2015 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 129 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 9th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 8 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 9 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
Fuel system, gasoline, storage, tank assemblyDo not drive until repairedOct 2, 2015
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured May 21, 2015, to August 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank with a shut-off valve that can allow fuel to enter into the fuel tank emissions systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. An engine that stalls increases the risk of a crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2015. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repairs have been completed. Mazda will provide rental cars until that time. Owners may contact the Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800- 222-5500, option #6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8615J.
Campaign 15V621000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
24 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Aug 29, 2025
The Infotainment System will randomly change radio stations while driving, or start scanning through the various system menus, and on at least in one case, started randomly making phone calls from a connected phone. This creates a major distraction while driving. This has been looked at by the dealership and would cost $1500 for the system repair. I understand that this is a known problem.
Electrical system, Dec 30, 2024
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display may not accept touch commands properly or may operate by itself (ghost touch). The ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film of the touch screen may be corroded due to moisture, which may adhere on the lens of the touch screen during the cleaning process at the plant. The corrosion may allow the electrostatic capacity to vary without any input, causing the malfunction of the touch screen.
Electrical system, Nov 2, 2024
Mazda call this “ghost touch” it happens when the screen starts to act up like crazy, jumping from different audio sources, Bluetooth lose connection, making unwanted phone calls. Almost like a ghost is touching the screen over and over again.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2024
This car's backup camera has been un-usable ~50% of the time, dating back to last year, due to the issue described in the recall. Westcott Mazda refused to inspect and certify the existence of the issue and simply said parts to fix it were unavailable. This recall was issued over 9 months ago.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Apr 1, 2024
Vehicle touch screen has aggressive and persistent “ghost touch” during vehicle operation (while in drive), which should not be possible while in drive at all. This causes any setting or feature accessible through the vehicle “infotainment” system to be activated at random leading to distracting, undesired operation. There is no setting within the “infotainment” system that allows you to disable the touch screen, leading to dangerously distracting situations. There is a voluntary extended warranty period provided by Mazda, but I was not notified required by law, nor was the warranty service offered to me when bringing my car to dealership(s) during the warranty period. Mazda is not willing to pay to fix the acknowledged safety defect.
Electrical system, Oct 27, 2023
The "infotainment" system, which includes media, navigation, hands-free calling, and the backup camera function, frequently malfunctions. The system will either freeze, or it will execute button presses on its own. The result is that it will change audio selection, make hands free calls via the connected phone, etc. on its own with no driver interaction, which is distracting while driving and could and has caused hazardous driving conditions. While I am listing the most recent occurrence in this form, this has been occurring on nearly every drive for the last 2 years. This typically happens in stop-and-go traffic. The vehicle has a manual transmission and the movement in the center console caused by shifting may be causing loose electrical connections to be disturbed and contribute to the behavior.
Electrical system, Aug 30, 2023
1. IT IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION 2. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM CUTS OFF AN ON AT WILL AND SWITCHES VIEWS WHEN USING THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM WHICH CAN CAUSE YOU TO BE DISTRACTED WHEN DRIVING,ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN AN UNKNOWN AREA. 3. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SEEN BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHICH REFUSES TO REPAIR EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AS WELL AS OTHER MODELS. 4. NO WARNINGS, JUST STARTED CHANGING SCREENS ALL THE SUDDEN. MAZDA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE DRIVING DANGERS THAT THIS POSES BUT YET REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. I DID DISCOVER THAT THEY DID ISSUE SOME TYPE OF NOTICE ON THIS BUT IT WAS NEVER A FORMAL WRITTEN RECALL . ONLY FIXED IF YOU TOOK IN AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM,MOST PEOPLE I WOULD THINK DID NOT DO THIS BECAUSE IT IS COST PROHIBITIVE,THAT SYSTEM COST ABOUT $1400.00 TO REPLACE. THATS NOT POCKET CHANGE FOR MOST PEOPLE.SO WITHOUT A FORMAL WRITTEN MAILED LETTER MOST PEOPLE JUST TRIED TO LIVE WITH IT .
Electrical system, Sep 10, 2022
Infotainment and phone connect system for hands free phone use is not operational. The computer for the system is in a continuous reboot loop. This puts safety or safety of others at risk as I cannot use hands free. Mazda corporate suggested that a software update of the Connectivity Master Unit (CMU) might solve the problem. I brought the car in to Smithhaven Mazda on 090722 for update. The repair technician could not update the computer software and advised customer that the possible CMU problem is cause of concern. I was then advised that resolution would be replacement of CMU at $700. Problem was first observed 082022.
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 22, 2022
In February, 2022, my 2015 Mazda 3 experienced a major failure, while I was driving on a local road, going 35 miles per hour. All of a sudden, the engine lost power, three warning lights came on, and the car was struggling to go 20 miles per hour. Being near a friend's house, I drove there. From there, her husband followed me home. The next day, my car was towed to the Mazda dealership. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as “found TBS NUMBER: 01-014/16 and inspected coils found they were bad according to lot numbers”. He replaced all four engine coils and all four spark plugs. The service manager told me that the parts were not under warranty. My research revealed that engine coils are supposed to last the lifetime of the car, which is 150,000 to 200,000 miles for a Mazda 3. My car only had 43,048 miles. The spark plugs should have lasted about five more years. I looked into the Bulletin issued by Mazda USA. Mazda USA was first aware of a problem January, 2016. On 17 March 2016, I bought the car. Mazda USA updated the Bulletin to include my car on 29 July 2016. The car was under full warranty at this time and could have been fixed, if I had been notified of the defects. The faulty coils can cause a catastrophic failure, resulting in serious accidents and injuries. My car was a “ticking bomb”, waiting to go off. I was on a local road, with light traffic, not a secondary road or highway, with heavy traffic. Rather than notify customers of the danger of the engine malfunctioning, Mazda USA chose to remain silent. The Bulletin directs that nothing be done until a customer complains. The customer does not know to complain until the car malfunctions! The customer must complain within the normal warranty period. Mazda is hoping that the bad coils fail after the warranty period.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 9, 2022
The multifunction / infotainment display in my Mazda went haywire last weekend--it loops through bootup sequence over and over but never loads. Backup camera still works, sort of, but the image jumps and it goes blank sometimes. I can't unplug the display or pull the fuse, or would lose backup camera altogether. So I have no Nav system, can't change radio station, etc.--and am stuck with the 7" screen flashing in my face as I drive. Local Mazda dealer advises that this is caused by cell phone transition to 5G. They took my contact info but did not offer any solution. There have been a couple of local news stories this week about other Mazda owners experiencing this issue. Interestingly, those all seem to report that owners' radios are stuck on a local NPR station. Mine is also stuck on one station, but not the NPR affiliate. https://www.geekwire.com/2022/youre-listening-to-kuow-like-it-or-not-mysterious-glitch-has-mazda-drivers-stuck-on-public-radio/
Electrical system, Visibility/wiper, May 11, 2021
MY CARS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM, WHICH INCLUDES THE REARVIEW CAMERA, STARTED MALFUNCTIONING IN EARLY 2019. THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN (FOR THE CLOCK, RADIO, GPS AND REARVIEW CAMERA) WAS IN A REBOOT LOOP (CONSTANTLY REBOOTING OVER AND OVER). WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN REVERSE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA WORKS SPORADICALLY, INCLUDING SHUTTING OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF REVERSING THE CAR. I TOOK THE CARE TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER AND (PER THE SERVICE INVOICE ATTACHED), THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "CMU FAILURE" WHICH WOULD COST ME $1000 (ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS) TO FIX. I REFUSED, AS I DID NOT THINK IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE CMU TO FAIL ROUGHLY FOUR (4) YEARS AFTER PURCHASE. I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND IT'S EVIDENT THAT MANY OTHER MAZDA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM.
Electrical system, Apr 29, 2021
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM KEEPS REBOOTING IN AN INFINITE LOOP. VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ISSUE STARTED. VEHICLE HAD BEEN OFF FOR ABOUT 3MINUTES PRIOR TO ISSUE. INFOTAINMENT WAS WORKING PRIOR TO BEING OFF FOR 3 MIN.
Electrical system, Feb 16, 2020
INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM RESTARTS 3 TO 5 TIMES, WHEN FIRST STARTING CAR, WHEN TEMPERATURES IN UNHEATED GARAGE ARE BELOW 50 DEGREES. I DRIVE FOUR TO EIGHT MILES, WITH HEATER ON, BEFORE IT STOPS RESTARTING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALER 3 TIMES, WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. ALL THEY DO IS REBOOT IT. NOW THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY AND I REFUSE TO TAKE IT BACK, AND BE CHANGED FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED THE FIRST TIME. THIS JUST MIGHT BE A DEAL BREAKER IN BUYING A MAZDA AS MY NEXT CAR. VERY ANNOYING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2019
TAKATA RECALL THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM IS GOING HAYWIRE, MAKING GHOSTS SELECTIONS SUCH AS CALLING PPL, SELF SELECTING SETTINGS AND ALL OTHER BUTTONS AT RANDOM TIMES DURING DRIVING WHICH HAS BECOME EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS APPARENTLY A KNOWN ISSUE TO MAZDA BUT THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT. ALL THEY WILL OFFER IS SWAPPING IT FOR ANOTHER INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM THAT WILL EVENTUALLY DO THE SAME THING AGAIN AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. THIS TAKES PLACE WHILE THE CAR IS TRAVELING AT 5MPH OR LESS SO IT MOST FREQUENTLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM SLOWING TO TAKE TURNS OR TRAVELING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHILE AT A STOP AT RANDOM TIMES. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE SYSTEM ONCE IT STARTS GLITCHING AND MAKING CALLS AND CHANGING SETTINGS OR DIALING NUMBERS, I CANT HANG UP IM FORCED TO DISCONNECT THE BLUETOOTH FROM THE PHONE BUT THAT ONLY PREVENTS IT FROM MAKING CALLS IT STILL CONTINUES TO GO TO THE SETTING AT PRESS RANDOM BUTTONS
Fuel system, Gasoline, Electrical system, Jun 12, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO GUNTHER MAZDA (1800 S STATE RD 7, FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33317, (954) 797-1600) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO LOU BACHRODT MAZDA COCONUT CREEK (5400 SR 7, COCONUT CREEK, FL 33073, (954) 247-5000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2018
CORROSION OF THE BATTERY TERMINAL AND BATTERY WIRING HARNESS PREVENTING CAR FROM STARTING.
Electrical system, Jan 19, 2018
ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE REMOTE COMMUNICATING WITH THE STARTER AND ALL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS ACTIVATED.
Electrical system, Nov 23, 2017
WHEN PUSHING START BUTTON ALL LIGHTS GO ON BUT CAR WON'T START. STATIONARY IN DRIVE WAY
Electrical system, Service brakes, Sep 29, 2017
2015 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO RECALLS BEING ISSUED FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/29/2017*JS
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Aug 21, 2017
HOT WEATHER ACCELERATION AND BLIND SPOT MONITORING SYSTEM (BSM) ISSUE: IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER BSM OFF LIGHT TURNS ON REPEATEDLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION OR STARTING FROM COMPLETE STOP. AT THE SAME TIME THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DISPLAY FLICKERS IN SYNC WITH THE BSM OFF LIGHT APPEARANCE. WHEN THIS OCCURS THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR/WHERE THE ENGINE IS LOCATED. THE SOUND IS ACCOMPANIED BY TEMPORARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION WHEN IN MOTION OR STARTING TO MOVE FROM A COMPLETE STOP. WHEN THIS OCCURS WHILE STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE REVOLUTIONS (REV) DROPS BELOW 1K RPM DESPITE GAS PEDAL INPUT THUS THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE/ACCELERATE FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS. WHEN IT OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION SUCH AS ON THE HIGHWAY OR MERGING ONRAMP INTO THE HIGHWAY THE CAR UNSAFELY SLOWS DOWN DESPITE GAS PEDAL INPUT. AGAIN THIS ISSUE IS OBSERVED DURING UNUSUALLY HOT DAYS EG. JULY 22, 2017 IN ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Structure, Jan 11, 2016, crash
TURNING TO PARK HER VEHICLE, IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS IN FRONT.
Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Aug 11, 2015
THE DAY WAS HOT AND I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH THE AC SET TO 72 DEGREES IN MY 2015 MAZDA 3 WITH JUST 21K MILES ON IT. MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHARGING SYSTEM/BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY IN THE DASH. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. THE CAR'S ECU/PCM DID NOT SET ANY CODES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THAT HOT DAY. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION LUCKILY I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. DEALER AND MAZDA HAVE BEEN SLOW TO INVESTIGATE THIS THOROUGHLY. FEELS LIKE THEY JUST WANT TO SEND ME ON MY WAY WITHOUT DOING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE.
Electrical system, May 25, 2015
VEHICLE NAVIGATION DISPLAY HAS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING, UNEXPECTEDLY RESTARTED. ONCE WAS LISTENING TO RADIO, RADIO DID NOT STOP BUT SYSTEM RESTARTED. OTHER TIME, WAS ON CALL, AND SYSTEM RESTARTED BUT CALL DID NOT DISCONNECT, USER ON OTHER END COULD NOT HEAR ME AND I COULD NOT HEAR THEM. WHEN SYSTEM RESTARTED, CALL CONTINUED. CALLED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM FIRMWARE UPDATE NEEDED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN, WAS TOLD THAT NO FIRMWARE UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE ISSUE.
Electrical system, Equipment, Mar 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM, THE BLUETOOTH FUNCTION, AND THE USB SYSTEM REBOOTED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN