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: other or unspecified
10 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2022
I had the dashboard recalled and replaced. The new dashboard is separating from the computer screen on dash.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Apr 22, 2022
TRACKING NUMBER 11461728 ADDED INFORMATION EMAIL FROM MANUFACTURE MITSUBUSHI ELECTRIC INCORPORATED
Structure, Other or unspecified, Apr 16, 2021
THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS COME LOOSE, AND THERE IS A OPENING, THE INSIDE OF IT IS CHIPPED AS WELL AND IT IS FOGGY. JUST NORMAL DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. MAZDA OFFERED A SPECIAL SERVICE WARRANTY, WHICH MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THIS GAP HAD NOT OCCURRED YET. CONVENIENTLY, THE EXTENSION EXPIRED BEFORE MY PANEL STARTED COMING APART. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS TO LATE. WELL I WAS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE IT HADN'T COME APART YET. APPARENTLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY DID OFF A SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR IT. ALL MODELS THAT HAD THESE DEFECTIVE PANELS OR BAD ADHESIVE FROM THE SAME LOT REGARDLESS IF THEY HAD STARTED TO COME APART YET, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED SO THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN. I UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IF THIS IS JUST CHOCKED UP TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THE REST OF THE INTERIOR SHOULD ALSO BE FALLING APART, BECAUSE THE WHOLE CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AND THAT IS NOT FALLING APART YET. I AM ONE PERSON, WITH ONE VOICE MAYBE OTHER MAZDA OWNERS WHO WERE DENIED ELIGIBILITY TO HAVE THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED, WILL ALSO COMPLAIN AND SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. AS THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE PASSED QUALITY CONTROL. DATE IS APPROXIMATE AS IT OCCURRED GRADUALLY OVER TIME AND DID NOT BECOME NOTICEABLE UNTIL LATE LAST YEAR.
Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2020
I PURCHASED A 2013 MAZDA 3 IN MARCH OR 2020 WITH ABOUT 35000MILES. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER I PUT DOWN MY BACK SEATS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOTICED THE MIDDLE SEAT BUCKLE WAS FRINGED AND LOOKED CUT ABOUT A HALF OF INCH IN. IT COULD NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE BUCKLE SNAGGING ON THE CUT. IT IS NOVEMBER 2020 AND I HAVE NOW DESCOVERES THAT THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER BUCKLES AS WELL. I RARELY HAVE ANYONE IN MY BACK SEAT, MAYBE TWICE SINCE THE PURCHASE, SO THE BUCKLES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY USED. I THINK SOMETHING IS CUTTING THE BELT CAUSING THE BUCKLES TO STOP RETRACTING- RENDERING THEM USELESS. MY CAR HAS 49000MILES NOW. I DISCOVERED ALL OF THE BELTS WHILE STATIONARY. BUT THE DRIVERS ONE WOULD NOT RETRACT CAUSING ME TO LOOK FOR IT.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Mar 1, 2020
LIGHTING:WHEN APPLYING BREAKS, HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. WINDSHIELD: LEAKS. ADHESIVE EXPANDED, CAUSING SEAL TO BREAK. WATER POURS IN ON DASH FROM SIDE DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS OR CAR WASH. ADHESIVE ALSO EXPANDED ON GAUGE PANEL, CAUSING DISPLAY WINDOW TO LIFT. WAS THIS WAY WHEN PURCHASED. DID NOT NOTICE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDOW SEAL AT TIME OF PURCHASE.
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.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2017
PCM DOES NOT REGULATE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT CORRECTLY CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLASH/STROBE AND HORN TONE TO FLUCTUATE WHILE BRAKING IN MOTION. THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHING COULD LEAD OTHER DRIVERS TO BELIEVE YOU ARE SIGNALING THEM, AND LACK OF POWER TO HORN REDUCES THE AUDIBILITY AND MAY NOT BE HEARD BY OTHER DRIVERS. DEALERSHIP/MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND HAS PROVIDED A "SOFTWARE UPDATE" TO FIX THE ISSUE, BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL, THUS REQUIRING CONSUMERS TO PAY $60-$100 USD FOR THE UPDATE IF OUT OF WARRANTY. ON NOVEMBER 22TH 2017 I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND WAS BRAKING COMING TO THE RED LIGHT WHEN A VEHICLE ON A SIDE STREET WAVED AT ME AND PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME I USED MY HORN OF WHICH FLUCTUATED WITH POWER, I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE CRASH BUT IT WAS A CLOSE CALL. I SUSPECT THE OTHER VEHICLE THOUGHT MY FLASHING HEADLIGHTS WERE SIGNALING THEM TO "GO AHEAD". I BELIEVE THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL AS THIS ISSUE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE.
Seat belts, Structure, Other or unspecified, Aug 29, 2017
REAR SEAT BELTS NOT SECURED. RUST AND CORROSION AT DOOR OPENINGS. REAR TRUNK LIFT - LOCAL DEALER NEVER HAS THE PART TO FIX IT AS REQUIRED IN RECALL.
Power train, Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2016
WHEN BREAKING MY HEADLIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. IT ONLY OCCURS WHEN BREAKING. SECOND ISSUE: WHEN BACKING UP FROM REVERSE GEAR AND PUTTING CAR INTO DRIVE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES TO ENGAGE AND THE CAR SURGES FORWARD LIKE IT IS NOT IN GEAR. IT WILL ALSO MAKE A METAL ON METAL SOUND WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIRD ISSUE: AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SHAKES. DEALER SAID THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE IT BUT IT HAPPENS ALWAYS AT 55MPH.
Other or unspecified, Jun 1, 2016
ON APRIL 27, 2016 I NOTICED A GAP BETWEEN THE SCREEN OR MY INFORMATION DISPLAY AND THE UPPER PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD. I ASKED MY LOCAL BODY SHOP IF IT WAS RELATED TO SOMETHING ELSE THEY HAD JUST TAKEN CARE OF; THE OWNER LOOKED INTO IT, SPOKE TO DOME LOCAL DEALERSHIPS, AND TOLD ME IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MAZDA DASHBOARDS BUT THEY WON'T FIX IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE AFFECTED IF MOISTURE, DUST, ETC. ENTER THE GAP, AND I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS CONTINUING TO SEPARATE. WHAT'S THE END POINT? WHAT IF PART OF THE DASHBOARD COLLAPSES WHILE I'M DRIVING? MAZDA ISN'T TALKING.