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
117 reports, newest first.
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
Structure, Feb 12, 2015
2013 MAZDA3, HAZARD INVOLVING THE DESIGN OF THE WINDOW AND DOOR WHICH THE POSTS ARE WIDER IN THIS CAR AND CAUSE A SERIOUS BLIND SPOT. UPDATED 02/12/15*BF
Power train, Jan 5, 2015
MY CAR HAS HAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES SINCE I BOUGHT IT. INTERMITTENT LACK OF ACCELERATION AFTER COMING OUT OF A PARKING LOT, MAKING A SLOW TURN AND SLOWING DOWN THEN NEEDING TO SPEED UP ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED MULTIPLE TIMES BECAUSE OF THE CAR'S INABILITY TO SPEED UP IMMEDIATELY. THE DEALER I GO TO HAS TEST DROVE IT AND SINCE THE PROBLEM DIDN'T OCCUR ON THE SHORT TEST DRIVE THEY COULDN'T GET MAZDA TO APPROVE THE REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN HAS DEALT WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE ON MULTIPLE MAZDA 3'S AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME TO POUND SAND, THAT THEY WOULDN'T FIX IT UNLESS IT OCCURRED WHILE THE DEALER TECH DROVE. THEY DIDN'T OFFER TO GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR SO THE TECH COULD KEEP IT FOR A FEW DAYS AND DRIVE IT, NOTHING. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. *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
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 22, 2014
MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW MAZDA 3 I-TOURING EDITION IN 2013. ON APPROXIMATELY 10/10/2014 SHE PICKED UP OUR 10 YEAR OLD BOY AND WHEN HE TRIED TO BUCKLE THE SEATBELT IT DID NOT WORK. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS MY WIFE THEN GOT IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE TO SEE IF SHE COULD GET IT BUCKLED. SHE COULD NOT. AT THIS POINT SHE ALSO NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD DISENGAGED, EVEN WITH HER IN THE FRONT SEAT. BEING WELL OVER THE MINIMUM WEIGHT TO ACTIVATE WE KNEW THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG. UPON RESEARCHING THE INTERNET IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT THERE ARE MANY CASES OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ALL OF WHICH WERE TURNED DOWN BY MAZDA FOR ANY KIND OF REMEDY. I SPOKE WITH [XXX], A SERVICE ADVISOR FOR NELSON MAZDA IN TULSA, OK, AND WHEN ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO WITH OUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE OF THE SEVERITY OF THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS PROBLEM CAUSES HE BASICALLY JUST SAID NO. I DID BUY THE CAR AT ANOTHER DEALER BUT LIVE TOO FAR AWAY TO SET UP ANYTHING WITH THEM. I THOUGHT MAYBE ONE MAZDA DEALER WOULD STAND UP FOR ANOTHER JUST TO MAKE A GOOD SHOWING FOR THE MAZDA NAME. I GUESS I WAS WRONG. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *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
Steering, Jun 29, 2014
WHILE PRACTICING PARALLEL PARKING ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR BECAME HOT, POWER STEERING MIL WAS ON AND NO ASSIST TO STEER. AFTER LETTING IT COOL FOR 30 MIN DID MOTOR WORK AGAIN. *TR
Exterior lighting, Jun 11, 2014, fire
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
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
Service brakes, Apr 7, 2014, crash
DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT 15 MPH, THE CAR IN FRONT OF MYSELF HAD SLOWED DOWN AND STOPPED AT A LIGHT. WHEN I SEEN SHE WAS STOPPING, I PRESSED DOWN MY BRAKES SO I WOULD STOP BUT THE BRAKE PEDDLE PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. MY CAR DIDN'T STOP. FROM THIS I HAD REAR-ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE BRAKES WERE TESTED AGAIN AND RESULTED IN THE PEDDLE STILL BEING PUSHED DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *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
Seat belts, Jan 29, 2014, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA, MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT AT 35 MPH, CAUSING THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN AND THE CONTACT'S HEAD WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD. A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND SECURED IN THE SEAT BELT ALSO SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. BOTH WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.
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, Nov 19, 2013
MY CAR SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF IT. I COASTED TO A STOP, STOPPED THE CAR, WAITED A BIT, THEN RESTARTED. IT WENT ABOUT HALF A MILE AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE DEALER SAID IT'S A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY (AND I WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, BUT DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING HERE OR ON MAZDA'S WEBSITE). I WAS VERY LUCKY TO HAVE JUST GOTTEN OFF THE FREEWAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *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
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