the handbrake, the passenger car door was open at the time my daughter was trying to step into the vehicle as the car took off, the door hit the car in front of me breaking her tail light, it took me three tries to get the engine to turn back over.”
NHTSA complaint #11196467, filed 2019-04, 65,000 miles“On or about april 15th , during an oil change and all fluid inspection by ewing ,plano ,tx, it was discovered that there was a power steering leak. And was told that I should bring the car to a Mazda dealership asap after I called Mazda USA. …”
NHTSA complaint #10596559, filed 2014-06, 31,500 miles“I bought this Mazda on june 2014 and was running great till few days ago when the power steering stopped working , I was told to change the battery because the power takes alot of electrical power but the problem was not fixed. So I decided to take the car to the dealer in arlington for diagnostic, the result was that the pump has internal failure and that's will cost about $1200 to fix it . I hope Mazda will fix it for me free of charge since this issue has been reported by many and it is has to do with safety .”
NHTSA complaint #10628991, filed 2014-08, 29,200 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10251387Feb 12, 2024Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10208556Feb 23, 2022Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10186693Jan 21, 2021Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as…
- 10153318Jan 23, 2019Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10154139Dec 11, 2018If a vehicle has body vibration or steering wheel shimmy while driving and the root cause is determined to be tire balance, re-balance the tires using a Hunter GSP9700 or…
- 10142519May 8, 2018Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10185904Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3" even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10101062Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
- 10090812Mar 7, 2016Some customers may complain that the steering wheel is off center more than 3° even when driving straight on a flat road.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% |
| 2021 | 1 | 2% |
| 2020 | 3 | 9% |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% |
| 2017 | 2 | 2% |
| 2016 | 3 | 3% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 3 | 2% |
| 2013 | 9 | 8% |
| 2012 | 15 | 7% |
| 2011 | 13 | 10% |
| 2010 | 31 | 5% |
| 2009 | 35 | 30% |
| 2008 | 117 | 39% |
| 2007 | 89 | 40% |
| 2006 | 28 | 17% |
| 2005 | 15 | 15% |
| 2004 | 19 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3
29 complaintsSeats
20 complaintsOther or unknown
18 complaintsElectrical system
15 complaintsBody and structure
13 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
12 complaintsExterior lighting
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
8 complaintsSuspension
7 complaintsTires
7 complaintsElectronic stability control
5 complaintsSeat belts
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology