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: seats
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Seats, May 9, 2021
EXACT SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V082 THE SEATS IN THIS YEAR OF MAZDA 3 ARE THE SAME AS IN THE 2010-2011 MODELS. THE METAL HAS SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING THE NEED FOR REPAIR FOR SAFE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING A CORNER ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 30KM/H DRIVER IS 260LBS
Seats, Sep 16, 2019
THE SEAT LIFTER LINK ON MY 2013 MAZDA 3 POWER SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD THAT ALLOWS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO WOBBLE FRONT TO BACK. THE WELD HAS OPENED UP SHOWING THE MOTOR SHAFT. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. CALLED LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS AND MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. VEHICLE HAS 187,400 MILES. FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ISSUE IN THE 2010 - 2011 VEHICLES. MAZDA HAD A RECALL CAMPAIGN 0917B FOR THAT ISSUE. APPARENTLY THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH DEFECTIVE WELDS IN THE SEAT FRAME. FIRST NOTICED THIS CONDITION AFTER ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
Seats, Oct 16, 2018
I WAS DRIVING AND THE DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED ON THE BACK RIGHT CORNER. SORT OF POPPED AND DROPPED DOWN A BIT. I CAN PHYSICALLY MOVE THE SEAT UP AND DOWN WITH MY HANDS. I BELIEVE IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2010-2011 MODEL RECALL.
Exterior lighting, Seats, Other or unspecified, Sep 14, 2018
THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN BRAKING OR IN PARKED. DRIVERS SEAT WOBBLES/ROCKS/SHIFTS WHILE DRIVING MAKING IT DANGEROUS.
Seats, Aug 15, 2017
THE SWING ARM THAT ATTACHES THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE LEFT-SIDE SEAT RUNNER UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED. CLOSE INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY A WELD FAILURE / METAL FATIGUE AT THE POINT WHERE THE ARM WAS WELDED TO THE ROD THAT RUNS BELOW THE CUSHION. THE SEAT IS NOW UNSTABLE AND ROCKS IN AN ALARMING WAY, BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. COPIED FROM AN EXISTING COMPLAINT FOR THE 2010 MODEL YEAR BECAUSE IT IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
Seats, Aug 4, 2017
THE DRIVER SEAT OF MY 2013 MAZDA3 ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, NOTICEABLE UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION OR BRAKING. THIS CAN ALSO BE REPLICATED BY PLACING MY FEET ON THE FLOOR OF THE CAR WHILE SEATED IN THE DRIVER SEAT AND LEANING BACK, WHEN I DO THIS THE SEAT ROCKS BACK AROUND 1/4 OF AN INCH. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THIS SEAT IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT UP WITH THE DEALER WHO SAID "SEAT BASES MAY WEAR OUT" AND QUOTED +$1,800 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BASE. THIS PROBLEM IS SIMILAR TO A RECOGNIZED PROBLEM ON THE 2010 TO 2012 MAZDA3 CARS, THE 2013 MODEL IS IN THE SAME GENERATION OF CAR AND MAY BE SIMILARLY AFFECTED.
Seats, Mar 10, 2017, crash
THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH. THE RATCHETING SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE RECLINE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT FAILED CAUSING THE SEAT TO RECLINE AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT.
Seats, Jul 13, 2016
THE HEADREST IS ANGLED TOO FAR FORWARD. I AM A SMALL FRAMED INDIVIDUAL 5'6", 115 LBS. I HAVE GOOD POSTURE. THIS SEAT AND HEAD REST DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO REST MY SHOULDERS AGAINST THE SEAT, RATHER I HAVE TO ROLL MY SHOULDERS FORWARD TO KEEP MY HEAD AWAY FROM THE HEADREST CAUSING SHOULDERS AND PAIN SO EXTREME THAT I FEEL LIKE VOMITING EACH TIME I DRIVE; MY COMMUTE IS ONLY 20-30 MINUTES. I HAVE TRIED MULTIPLE SEAT POSITIONS WITH THE LIMITED 2 ADJUSTMENTS I HAVE TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE READ THAT THE SEATS ARE MADE FOR LARGER PEOPLE WITH BROADER SHOULDERS-THEY WILL FILL THE SEAT AND DON'T SINK BACK INTO IT AS SMALLER INDIVIDUALS DO. SUCH PAIN IS A DISTRACTION TO DRIVING, MY HEAD SHOULD NOT BE FORCED DOWNWARD.
Seats, Apr 29, 2014
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED EXTENSIVE SPIDER WEBS WITHIN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO CLEANED THE INTERIOR AND THE SAFETY CONCERN HAD RECURRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOTICED THAT THERE HAD STILL BEEN NUMEROUS SPIDER WEBS AFTER THE LOCAL DEALER WAS TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TWICE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND TO REMOVE THE SPIDER INFESTATION. THE VEHICLE WAS CLEANED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4807. DYD