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
138 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 18, 2014
MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH A PUSH TO START/STOP (KEYLESS) "FEATURE". I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE GARAGE LAST NIGHT (WITH THE RADIO OFF), PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TO STOP THE ENGINE, AND WENT INSIDE. WHEN I WOKE UP THIS MORNING, THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING, ALL NIGHT INSIDE MY ATTACHED ENCLOSED GARAGE. CO METER MEASURE NON-ZERO PPM LEVELS A FEW HOURS AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. OTHER THEN THE RADIO, THERE ARE NO OBVIOUS NON-AUDIBLE INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE IS RUNNING / NOT RUNNING. ADDITIONAL EXPECTATION WOULD BE THE CAR SHOULD BE SMART ENOUGH TO AUTOMATICALLY SHUT ITSELF OFF AFTER IDLING FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. MINE WAS RUNNING IN THE GARAGE FOR ABOUT 6.5 HOURS. *TR
Power train, Nov 14, 2014
I INITIALLY HAD ISSUE GETTING INTO AND OUT OF THE 3RD AND 4TH GEAR (MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR). I COULD FEEL GEARS GRINDING DURING SHIFTING (WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY DEPRESSED). THE DEALER REPLACED THE THIRD GEAR. AFTER THE FIX, THE CAR NOW HAS DIFFICULTY GETTING INTO AND OUT OF GEAR 2 AND 3. THIS PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT BUT IS MORE NOTICEABLE AFTER THE INITIAL START-UP OF THE CAR, ESPECIALLY IF THE WEATHER IS COLD (50F OR COLDER). WITH THE CLUTCH FULLY PRESSED, I CAN STILL FEEL THE GEAR ROTATING AND GRINDING DURING SHIFTING. WHEN THE CAR IS COLD, A LOT OF FORCE IS NEEDED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THE SHIFTING ISSUE IS LESS NOTICEABLE WHEN ONCE THE CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING FOR 20MINS. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment, Oct 24, 2014
I HAVE HAD TWO CONTINUOUS ISSUES WITH MY 2014 MAZDA 3; THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN AND THEN BEGIN A CYCLE OF CONTINUOUSLY SHUTTING DOWN A REBOOTING AND THE HEADS UP DISPLAY AT TIMES DOES NOT POP UP WHEN I START THE VEHICLE.THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THIS IS TO PULL OVER, SHUT OFF THE CAR AND THEN START IT BACK UP AGAIN (THIS GENERALLY FIXES BOTH THE NAVIGATION AND HUD ISSUE, ALTHOUGH THESE ISSUES DO NOT SEEM TO BE RELATED AS THE HAVE NOT OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME BEFORE.) THIS CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE A SOFTWARE ISSUE AS REBOOTING DOES FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES AND MOSTLY OCCURS AT THE END OF LONG TRIPS, WHEN I NEED IT MOST. IN SOME INSTANCES THIS HAS LED ME TO TAKE WRONG TURNS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR FORCED ME TO PULL OVER IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT WHERE I AM GOING. MAZDA NEEDS TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES AS THEY CAN POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO THOSE FOLLOWING THE NAVIGATION DIRECTIONS. AS ALWAYS DO NOT DEPEND SOLELY ON A NAVIGATION SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE ONE IN THE 2014 MAZDA3. IT WILL ENTER INTO A CYCLE OF CONTINUALLY SHUTTING DOWN AND REBOOTING WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST. I HAVE BROUGHT MY VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO UPDATE THE SOFTWARE TO THE LATEST VERSION A FEW MONTHS AGO, IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I WENT TO A DEALER FOR A RECENT OIL CHANGE I MENTIONED THE PROBLEM AND THEY DID NOT EVEN SEEM TO KNOW WHAT THE LATEST SOFTWARE VERSION WAS OR WHY I WOULD WANT IT UPDATED. I HOPE THAT MOST DEALERS WOULD UPDATE THE SOFTWARE FOR A CAR UNDER WARRANTY WHEN THEY COMPLETE AN OIL CHANGE, OR AT THE VERY LEAST KNOW AND MAKE THE CUSTOMER AWARE A NEWER VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE IS OUT SO AN UPDATE CAN BE SCHEDULED. I PLAN TO COMPLETE THIS UPDATE, BUT NO ONE AT THE MAZDA SERVICE CENTER I WENT TO WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT THE UPDATE CHANGED/FIXED. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE VEHICLE'S NAVIGATION AND HUD. CAVEAT EMPTOR WHEN BUYING A YEAR ONE MODEL. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Sep 5, 2014
STARTING ABOUT A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE NOTICED THAT THE INDICATOR LIGHT FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WOULD SOMETIMES LIGHT UP INDICATING THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WAS DEACTIVATED. WE STOP THE CAR AND EXITED THE VEHICLE AND REENTERED THE VEHICLE AND THE LIGHT STARTED TO WORK PROPERLY. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS WE NOTICED THAT THE ISSUE WAS HAPPENING MORE OFTEN. WE TOOK THE CAR TO BROWN'S MAZDA IN ALEXANDRIA. AFTER CHECKING THE CAR OUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 ABOUT 10 DAYS AFTER HAVING THE CAR SERVICED MY WIFE AND I WAS DRIVING ON A LEVEL CITY STREET AROUND 5:48 PM, AT THAT TIME THE INDICATOR LIGHT WAS OFF, WHICH WOULD INDICATE THAT THE AIRBAG AND ACTIVE RESTRAINTS ARE ON AND THAT THE CAR RECOGNIZES THAT THERE IS AN ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. A CAR PULLED OUT FROM A SIDE STREET IN TO TRAFFIC CAUSING US TO HARD BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT. MY WIFE THAT WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS THROWN FORWARD AS IF SHE DID NOT EVEN HAVE A SEAT BELT ON, THE ACTIVE SEAT RESTRAINT DID NOT TIGHTEN AT ALL. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT THAT WAS OFF WAS NOW ON INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG AND RESTRAINT SYSTEM WAS OFF. SHE WAS SHAKEN BUT THANKFULLY NOT HARMED. AGAIN WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAVE SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO FIX IT'S JUST PART OF THE DESIGN AND THAT PEOPLE MY WIFE SIZE SHOULD NOT USE THE CAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR, BECAUSE THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THE AIRBAG WILL DECIDE TO DEACTIVATE LEAVING THE PASSENGER AT RISK OF INJURY IF THERE WERE A CRASH OR ROLLOVER. *TR
Visibility/wiper, Aug 20, 2014
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SO LOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IT MAKES ANYTHING TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE CAR, VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. I RENTED THIS CAR. I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO POSITION THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS SUCH. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Electrical system, Aug 4, 2014
THERE IS A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE RECEPTION FOR THE RADIO. IT CONSTANTLY FADES IN AND OUT AND IS SO BAD THAT I CANNOT USE MY RADIO IN A LARGE METROPOLITAN AREA. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO RECREATE THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID THAT THEY COULDN'T HEAR IT. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jul 27, 2014
MY MOTHER WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE LONG ISLAND EXPRESSWAY WITH 2 PASSENGERS IN THE CAR. SHE WAS DRIVING AROUND 60 MPH WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BY ITSELF. IN A MATTER OF A FEW SECONDS THE CAR WENT FROM 60 MPH TO OVER 120 MPH. SHE TRIED PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS SHE COULD BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND. SHE HAD TO *JSDODGE ABOUT 7 CARS AS SHE TRIED TO GET THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN. SHE THEN PULLED THE EMERGENCY BREAK BUT THE CAR WAS MOVING SO FAST THAT IT BARELY SLOWED THE CAR DOWN. SHE GOT HER CAR TO THE SIDE (LAST LANE) OF THE HIGHWAY AND DECIDED TO PRESS THE PUSH TO START BUTTON AND THE CAR FINALLY CAME TO A HALT. THERE WAS NOT TOO MUCH TRAFFIC SO SHE WAS ABLE TO SURVIVE THE CARS SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITHOUT GETTING HURT OR DAMAGING THE CAR. A WITNESS ON THE HIGHWAY SAW MY MOTHERS CAR SPEEDING OUT OF CONTROL AND CALLED THE POLICE. THE POLICE CAME AND FILLED OUT A POLICE REPORT AND LEFT. WE GOT THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT THERE OVERNIGHT SO THEY COULD FIGURE OUT THE ISSUES AS THERE WAS CLEARLY A DEFECT WITH THE CAR. THEY CALLED US BACK SAYING THAT EVERYTHING WAS CHECKING OUT NORMAL ON THE CAR AND THEY DECIDED TO HAVE THE CAR TECHNICIAN DRIVE THE CAR HOME AND BACK TO WORK THE NEXT TIME IN AN ATTEMPT TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. THEY CALLED US THE NEXT DAY SAYING THEY DROVE THE CAR 58 MILES AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AND TOLD US THAT WE HAD TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THEY SAID THAT MY FAMILY FEELING SAFE IN THE MAZDA VEHICLE WAS THEIR PRIORITY BUT THAT WAS CLEARLY NOT THE CASE. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN AND WE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT AND ALSO REFUSED TO PROVIDE US WITH A LOANER CAR OR A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE OR PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN TRADING IN THE CAR FOR A NEW ONE. THEY SAID THEY HAD DONE ALL THEY COULD AND UNTIL THIS HAPPENED AGAIN THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST US. MY MOM COULD'VE DIED IN THAT CAR. *JS
Tires, Wheels, Jun 30, 2014, crash
WHILE EXITING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE, I HEARD A POP AND THE CAR SWERVED. I CORRECTED BUT WAS TOO LATE AS THE FRONT WHEEL HIT THE CURBING CAUSING THE ALUMINUM RIM TO CRACK ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. UPON INSPECTION I FOUND A LARGE RECTANGULAR PIECE OF THE TIRE SIDE WALL MISSING. THE SIDE WALL SEPARATION WAS THE TIRE ON THE PASSENGER REAR SIDE. THE RAPID DEFLATION CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE WHILE EXITING THE TURN. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED! *TR
Electrical system, Service brakes, Jun 12, 2014, crash
ON MAY 7, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 PM I PARKED IN A PARKING SPACE, ON A HILL, AT TOWSON WOODS APARTMENT COMPLEX. I TURNED THE CAR OFF WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED AT OVER 3/4 OF THE WAY UP. I WAS STANDING ABOUT 10 FEET OUTSIDE MY CAR, WHICH WAS OFF AND STATIONARY, TALKING TO A FRIEND FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS OF ITS OWN ACCORD. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH IT, WHICH FAILED, AND THEN I JUMPED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT AND TRIED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AS FAR AS IT COULD GO, WHICH DID NOT STOP THE CAR. IT THEN CRASHED INTO THE BUMPER OF ANOTHER CAR. BECAUSE THE WHEEL HAD BEEN TURNED TO THE LEFT WHEN I PARKED, THE CAR HAD ROLLED AT AN ANGLE SO THAT ONLY THE RIGHT SIDE BUMPER MADE CONTACT WITH THE OTHER CAR?S BIG ALUMINUM BUMPER THAT STICKS OUT. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR OUT FROM AGAINST THE BUMPER, I FOUND THERE TO BE COSMETIC DAMAGE THAT INCLUDED THE BUMPER STICKING OUT. (ESTIMATE $855) MAY 16, 2014 AT 9:00 AM. AFTER APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF I WAS TOLD THAT THE TECHNICIANS FOUND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE APPLIED WHEN THE HANDLE WAS APPLIED ALL THE WAY UP, WHICH THEY TERMED ?WITHIN NORMAL OPERATION." HOWEVER, FOR ?PEACE OF MIND,? THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY TIGHTENED THE BRAKE SO THAT NOW IT ONLY GOES UP 5 CLICKS. THE ACTUAL WORDING USED IS ?TECH MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENT SO EBRAKE DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY UP.? ON MAY 21, 2014, AT APPROXIMATELY 7:05 PM, I STARTED MY CAR AND A FLASHING LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD APPEARED. THIS IS THE ?BSM OFF? LIGHT, IN REGARDS TO THE BLIND SPOT MONITORING. I READ THE MANUAL AND IT SAID TO CLEAN THE AREA WHERE THE BSM SENSORS ARE, WHICH I DID. IT STILL WAS MALFUNCTIONING SO I DID THE NEXT STEP IN THE MANUAL, WHICH WAS TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER. ESTIMATE $250 ON JUNE 2 THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE PARKING BRAKE GOES ALL THE WAY UP. WE ARE TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
Electrical system, Equipment, May 27, 2014
HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE RADIO SYSTEM. MY RADIO FADES IN AND OUT CONTINUOUSLY. IT PLAYS FINE WHEN I USE THE CD PLAYER OR PLAY PANDORA BUT WHEN I PLAY THE RADIO IT IS HORRIBLE! *TR
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, May 22, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION, AIR PRESSURE, AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,500.
Electrical system, Engine, May 5, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,600 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,200. UPDATED 07/16/14 MA
Steering, Mar 24, 2014
BOUGHT NEW VEHICLE AT END OF JANUARY 2014 AND PROBLEMS ARISES FEBRUARY 2014. STEERING OF THE VEHICLE IS FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CANNOT EASILY MAINTAIN STABLE LINE. TO STAY STRAIGHT HAVING TO KEEP THE WHEEL ABOUT 5 DEGREES TURNED TO THE LEFT. WHILE MAKING SLIGHT RIGHT TURNS, VEHICLE WHEEL BECOMES UNSTABLE AND JERKS LEFT IF GOING ON BUMPS OR DIPS. VERY UNSAFE. DEALER ADMITS THE PROBLEMS BUT WILL NOT REPLACE PART BECAUSE MAZDA ENGINEER SAID ITS WITHIN SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR MAZDA. HOW IS A NEW VEHICLE OK TO DRIVE WHEN IT CAN'T DRIVE STRAIGHT AND TAKES EXTRA EFFORT AND HOLD THE WHEEL AWAY FROM THE NORM TO DRIVE? *TR