2014 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Electrical system is the leading concern among 138 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 7th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 138

Of the 2014 reports, 10 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.

Primary concernElectrical system27 reports · 20% of complaints
Owner complaints138Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship4 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Electrical system27
  2. Other or unspecified27
  3. Service brakes22
  4. Fuel/propulsion system21
  5. Engine13
  6. Back over prevention11
  7. Vehicle speed control9
  8. Parking brake8

Recalls and investigations

  1. Back over prevention, sensing system, cameraJul 14, 2023

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.

    A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.

    Campaign 23V487000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Parking brakeJun 22, 2017

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.

    If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.

    Campaign 17V393000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblySep 22, 2016

    Mazda Motors North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured January 4, 2014, to September 18, 2015. The fuel tank of the affected vehicles may have been improperly handled during manufacturing and, as a result, the welded attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.

    A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0116I.

    Campaign 16V684000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. Electrical system, alternator/generator/regulatorApr 3, 2014

    Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through December 18, 2013, and model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 20, 2013, through December 4, 2013, and both equipped with a 2.5L engine and a regenerative engine braking system. 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.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 7314D.

    Campaign 14V173000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: back over prevention

11 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Back over prevention, Mar 25, 2026

    The rear backup sensors no longer work and did not give any indication they stopped working. They do not detect cars driving up from behind when driving or switching lanes or objects or people behind the car anymore when you reverse. This happened without any notice or warning indications.

  2. Back over prevention, Jan 7, 2025

    Rearview camera flickers or doesn't turn on at times.

  3. Back over prevention, Jan 2, 2025

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  4. Electrical system, Back over prevention, Nov 30, 2024

    Due to improper design of the rearview camera wiring harness fastener, my rearview camera image has been distorted and flickering for years. There has been no remedy for this issue for many years now and its quite dangerous to have a camera that doesnt work at all.

  5. Back over prevention, Nov 7, 2024

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  6. Back over prevention, Nov 4, 2024

    The infotainment screen in my Mazda3 developed a large spider crack in the corner. It's available for inspection upon request. It affects my ability to read information on the screen, and partially obstructs my backup camera's image. The problem has been confirmed by both the dealer, who saw the issue firsthand, and Mazda (see Service Alert No.: SA-008/18, issued 02/20/2018 - please note, the spider crack I have is much larger than the ones in the pictures in the Service Alert). There was no warning this issue was going to affect my car, it just happened one day.

  7. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Jul 17, 2024

    There is an existing recall on my car 2014 Mazda 3 dated July 14, 2023 for the glitches with rearview mirror and rearview mirror disconnecting at random. While this has been outstanding for one year Mazda discourages customers from scheduling appointment to get the vehicle inspected and fixed in accordance to the guidance listed in NHTSA recall. I visited Capitol Mazda San Jose on 11/18/23 as well as called them to schedule a check on 7/17/24 but both these times I was informed that there are no parts to be replaced. I believe the remedy listed with NHTSA is not being followed and the customers do not have a timeline to get a resolution to this issue. I'm sharing the remedy listed by NHTSA. "Dealers will inspect vehicles. If inspections verify no concern with the rearview camera image, a wiring harness fastening seal will be added to prevent harness movement. If inspections verify there is image distortion or flickering, the rearview camera will be replaced with a new part and a wiring harness fastening seal will be added." I'm unable to understand if there are efforts by Mazda to provide sufficient labor work to inspect the vehicle and the fastening seals are at all in their timeline. I think NHTSA should assess what progress has been made by Mazda in resolving this critical recall.

  8. Back over prevention, Apr 11, 2024

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the camera image was distorted. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  9. Back over prevention, Feb 29, 2024

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the camera screen was flickering and became distorted. The failure mileage was 40,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  10. Back over prevention, Jan 24, 2024

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown hypothetical diagnostic was made. The contact declined to pay the repair cost. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring increasingly. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

  11. Back over prevention, Aug 8, 2023

    The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while parked, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image and failed to work as designed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention). The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.