2011 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 132 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 12 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
SeatsFeb 9, 2017
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.
Campaign 17V082000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
29 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Seats, Jul 16, 2026
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side seat wobbled and was unsecured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that the front driver’s side seat lifter link was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V082000 (SEATS). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. Additionally, the contact stated that the dashboard was melted and warped. The contact was concerned that the front air bags would not properly deploy due to the warped dashboard housing in the front driver and passenger side air bags. The failure mileage was 167,850.
Air bags, Jan 28, 2026, crash
The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the insurance company and can be made available for inspection upon request. During the crash, no airbags deployed, which significantly increased the risk of serious injury or death. The lack of airbag deployment left my partner and me completely unprotected at the moment of impact, including the number of times we rolled, seriously putting our safety at severe risk The vehicle is no longer drivable. The police report notes that the airbags did not deploy. The vehicle is in the process of inspection by my insurance adjusters as part of the total‑loss evaluation. The manufacturer has not yet inspected the airbag system, but the vehicle can be made available if Mazda requests an inspection. There were no warning lights, messages, or symptoms indicating an airbag or safety system issue before the crash. The airbag system gave no indication of malfunction before the failure occurred.
Steering, Electrical system, Air bags, Apr 15, 2022
When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn’t show these malfunctions. It literally randomly occurs. Therefore, they told me that I need to bring the car when it start happening in regular basis to understand the exact cause for the issue. I don’t know when it becomes a regular issue. 4-5 days ago, when I was turning right on a small street, the wheel locked again. I was about to crash. It’s a deadly malfunction, so I don’t want to wait until then.
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 9, 2021
THE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT. I AM VERY CONCERNED I DONT KNOW WHEN IT HAPPENED
Air bags, Jan 13, 2021
THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON FLICKERING PERIODICALLY AS I'M DRIVING. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS AIRBAG IF IT'S GOING TO DEPLOY WHILE I'M DRIVING OR IF IT'S GOING TO EVEN DEPLOY IF I DO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND IF IT'S GOING TO WORK OR AM I GOING TO BE KILLED IF IT DOESN'T DEPLOY I'M VERY CONCERN IT'S IS SAFETY ISSUE.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2020
PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT WILL GO ON AND OFF WITH NOBODY IN THE SEAT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND NOT CONSISTENTLY. SOMETIMES WHILE STATIONARY, SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING. THE DASHBOARD HAS COME APART FROM THE CENTER PIECE ON THE DASH WITH THE DIGITAL DISPLAY. CAR WAS PURCHASED IN TEXAS IN 2013, DROVE TO MAINE IN 2015 AND DRIVEN TO VIRGINIA SINCE 2018. PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE REAR VIEW MIRROR HAS STRANGE BROWN MARKS INSIDE THE MIRROR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE. OWNER DOES NOT SMOKE. STRANGE CLUNKY NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION, NOT CONSISTENT VERY RANDOM. SMOOTH ROAD, BUMPY ROAD, FAST OR SLOW, THE SOUND JUST RANDOMLY HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME. HEADLIGHTS FORM MOISTURE, OWNER BOUGHT NEW HEADLIGHTS WITH MECHANIC INSTALL AND THEY STARTED TO COLLECT MOISTURE ABOUT A YEAR AFTER INSTALLATION. OWNER OF VEHICLE SINCE 2013 TO PRESENT. VEHICLE PURCHASED AT APPROX 60K MILES, CURRENTLY APPROX 130K MILES.
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 20, 2020, crash
AIRBAGS: DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT OF A STREETLAMP POLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE QUARTER. FRONT FARRING DAMAGED AND REPLACED. I WAS TURNING LEFT, IT WAS RAINING, THE GLARE OF THE LIGHT BLINDED ME ENOUGH TO GO UP ON THE CURB AND IMPACT THE STREETLAMP POLE. I REPLACED THE FARRING AND HAD MY MAZDA3 FULLY ALIGNED. ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2016. REPLACED BATTERY 4 TIMES, ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. SEAT HEATERS HAVEN'T WORKED EVER. DRIVERSIDE SEAT STARTED WIGGLING AFTER CONTACT WITH STREETLAMP POLE.
Air bags, Feb 11, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2011 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 71 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A DEER CAUSING THE HOOD TO OPEN WITH FORCE CRACKING THE WINDSHIELD. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY. A DEER HIT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD AND KNEE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO SUSTAINED A WHIPLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V082000 (SEATS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE IMPACT SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS NOT CONTACTED FOR DIAGNOSES OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
Air bags, Dec 27, 2019
I PURCHASED A USED 2011 MAZDA 3 IN MARCH 2019. I DIDN'T NOTICE IT AT THE TIME BUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING A CODE 16 ON THE DASH. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY $100 DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR AND THE TWO PARTS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST WAS AROUND $800. I UNDERSTAND THAT COMPONENTS ON A CAR MAY GO BAD OVER TIME BUT SHOULD SOMETHING AS IMPORTANT AS AN AIR BAG SENSOR GO BAD IN LESS THAN 9 YEARS? AND IF IT DOES, SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY $800 FOR MY SAFETY WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE COMPANY THAT COVERS THAT. I'VE READ THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS. IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, THEIR AIRBAG WILL NOT GO OFF AND THAT PERSON COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.
Air bags, Jul 27, 2019
MAZDA OEM 11-13 3 SEAT TRACK-OCCUPANT SENSOR RIGHT BCN167SW0A IS FAULTY . THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CASES OF THIS ! THE PRICE OF THIS ITEMS IS 350.00 ! THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OR A RECALL ! THIS CAUSES THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS TO BE DISABLED . IF YOU WANT IT TO WORK 350.00 ! LESS THEN 3 YEARS OF OWNING THIS CAR
Air bags, Jun 18, 2019
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 DAYS THEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WENT THROUGH IT'S NORMAL PROCEDURE. AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED ONCE THEN PAUSED AND THEN FLASHED SIX TIMES. THEN, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INDICATOR ON THE DASH CAME ON AND REMAINED ON, INDICATING THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS DISABLED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER CONTINUES TO FLASH ONCE FOLLOWED BY SIX MORE FLASHES. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. MANY OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SUZUKI RECALLED THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM YEARS AGO.
Air bags, Seats, Dec 5, 2018
AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WIRING AND WEIGHT SENSOR. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT PUTS PASSENGERS AT RISK. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.
Power train, Air bags, May 23, 2018
DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE SEAM ON DASH IS SPLITTING ABOVE AIRBAG
Air bags, Jan 21, 2018, crash
TAKATA RECALL: I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAR MAZDA3 IN JAN 2011. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT TURN OFF EVEN THOUGH A OVER 100 POUNDS PERSON IS SITTING ON THE CHAIR. I NOTICED IT ON THE FIRST YEAR WHEN I WAS BACK TO THE MAZDA DEALER IN NEWARK CALIFORNIA FOR THE MAINTENANCE, BUT THE DEALER TOLD ME IT IS NORMAL BECAUSE THE PERSON IS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER CHAIR IS SO LIGHT. I GOT A CAR ACCIDENT ON 2012, BUT THE AIRBAG DID NOT POP UP. I DID NOT FILE A COMPLAINT BECAUSE I DO NOT KNOW THIS WEBSITE UNTIL I RECEIVE THE DASHBOARD RECALL. MY MAZDA GOT SOME RECALLS. THE CURRENT RECALL IS THE DASHBOARD, AND I AM WAITING FOR FIXING IT THE END OF THIS MONTH JANUARY 2018. I WONDER WHY THE AIRBAG IS NOT RECALL YET. IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DASHBOARD.
Air bags, Dec 10, 2017, crash
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WERE THE AUTOMOBILE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOY. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION AND SHE WAS SEVERELY REAR ENDED. THE APPROXIMATE TRAVEL SPEED WAS 65 MILES PER HR ON THERE FREEWAY.
Air bags, Nov 19, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON TIME BY TIME FOR UNKNOWN REASON . I BRING THIS TO ATTENTION ON TIME IN MY BUMPER TO BUMPER GUARANTEE IN MY DEALER ON 2011, DEALER SAID THAT IS NOT A PROBLEM AT THAT TIME. I RECEIVED A LETTER BY MAIL ON OCT 2017 THAT A POSSIBLE SETTLEMENT IS RELATED TO AIR BAG , I AM WORRIED THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG IN MY AIRBAG ,SO I ADVISED MY DEALER THEY REFUSED TO CHECK BY FREE AND ASKING ME TO PAID FOR A REVIEW BECAUSE THERE IS NOT RECALL REGISTER IN MY VEHICLE. WELL I PREVIOUSLY ADVISED ON TIME ON 2011 ABOUT THIS SITUATION, THAT IS THE LIGT IS ON TIME BY TIME THAT MEANS SOMETHING IS WRONG IS NOT FAIR, THAT I NEED TO PAID FOR A REVIEW WORK . THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITH UNKNOWN REASON WHEN I INFORMED ON TIME. NOW THAT I KNOW ABOUT THIS SETTLEMENT , I JUST ASKING FOR A REVIEW OF MY VEHICLE DUE TO THIS CIRCUMSTANCES.
Air bags, Sep 19, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - THIS VEHICLE HAS A TAKATA AIR BAG INITIATOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. DEALER SAYS NO RECALL IS IN EFFECT. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL WHEN THE TAKATA INITIATOR IS KNOWN TO CAUSE ISSUES AND FATALITIES? IS A RECALL PENDING? IF SO, WHEN WILL IT BE MADE PUBLIC? THANK YOU.
Air bags, Aug 24, 2017, crash
TAKATA AIRBAG: ON 12/25/16 SUNDAY MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE IN A HIT AND RUN, MY AIRBAG (DRIVER SIDE) DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE WAS HIT SO HARD I WAS KNOCK INTO A 360 SPIN. (INSURANCE PROVIDER: PROGRESSIVE POLICY #[XXX], DETROIT POLICE REPORT #[XXX]) I WAS IN MOTION ENTERING THE INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET, DRY ROAD CONDITION. I DID NOT GO TO THE HOSPITAL I USED WORK SICK DAY SINCE I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK (POLICE OFFICER) (EMAIL: [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Air bags, Seat belts, Aug 11, 2017
PASSENGER SEAT BELT SAYS PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF WHEN HOOKED UP. IT STAYS OFF WHEN PASSENGER SITS IN IT.
Air bags, Aug 9, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" - I RECEIVED IN THE MAIL A LETTER ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL AND I NEED A CLEAR EXPLAINATION AS TO WHY THERE IS NO RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE, WHICH BY THE WAY BOTH AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON(DRIVER SIDE & PASSENGER SIDE), BUT YET I RECEIVED A LETTER TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. EXPLAIN?
Air bags, Service brakes, Aug 7, 2017
SOMETIMES TURNS ON THE LIGHT OF ACTIVATED AIRBAGS AND EVEN IF THE EMERGENCY LEVER IS FULLY RAISED, THE CARRAIGE MOVES AS IF IT WERE DOWN.
Exterior lighting, Air bags, Jun 17, 2016
1) AFTER MOVING THE EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT BACK A FEW INCHES AT A RED LIGHT, PASSENGER AIRBAG DEACTIVATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH AND HAS REMAINED ON EVER SINCE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BEGAN FLASHING A CODE 16. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE LOOSE WIRES OR CONNECTIONS UNDER THE SEAT. 2) CONDENSATION APPEARING IN DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.
Suspension, Air bags, Structure, May 23, 2016, crash
AIRBAG NOT INFLATE AT THE ACCIDENT BUT INFLATED AFTER 2 NF INJURIES . PERSONS HURT BY STEERING WHEEL.
Air bags, Seats, Feb 18, 2016
MY 2011 MAZDA 3 DRIVER SEAT HAS COME OFF TRACK WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO SLIDE MY SEAT BACK AND THE SEAT POPPED OFF THE TRACK, LUCKILY I CAUGHT MYSELF. MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULDNT COVER IT. NOW, 3 WEEKS AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS LIT UP, ON THE DASH AND ABOVE THE RADIO. MAZDA SAID IT WAS MY SENSOR UNDER MY SEAT BUT STILL HAD TO CHARGE $105 DOLLAR FEE TO FIND THE PROBLEM??? THE AIRBAG SENSOR CAME ON ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. NOBODY WAS IN THE CAR EXCEPT ME.
Air bags, Seats, Feb 10, 2016
THE DRIVERS SEAT WILL SOMETIMES COME OUT OF ITS TRACK, AND NOT LOCK IN SECURELY. WHEN THE SEAT IS LOCKED, IT SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT IF I SHOULD MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD TO ACCOMMODATE FOR A REAR PASSENGER ITS LIKE THE SEAT WILL NOT SIT SQUARELY IN THE TRACK, AND IT WILL EITHER SINK, OR ELEVATE AT ONE CORNER AND SLIDE FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. ITS DANGEROUS IF I WERE TO HIT MY BRAKES, THE SEAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD INADVERTENTLY CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. ALSO, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT THAT WILL FLASH ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS SEEMS OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES, THE RED LIGHT WILL FLASH INDICATING SOME SORT OF ERROR WITH THE AIRBAG. I'M NOT SURE IF ITS A LOOSE CONNECTION, OR AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. WHEN I ALERTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. I MENTIONED THAT THESE WERE MOST LIKELY SAFETY ISSUES, NOT LIKE I WANTED FREE TIRES OR A NEW WATER PUMP OR BATTERY OR SOMETHING. JUST ADDRESS WHAT COULD BE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WITH MY VEHICLE.