2013 Mazda MAZDA3 Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 31%of 117 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,498miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3, 31% of the 117 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,498 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Headlight assembly keeps collecting water which shorts out the headlights and ballast. I keep finding this to be a common problem when researching it online. I can't find any obvious worn seals or cracks. I've changed my lightbulb 3 times so far in six months. I find water every time. My light will magically just go out while I'm driving usually at night.”
NHTSA complaint #11019224, filed 2017-08, 55,000 miles“Headlights flicker while applying brakes. Problem occurs only when the car is in motion. Sometimes cars think I am flashing my lights at them so they will turn their bright lights on. Once I almost drove off the side of a winding road because when the flickering lights bounced off of the guard rail reflectors, it was disorienting”
NHTSA complaint #11020491, filed 2017-08, 50,000 miles“While braking the front lights are pulsing from regular to dim and back and forth. They return to normal after releasing the brake pedal. This was first noticed while exiting from highway speeds to a down ramp.there is a service bulletin from Mazda on this, #13-21. It has already been done to my vehicle to no avail. The problem is electrical in nature in my opinion.”
NHTSA complaint #10806629, filed 2015-11, 40,000 miles“When driving at night, and applying the brakes to slow down, the headlights and taillights flicker/pulse. Over the last 6-12 months this issue has become more pronounced so that it has begun reducing visibility. Plus, nearby cars are distracted, evidently thinking we are in distress. We believe this creates an additional traffic hazard. Note: initially, the problem was only noticeable when slowing from an initial speed of about 25-40mph. Now it seems to have advanced to happen at any speed above about 25mph.”
NHTSA complaint #11289040, filed 2019-12, 30,000 miles“Every time I slow down (braking or just decelerating) the lights flicker. This happens with high or low beams. This has been happening for quite some time. I thought it might be the battery, but after replacement this continued.”
NHTSA complaint #10863227, filed 2016-05, 20,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10154529Mar 15, 2019Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10153332Jan 3, 2019Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10134701Mar 22, 2018Some customers may complain of condensation/fog inside the front (headlamp/headlight) or rear (taillamp/taillight) combination lights. The recent new models have been fitted with…
- 10118468Aug 9, 2017When dealing with customer complaints of excessive condensation and/or water within the headlamp unit, first determine if all the bulb sockets (including O-ring), seals and…
Exterior lighting: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 8% |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% |
| 2019 | 2 | 3% |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 5 | 4% |
| 2014 | 1 | 1% |
| 2013 | 36 | 31% |
| 2012 | 31 | 14% |
| 2011 | 10 | 8% |
| 2010 | 23 | 3% |
| 2009 | 5 | 4% |
| 2008 | 17 | 6% |
| 2007 | 12 | 5% |
| 2006 | 3 | 2% |
| 2005 | 6 | 6% |
| 2004 | 8 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3
32 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsBrakes
15 complaintsEngine
11 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsSteering
9 complaintsAir bags
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaintsElectronic stability control
2 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 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