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.
Of the 2014 reports, 10 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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: other or unspecified
27 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Seat belts, Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2026
Airbag warning symbol on dashboard flashes with or without passenger seated in front seat.
Other or unspecified, Mar 29, 2025
Navigation touchscreen has deteriorated without any external damage to the point where it has false positives/ghost clicks. This randomly changes settings which include screen/instrument panel brightness which can be disorienting at night.
Other or unspecified, Jan 4, 2025
My vehicle has intermittent functioning of rearview camera image while reversing. I can sometimes get it to work by opening an closing the rear hatch. Sometimes the image is clear, sometimes there is no image and sometimes it is distorted/rolls. Mazda notified me of the recall September 2023, but the company has failed to repair the defect within a reasonable amount of time.
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.
Other or unspecified, Apr 19, 2024
The manufacturer has not provided a timely remedy for a known safety issue on the backup camera for my car. (Jul 14,2023; Manufacturer Recall Number6023G; NHTSA Recall Number23V-487). I purchased the car in 2014. Around 2017, the backup camera began flickering and sometimes failing to load completely. I took the vehicle to the Mazda dealership in Tustin, CA and they said there was nothing wrong with the camera. They said that I would have to pay approximately $500 for a new camera if I wanted one. I could not afford to replace the camera at that time, so the problem has persisted ever since. In July 2023, a notice of a safety recall was issued for the same issue with the camera. On [XXX], I took the vehicle to the same Mazda dealership and asked for the camera to be replaced due to the recall. They inspected the vehicle and agreed the camera was defective; however, they said they didn't have the parts yet to replace the camera and that I would receive something "official" about the recall later. It is now April 2024 and I have heard nothing. This safety issue has been going on for 7+ years and Mazda needs to take responsibility. The fact that they wanted to charge me for the camera in 2017 and now they say no cameras are available leaves me to believe that they are stalling and just don't want to incur the cost to fix the safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2023
There is currently a recall for 2014 Mazda 3 hatchbacks due to a faulty rearview back-up camera, but the dates are too limited. Production dates start in Dec 2013, but my particular vehicle was manufactured before that and still has the defective camera/mount. My car is in the shop getting fixed now for $1380 + tax, and should have been covered by the safety recall.
Other or unspecified, Jul 31, 2023
I was informed that I have a recall on my vehicle when I tried to put it on Turo. The manufacturer never reached out to.let me know. I live in Hawaii on the Big Island and we no longer have a Mazda dealership so I contacted Mazda Customer Service for help getting repaired. They said I had to pay for the repair myself and file for reimbursement. When I went to Kia in Kona to see if they would repair it, they explained the manufacturer is supposed to take care of recalls at no cost to me. Please help.
Other or unspecified, Jan 24, 2023
Temperature control link slips out of place when turning climate control knob. This is 100% a safety issue when you can’t see out of your windshield because you can’t defrost your windshield. There are no warning lights.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2021
About a month ago I got into my vehicle and noticed a corner of my infotainment screen was cracked. The cracking is internal and seems to spider around the corner. It cannot be felt externally in any way. Doing some research, I came across multiple other owners displaying similar problems. I was also able to find Service Alert No. SA-008/18 which pertained to the same issue even labeling it as (spider cracking). Calling Mazda's customer experience department, I was informed (and knew) that a service alert is not a recall. While this is true it is something that occurs due to normal temperature changes in a product (vehicle) that should be able to withstand such conditions. I was also informed that the Service Alert did not include my VIN even though my vehicle is inside the year, make, and model the service alert pertains to. I was encouraged to reach out to NHTSA if I had further concerns. While the spider cracking was more of an aesthetic issue since then I have noticed the infotainment will often rapidly change through various menus and apps. This causes both a sudden distraction to the driver as well as potentially making unknown changes to the vehicle systems maintained through the infotainment package. While my wife was driving the vehicle last week and trying to use the navigation, she was consistently having the directions break up and display change causing her to need to pull over. Given that both the aesthetic cracking and the menu/apps changing problems began at the same time it seems that the internal crack may have thrown off some pressure/contact the display relies on. The vehicle is available for inspections upon request. Aesthetic problem was seen by the dealer on July 7, 2021 however the function changes were not observed until just after.
Other or unspecified, Mar 28, 2021
MY IN CAR MONITOR IS CRACKING AT THE SCREEN AND WILL NOT TURN ON. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS. I DID NOTHING TO THE SYSTEM IT JUST DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS FOR CANADA VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED.
Other or unspecified, Mar 27, 2021
I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION. I LOOKED UP AND THE CENTER OF MY SUNROOF WAS GONE. THERE WAS A LITTLE GLASS IN THE CAR, BUT MOST OF THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE GLASS IN THE CAR CONSISTED OF SMALL SHARDS. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS WITH ME SO NO INJURIES.
Wheels, Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2020
IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 6 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS. ROAD HAZARD LIKE A TORN WHEEL FROM OTHER CAR OR DIVIDER ON ROAD. IF WHEN DRIVING IT GOES OVER IT DURING NIGHT TIME THE COMPUTER WITHIN THE MAZDA 3 TRIGGERS AUTOMATIC DEFLATION OF THE CAR TIRES.
Other or unspecified, Aug 2, 2020
IT APPEARS THE MAZDA COMPUTER ELECTRONICS TRIGGER AUTO DEFALTION OF TIRES AFTER HITTING A ROAD HAZARD ON THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES MULTIPLE TIMES.. ONCE AT 35 MPH AND OTHER AT 44 MPH APPROX
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 2, 2020
MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE I'M DRIVING
Other or unspecified, Jan 27, 2020
THE GLASS SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 65MPH IN LANE ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF I-476 BETWEEN ALLENTOWN AND QUAKERTOWN PA AT 11AM ON DECEMBER 31, 2019, CONSTANT 40 TEMP, NO RECENT CHANGE IN ALTITUDE, NOT NEAR AN OVERPASS OR CLOSE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE FROM ANY DIRECTION. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHOWERED WITH BROKEN GLASS.TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY READ THE 2017CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE ON SUCH EVENTS - TURNS OUT THIS IS A THING. INSURANCE COVERED REPAIR, WE WERE OUT ONLY THE DEDUCTIBLE. REPAIR TOOK THREE WEEKS. WE CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS IF YOU LIKE.
Other or unspecified, Oct 4, 2019
THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN HAS SPIDER CRACKS IN 2 CORNERS THAT ARE STARTING FROM THE SEALED INSIDE OF SCREEN. IT IS SPREADING AND ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BLOGS HAPPENING TO OTHER MAZDA'S. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS. THE SCREEN HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED AND MOST OF THE CHANGES HAPPEN WHEN I USE THE COMMAND KNOB AND NOT TOUCHING THE SCREEN.
Other or unspecified, Sep 26, 2019
THERE ARE REPORTS ONLINE THAT MAZDA3 2014-2016 HAS A DEFECTIVE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND PLAYS ONE RADIO STATION OR TOUCHSCREEN MALFUNCTIONS. ALL MAZDA DEALERS IN HOUSTON DO NOT SPEAK OF FIXING THIS FOR FREE . BUT THROUGHOUT MAZDA FORUMS ACROSS THE U.S. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THIS EQUIPMENT REPLACED FOR FREE AS MAZDA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM ON SUCH VEHICLE MODELS AND YEARS.
Other or unspecified, Jul 26, 2019
THE CABLE CONTROLLING THE AIR BLOWER FROM COLD TO WARM WILL DISCONNECT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THE BRACKET CONTROLLING CONNECTING THE ARM MOVING THE BLOWER HAS BROKEN.
Other or unspecified, Jun 29, 2019
THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER ON THE DASH REPEATEDLY GLITCHES OUT, WILL START RANDOMLY CALLING CONTACTS IF BLUETOOTH IS SYNCED WILL RANDOMLY SWITCH TO RADIO STATIONS, PANDORA, INFO ON THE SCREEN, USING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES STATIONARY OR AT ANY SPEED, YOU CAN'T TURN IT OFF BECAUSE THE CONTROLS DON'T WORK, RESETTING IT DOESN'T WORK, DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY DOESN'T WORK IT JUST STARTS UP AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNS ON, IT'S AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE SO IT MAY NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT LINGERS FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME WHEN IT DOES GLITCH OUT.
Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Apr 16, 2019
TCS MALFUNCTION. 'TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' SYMBOL IS CAR WITH SKID MARK ON THE BOTTOM. TAKE TO DEALER RIGHT AWAY.
Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2019
I HAVE 2 ISSUES. THE MOST DANGEROUS ONE IS THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. IT JUMPS AROUND FROM PHONE TO RADIO TO CONTACTS TO MUSIC AND RANDOMLY MAKES CALLS, PLAYS THE RADIO, AND CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. WHEN IT MAKE CALLS IT CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED AND WHICHEVER SCREEN IS DISPLAYED IT ACTS AS IF SOMEONE IS CONSTANTLY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM. RADIO STATIONS CHANGE AND PHONE CALLS ARE MADE THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT HALF OF THE SCREEN IS CRACKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON IT. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MAZDA BUT DID NOT REPAIR IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN. THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE SCREEN BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE UNCONTROLLED SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES. THESE ISSUES ARE MOSTLY WHEN I AM STOPPED BUT CONTINUES WHEN I AM MOVING. SINCE MAZDA DOES RECOGNIZE THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE DIRECTIONS FOR CORRECTING THEM, THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY FOR A NEW SCREEN AND SYSTEM
Other or unspecified, Feb 27, 2018
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN THE SNOW/RAIN MIX WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG! I THOUGH I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BUT WHEN I LOOKED AROUND I NOTICED THE GLASS OF MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND SOME GLASS FELL ON ME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SUNROOF HAD ACTUALLY BLEW OUT AND UPWARDS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO THEN SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO MAZDA. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF LATENT DEFECTS IN SUNROOFS, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE MINE. IT'S COLD AND RAINING HERE AND I HAVE PART OF MY CAR ROOF MISSING DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT I KEEP READING ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE HAPPEN AND THESE SUNROOFS SHOULD BE REPLACED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THINKING I WAS EITHER HIT OR SHOT AT! I HAVE IMAGES UPON REQUEST AS THEY ARE NOT LOADED ON THIS COMPUTER.
Other or unspecified, Jan 12, 2018
SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED IN VERY COLD WEATHER. GLASS ACTUALLY EXPLODED. VEHICLE STATIONARY AT STOPLIGHT ON CITY STREET
Other or unspecified, Apr 5, 2017
TREAD SEPARATION ON TWO FACTORY-MOUNTED ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT YOKOHAMA TIRES WITHIN 3 WEEKS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONE INCIDENT CAUSING SIGNIFICANT BODY DAMAGE. INCIDENTS OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 19,000 MILES.
Other or unspecified, Jul 15, 2016
THE HEADRESTS JUT FORWARD AT AN EXTREME ANGLE AND CAUSING CHRONIC AND ACUTE NECK, HEAD AND BACK PAIN. THE DESIGN OF THESE IS A RESULT COMPLIANCE WITH THE NHTSA'S HEADREST STANDARD. THE NHTSA WENT TOO FAR AND SHOULD RECONSIDER THE STANDARD. IT IS CAUSING MISERY FOR THOUSANDS OR EVEN MILLIONS OF MOTORISTS. TO ALLEVIATE THE PAIN, I WAS FORCED TO REVERSE THE HEADREST...MAKING IT FAR UNSAFER IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF POSTS ABOUT THIS ONLINE.