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: engine
11 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Power train, Engine, Feb 16, 2023
Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882
Engine, Dec 14, 2021
Blower motor stopped working summer of 2020. Had it replaced at the dealership and it again stopped working in summer of 2021. Had it replaced once again and it is now making horrible noises again as it did right before it blew up the last two times
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 20, 2020
I HAVE HAD MY CAR SINCE 2013 AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL I GOT A NEW BATTERY FOR MY CAR. AS SOON AS I GOT A BATTERY MY CAR WOULD DIE EVERY OTHER DAY. I TOOK IT TO MANY MECHANICS AND BACK TO THE MAZDA DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD FIX IT. THE MECHANICS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT AND WHEN I TOOK IT TO MAZDA THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY CAR DOOR LIGHT WAS ON, EVEN THOUGH IT NEVER WAS. THEY CLAIMED THEY FIXED IT AND TWO DAYS LATER MY CAR WAS DEAD AGAIN. EVERY MECHANIC AND THE MAZDA DEALER SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THE VEHICLE SITS NOW BECAUSE I CAN'T KEEP CALLING MY INSURANCE COMPANY EVERY OTHER DAY TO COME OUT AND JUMP START MY CAR FOR ME.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Nov 5, 2017
WHEN DRIVING THE AFFECTED VEHICLES IN HEAVY RAIN OR IN DEEP PUDDLES, THE ALTERNATOR BELT MAY SLIP, CAUSING THE POWER CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO INCORRECTLY ASSUME FAILURE OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM. ONCE THE PCM ASSUMES THAT THE CHARGING SYSTEM HAS FAILED, THE VEHICLE WILL STOP CHARGING AND COULD RESULT IN POOR ACCELERATION, LOSS OF STEERING ASSIST AND WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION, AND A POSSIBLE ENGINE STALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH."
Engine, Dec 13, 2016
THE NUMBER 3 ENGINE MOUNT BROKE AT 52,000 MILES.
Electrical system, Engine, Dec 28, 2015
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ENGINE SUDDENLY TURNS OFF. RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS REMAIN ON, BUT POWER STEERING STOPS FUNCTIONING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES, 4 TIMES ON SURFACE STREETS AND ONCE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY. LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG THE TWO TIMES I HAVE TAKEN IT IN. THERE IS NO CODE BEING DISPLAYED.
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
Power train, Engine, Mar 7, 2014
I STARTED THE CAR AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SHIFTED INTO GEAR THE "AT" LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE "TRANS VALVEBODY". LOOKS LIKE A RECURRING THEME HERE. THE CAR IS A 2013 MAZDA3 I GRAND TOURING HATCHBACK THAT IS ONLY ABOUT 7 MONTHS OLD AND HAS LESS THAN 7000 MILES. *TR
Engine, Dec 10, 2013, fire
I AM A FIRE INVESTIGATOR WITH LEXINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT. I RESPONDED TO A STRUCTURE FIRE ON THE LISTED DATE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE AND SPREAD TO THE BUILDING. THE VEHICLE BELONGS TO HERTZ RENTAL CAR. THE INDIVIDUAL RENTING THE VEHICLE REPORTED THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF AND THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TURNED ON AFTER HE TURNED IT OFF. HE REPORTED HE HAD PARKED, LEFT THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING WHEN HE RETURNED. NO RECALLS WERE LOCATED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 26, 2013
ON FRIDAY 11/22/13 4PM I WENT TO GET MY OIL CHANGED AND CAR SERVICED. IT WAS THE END OF THE DAY & THE TECHNICIANS LEAVE AT 5PM. AFTER I RECEIVED MY CAR AT 5:10PM, I DECIDED TO TAKE SIDE STREETS TO GO PICK UP MY BROTHER, INSTEAD OF TAKING THE FREEWAY. THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN AND EVENTUALLY STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS) TURNED ON. I GOT TO THE SIDE & CALLED THE MAZDA TUTTLE-CLICK IN IRVINE, CA SERVICE CENTER. HE TOLD ME SINCE THE ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T BLINKING THAT IT WASN'T A SERIOUS PROBLEM & CALL AGAIN OR TAKE IT BACK TOMORROW MORNING IF IT STARTED BLINKING. I TOOK THE CAR OUT AGAIN & IMMEDIATELY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. I STOPPED IN A PARKING LOT & CALLED AGAIN. THEY EVENTUALLY AGREED TO TAKE THE CAR BACK TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS. ON 11/25/13 I CALLED BACK TO ASK IF MY CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. THEY SAID THEY WERE WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION VALVE PART TO COME IN. IF THIS ISN'T RELATED TO HUMAN ERROR AND IT WAS PURE COINCIDENCE, THEN THAT'S A BIG COINCIDENCE. ALSO, THE CAR WOULD'VE STALLED ON THE FREEWAY ON MY WAY BACK TO SAN DIEGO IF I HADN'T GONE TO PICK UP MY BROTHER. *TR
Power train, Engine, Sep 13, 2013
MY NEW 2013 MAZDA3 WITH ONLY 3660 MILES FAILED ON A BUSY HIGHWAY. FIRST, THE ENGINE MADE A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME I SHIFTED GEARS (MANUAL SHIFT.) THEN, I COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS AT ALL, AND THE ENGINE FAILED----I JUST BARELY GOT IT TO THE SHOULDER BEFORE IT QUIT ENTIRELY. THE DEALER SAYS THE CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I'VE HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 6 MONTHS. *TR