2013 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Exterior lighting is the leading concern among 117 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 11th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2013 reports, 7 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 4 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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: electrical system
32 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Dec 19, 2015
HORN GRADUALLY FAILED, BECAME WEAKER AND WEAKER, EVENTUALLY TOTALLY SILENT. LOOKED ON GOOGLE TO FIND LOCATION (IT IS VERY TIGHT IN THERE!) DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAILED HORNS FOR THIS EXACT MAKE AND MODEL. HORN IS MADE BY FIAMM (ITALY). EXAMINED HORN, THE ADJUSTMENT SCREW IS SEALED. FAILURE IS INTERNAL. VEHICLE IS TWO YEARS OLD, HAS 39,000 MILES. REPLACED HORN WITH $10 AFTERMARKET ITEM, ALL OK NOW. TOOK ME ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO DO, AND I AM AN EXPERIENCED MECHANIC (CAUSE IS ABSOLUTELY MISERABLE ACCESS, ONLY HAD TO REMOVE ONE NUT AND ONE WIRE, THE TRICK IS GETTING TO IT), I FIX EVERYTHING FROM WRISTWATCHES TO AIRPLANE ENGINES. NO ACCIDENTS, NO INJURIES, BUT YOU MUST HAVE A WORKING HORN . . . THIS IS MY WIFE'S CAR, AND I WANT HER TO BE SAFE.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Visibility/wiper, May 26, 2015
NOTICED FLICKERING OF HEADLIGHTS DURING NIGHT DRIVING WHILE BRAKING. THIS HEADLIGHT FLICKER WAS REPEATABLE WHILE NIGHT DRIVING AND BRAKING AT MODERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 9, 2015
A FEW WEEKS AGO, THE LOW BATTERY INDICATOR CAME ON INDICATING THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY KEY FOB BATTERY. MY CAR HAS A KEYLESS IGNITION/ PUSH-BUTTON START. I REPLACED THE BATTERY IN EACH OF MY KEY FOBS ABOUT A WEEK LATER. AFTER AN ADDITIONAL WEEK, MY CAR WILL NOT START WITH EITHER KEY FOB. THE DASHBOARD STATES THAT THE KEY IS NOT FOUND, EVEN THOUGH I REPLACED BOTH KEY FOB BATTERIES. I HAD TO TAKE THE IGNITION COVER OFF AND INSERT THE KEY TO START THE CAR. MAZDA IS CHARGING ME $100 JUST TO GET THIS LOOKED AT. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 18, 2015
THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER OR PULSATE WHEN I BRAKE OR DECELERATED MY 2013 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WITH THE 2.0 L ENGINE. NIGHT DRIVING IS DANGEROUS. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Dec 21, 2014
WHEN I STARTED DRIVING AND PUT ON MY HEADLIGHTS. EVERYTIME I PUT ON THE BRAKES THE HEADLIGHTS DIM AS THE BRAKE LIGHT IS PUSHED. *TR
Steering, Electrical system, Sep 3, 2014
DRIVING 60MPH ON MAJOR FREEWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, LIGHT RAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. A FEW MINUTES LATER, EVERY WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST THE POWER STEERING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED THE CAR OF, WAITED 10 MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON AND ALL OTHER WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF. STARTED DRIVING AND 10 MINUTES LATER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN AND LOST POWER STEERING AGAIN. LEFT VEHICLE IN GARAGE OVER NIGHT WITH HOOD UP THINKING IT WAS DUE TO RAIN/MOISTURE/COMPUTER PROBLEM. CAR STARTED FINE IN MORNING, NO WARNING LIGHTS. TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS A LOSE BATTERY CABLE. I AM THINKING IT WAS MORE THAN THAT. I HAVE NOTED MY CONCERN AND WILL AWAIT THE NEXT HEAVY RAIN. *TR
Electrical system, Apr 30, 2013
I DROVE THE CAR ON FRIDAY, 4/26/13, FOR ABOUT 120 MILES. ON 4/29/13, I FOUND THE BATTERY DIED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME FOR THIS BRAND NEW CAR ABOUT A MONTH. IT'S NOT A RELIABLE PRODUCT. THE SERVICE LADY IN MAITA MAZDA SACRAMENTO TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD DRIVE THE CAR EVERYDAY TO KEEP THE BATTERY WORKING. WHY DIDN'T THEY TOLD ME BEFORE I BROUGHT IT. *TR