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
132 reports, newest first.
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.
Power train, Jan 8, 2021
I GOT THIS CAR BACK IN AUGUST NOT KNOWING ABOUT MAZDA'S CLUTCH ISSUES. I GOT THE CAR WITH ABOUT 101,000 MILES, AND WHEN I GOT TO ABOUT 112,000, MY CLUTCH FAILED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY IN KANSAS. I WAS SHIFTING UP FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR AND THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WENT INTO NEUTRAL, BUT NONE OF MY GEARS WERE WORKING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I BECAME WORRIED THAT THIS IS GOING TO CONTINUALLY BE AN ISSUE FOR MY CAR FOR THE REST OF THE TIME THAT I HAVE IT. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX, AND I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE MY CLUTCH APPROXIMATELY EVERY 35,000 MILES AS MANY OTHER MAZDA 3 DRIVERS HAVE. MAZDA SHOULD REALLY RECALL THE PART AND WARRANTY ITS REPLACEMENT.
Electrical system, Dec 15, 2020, crash
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD GUN LIKE SOUND HAPPENS. SOUND WILL NOT TURN OFF EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE OFF OR VOLUME TURNED DOWN. THIS ISSUE IS RELATED TO THE BOSE AMP FAILURE WHICH THE DEALERSHIP HAS REFUSED TO FIX FOR FREE OR DIAGNOSE FOR FREE. CONTACTED BOSE AND THEY HAVE CONFIRMED THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THEY NO LONGER HONOR AND REFERRED ME TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WILL CHARGE $1300 JUST FOR THE AMP ALONE.
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.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Sep 17, 2020
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.
Seats, Sep 1, 2020
SUNDAY NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN MY DRIVERSIDE SEAT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE SEATS HARNESS THATS BOLTED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THAT EXACT SAFETY ISSUE HAD A RECALL. IVE MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT SCHEDULING MY CAR TO BE SERVICED BY MAZDA. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL CALL ME BACK. THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN.
Visibility/wiper, Aug 3, 2020
DASHBOARD IS HOLD DOWN FAILS THROUGH TERRIBLE DESIGNED SYSTEM. DASHBOARD IS HELD DOWN WITH CHEAP PLASTIC CLIP ON CONTROL SCREEN. THROUGH QUICK ONLINE RESEARCH, THIS IS A COMMON CONSISTENT ISSUE WITH ALL SIMILAR MAZDA VEHICLES THROUGH MANY YEARS. MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGES ISSUE WITH EXTENDING THEIR WARRANTY; HOWEVER, ONLY FOR 7 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL WARRANTY OR 2018 (WHICHEVER IS THE LATER). ADVISE FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS, THIS "REPAIR" DOES NOT FIX THE ISSUE, AND ISSUE DOES OCCUR AFTER REPAIRING. THIS ISSUES CAUSES AN OBSTRUCTION OF VIEW AS WELL AS A DISTRACTION. MAZDA EXPECTS CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR REPLACING DASHBOARD AND INFO DISPLAY!!!!
Structure, Jul 18, 2020
THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE CLOCK AND INFO DISPLAY SEPARATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 25, 2020
MAZDA HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TCM. MINE GOES IN AND OUT AND I CAN'T PULL IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE ACCELERATION GOES DOWN. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT KNOWN THE THIS PARTICULAR PART IS KNOWN TO GO OUT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THE FIRST PICTURE IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MANUEL MODE AS YOU CAN SEE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 5 FOR FIFTH GEAR WHICH U CAN SEE THAT IT'S HARD TO TELL AND THAT IS WHEN IT'S WORKING WHEN IT GOES OUT THE CARS ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN AND THERE'S NO DIGITAL DISPLAY AT ALL. THE SECOND PICTURE IS WHEN IT'S IN AUTOMATIC THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A D LETTER LETTING YOU KNOW AS THE DRIVER THE GEAR IS IN DRIVE. THIS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK MY LIFE AND POSAR HE LIVES OF OTHERS FOR A MISTAKE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MAZDA.
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.
Exterior lighting, Dec 30, 2019
MECHANIC'S REPORT 12/28/2019: "RIGHT FRONT (PASSENGER SIDE) HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS MAJOR MOISTURE CONTAMINATION. HID CONTROLLER FAILURE DUE TO MOISTURE; HID BULB OUT. REPAIR EST. $1,500 - $2,000." MY 2011 MAZDA 3 MILEAGE IS 36,915. I WILL TAKE THIS TO MAZDA SERVICE DEPT. ON 1/2/2020 FOR EVALUTAION. THEIR REPAIR EST. ON PHONE WAS $2,000+ - PARTS ONLY. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM REPORTED ONLINE BY MANY OWNERS OF THIS MAKE AND YEAR. CLEARLY THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT ISSUE. ONE THAT HAS CAUSED ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT. (I FIRST NOTICED MOISTURE SOMETIME AFTER A DRIVE-THRU CAR WASH 3 MONTHS AGO.)
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.
Steering, Jun 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF ANY INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA OF ARLINGTON (1400 TECH CENTRE PKWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76014, (817) 575-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Seats, Jun 1, 2019
'TAKATA RECALL' THE DRIVER SEAT IS UNEVEN AND DEFINITELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE LIKE THIS
Electrical system, May 13, 2019, fire
DURING SHORT DRIVE ON SURFACE ROADS (UNDER 45 MPH), ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND MELTED PLASTIC CLIPS; FUSE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THIS DID NOT WORK.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Apr 15, 2019, crash
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.
Structure, Mar 25, 2019
MY DASHBOARD HAS COME APART - LIKE ITS NOT GLUED TOGETHER BUT THEY TELL ME AT MAZDA THAT MY CAR IS NOT APART OF THE DASHBOARD RECALL WHICH I FIND HARD TO BELIEVE SINCE THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE
Other or unspecified, Jan 8, 2019
WE WERE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT SOUNDED LIKE A MACHINE GUN WAS GOING THREW MY SPEAKERS AND THE RADIO CONTROL WOULD NOT CONTROL THE LOAD NESS OF IT. WE HAD TO RIDE OVER 3 MILES TO THE EXIT AND GET OUT WHEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF IT STOPPED. THEN IT WOULD MAKE A AWFUL CRACKLING NOISE WHEN THE KEY WASN'T EVEN IN THE IGNITION. THAT WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW THE RADIO DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND IT STILL CRACKLES FROM TIME TO TIME. I LOOKED ONLINE AND APPARENTLY A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THE BOSE AMPLIFIER IS GOING OUT MAKING THAT NOISE. I'VE CONTACTED BOSE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. I'M JUST GLAD I WASN'T IN THE CAR ALONE WHEN IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE AND IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF US!
Tires, Dec 6, 2018
DECEMBER 6, 2018 DEAR NHTSA, I HAVE A 2011 MAZDA 3 WITH FOUR (4) WESTLAKE RP18 205/55R16 91V RADIAL TOURING TIRES. I AM WRITING THIS LETTER TO NOTIFY THE COMPANY THAT AT LEAST THIS LOT OF TIRE OR THIS TIRE LINE IS STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED PICTURES ON PAGE 2. THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPLICATION TO THIS DEFECT INCLUDING BENDING OF TIRE SHIELD, EASY PUNCTUATION AND EASY BLOW-OUT. ALL OF THESE INSTANCES CAN LEAD TO TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND EVEN DEATH. FOR INSTANCE, RECENTLY ROAD OBSTRUCTIONS PUNCTURED BOTH OF MY 2 BACK TIRES. THESE TIRES WERE FLAT WITHIN 30 MINUTES WHILE I WAS OUT SHOPPING AND A 20 MINUTES DRIVING DISTANCE FROM MY HOME. I PURCHASED A FOOT AIR PUMP TO PUT ENOUGH AIR IN MY TIRES TO TRAVEL ONE BLOCK AWAY TO THE AUTO SHOP TO REPLACE BOTH TIRES. FURTHERMORE, I DROVE AT SPEEDS ON THE HIGHWAY AT LESS THAN 20 MPH (MILES PER HOUR). AT THE STORE THEY REMOVED THE TIRE AND IDENTIFIED THE OBSTRUCTIONS, HOWEVER, THE TIRES EXPLODED VERY EASILY. THESE TIRES CAN BE PURCHASED FROM WAL-MART AND AMAZON FOR $44.24 EACH OR $176.96 FOR 4 TIRES ONLINE. I THINK THESE TIRES SHOULD BE RECALLED AND THIS MATTER PURSUED VIGOROUSLY PARTICULAR BECAUSE OF THE UPCOMING 2018 HOLIDAY TRAVEL SEASON. ON OCTOBER 16, 2018, I MAILED A CORRESPONDENCE LETTER TO TIRECO INC., SUPER-REPRESENTATIVE OF WESTLAKE TIRE. THE LETTER IS LISTED ABOVE. THIS MAIL WAS CERTIFIED WITH THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE UNDER CODE: 7018 0680 0000 5488 3046. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE COMPANY. AS STATED ABOVE, I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE STRUCTURALLY DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO BE RECALLED. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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.
Other or unspecified, Nov 16, 2018
THE DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THERE IS A GROWING GAP. IT OCCURRED OVER TIME AND IS CONTINUING TO GET WORSE.
Power train, Air bags, May 23, 2018
DASH BOARD PASSENGER SIDE SEAM ON DASH IS SPLITTING ABOVE AIRBAG