2017 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the infotainment screen acting on its own, with ghost touches, random radio or call changes, reboots, and screens that separate, delaminate, or crack. The next most common group is a rearview camera that flickers, distorts, or goes blank, and many of those complaints say the recall repair parts were not yet available. Smaller groups describe engine stalls or delayed and sudden acceleration, and brake wear or the car rolling while parked; mileage is often not stated, and some reports link screen and camera problems to humidity, rain, or snow.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen glitches and ghost touches

   • 33 complaints (39%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the infotainment screen acting on its own, with ghost touches that change radio stations or volume, place or end phone calls, and switch screens while driving or while stopped. Some report the screen rebooting, freezing, or going blank, and others describe a touch layer that has separated from the display, delaminated, or cracked, leaving a blurry image or false touches. Some complaints say the dealer quoted the repair at the owner's expense, and that the manufacturer extended coverage to earlier model years but not this one, according to complaints. Mileage is often not stated; where it is given, reports range from about 11,000 to 80,000 miles, and episodes are described both while driving and while stopped.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the Mazda Connect infotainment warranty extension (CSP13, listed as 11021502) applies to the VIN, and on a test drive confirm the screen responds only to real touches and that radio and phone functions behave normally.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was stopped at a light, and the infotainment system began changing options on its own. It caused me to become worried and distracted on the problem at hand. Mazda is aware if this issue with the system but is refusing to do anything to fix it. Please help!”

   NHTSA complaint #11493084, filed 2022-11

   “Malfunctioning on and off on the display screen. My battery went dead after 11 months. Cause? It started over a year ago, but I called Mazda and they said there were no recalls at that time. Are there any now to date? Thank you for your time.”

   NHTSA complaint #11638628, filed 2025-01
2. 2
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera flickers, distorts, or goes blank

   • 18 complaints (21%)
   • median 36,049 mi at 5.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the rearview image flickering, distorting, shifting off center, or going black, sometimes only in reverse and sometimes in rain or snow. Some say the dealer replaced the camera but the problem returned later, and complaints often cite NHTSA campaign 23V487000 with repair parts not yet available or the recall open for many months. An owner reports that the unrepaired recall reduced the car's value when trying to sell it. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 30,000 to 80,000 miles, and some describe the failure returning after an earlier repair.

   Recall 23V487000

   What to check: Ask the dealer to confirm the status of campaign 23V487000 for the VIN, and on a test drive check the rear image in reverse, including in wet weather if possible.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My rear camera is not centered when I bought my car as new in 2017. I reported the issue. But they told me it is normal. I got a letter from Mazda in 2022 about the rear camera recall. Then I asked them to do the recall. They told me they don't have parts. Recently, the video output is getting worse. It is distorted, flickering and zoomed out. I asked them again on 2024. They told the recall is not even started. Manufacturer Recall Number 6023G NHTSA Recall Number 23V-487 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available”

   NHTSA complaint #11631651, filed 2024-12

   “There has been an open recall on the camera on my Mazda3 for a full year with no approved fix from Mazda. Absurd. My rear camera no longer works after this delay.”

   NHTSA complaint #11586922, filed 2024-05
3. 3
   Engine

   Engine stalls, delayed or sudden acceleration

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 9,500 mi at 1.7 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   Owners describe the engine stalling or losing power while driving, including on a highway, and a delay of roughly half a second to one second before the car responds when pulling away from a stop. Some complaints describe the engine revving or the car accelerating while the brake pedal is pressed, with the brake reported to have little effect. A complaint describes the engine shutting down in traffic and the car not coming out of drive, and the dealer advised disconnecting the battery to reset it. A complaint also describes transmission pulling or jerking during shifts, and says the dealer had updated transmission software more than once during warranty. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 4,200 to 45,000 miles, and episodes are often described when pulling away from a stop or in traffic.

   What to check: Ask for service records showing any transmission software updates or engine repairs, and test-drive the car with stops and gentle pulls from a stop to check for hesitation, delayed response, or jerking during shifts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine began revving high as I took my foot off the accelerator and apply the brakes as I approached a traffic red light. I put the car in neutral to see if by tapping the gas pedal it would stop revving. It did not. With my foot on the brake pedal to the floor, I put the car in drive and the car sped forward despite my foot on the brake pedal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11115710, filed 2018-08, 10,000 miles

   “When from a full stop, then with when needing to accelerate quickly, there is a delay in engine response. Usually half a second to one full second delay in engine response before it starts to accelerate. One one occasion, it did not accelerate at all. I had to then let my foot off of the gas pedal and press down on the gas again for it to finally accelerate. This was very dangerous for example when I was on the freeway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11101965, filed 2018-06, 9,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake wear, warped rotors, and rolling while parked

   • 10 complaints (12%)
   • median 17,032 mi at 2.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2025

   A complaint describes rear brakes wearing or corroding faster than expected, with noise, reduced stopping power, and pads frozen in the calipers, and the dealer replaced the brakes at the owner's expense. Other complaints describe warped rotors that cause the steering wheel to shimmy when stopping, and a rear brake unit missing a bolt that ground noisily. Some complaints describe the car rolling while parked, including a case where it was in gear with the mechanical parking brake set and a case where the electronic brake was reported to stay engaged. Where mileage is given, reports range from about 200 to 18,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for brake service records and have the rear brakes and rotors checked for corrosion and seized calipers, and on a test drive check for steering shimmy when stopping and confirm the parking brake holds the car on a slope.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We leased this car in july of 2017. A couple weeks later on 8/9/17 my daughter was driving the car. As she approached the exit ramp on a highway near our house she felt what she thought was another car hitting her in the rear. Since no vehicles stopped she drove the car to a corner near our house while hearing a loud grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11075322, filed 2018-02, 200 miles

   “I leased this car brand new in 2016 , since then, I have had two incidents which while parked and in gear with the mechanical e-brake set I have walked outside to find my car not where I left it. The first time this happened was in september of 2017 resulting in substantial damage to the passenger side as well as the rear end. I was living on block island and the car let loose out of the parking spot and rolled backwards into a tree doing significant damage to the passenger side and completely taking the mirror off. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11278539, filed 2019-11, 18,000 miles

Buying note. Screen and rearview camera complaints are the most frequent reports for this model year, so ask for the recall and warranty-extension status using the VIN and test the screen and camera before buying. Engine and brake complaints appear in fewer reports, and an independent pre-purchase inspection can check the rear brakes and parking brake.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.