2016 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 103 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 7 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
Visibility, windshield wiper/washerApr 4, 2019
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility.
Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.
Campaign 19V272000 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, storageSep 23, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from the recirculation pipe welded connection.
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 recirculation pipe 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 0216I.
Campaign 16V685000 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: other or unspecified
20 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Aug 15, 2025
The “spidering” on the infotainment screen is spidering making it hard to see when in reverse.
Other or unspecified, Jul 28, 2025
The "Infotainment System" is activating itself and cycling through various options when I slow down or stop. It calls random numbers and changes settings on the system. It is distracting and dangerous. This is a known "ghost touch" problem for this model of vehicle, but the Mazda dealer I contacted in Knoxville, TN said it would cost nearly $300 to repair the problem (by replacing the entire system).
Other or unspecified, Jun 18, 2025
Mazda supposedly repaired/replaced the backup camera issue under the recall. However, within one day it was doing the same thing again...the screen dims or flickers off when backing up the car. I told Mazda about that and they said I need a new screen, which would not be covered under the recall. This is a safety hazard that they should be required to address.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2025
The 2014 Mazda3 I own has a known "Mazda Connect Touch Screen Concern" in August 2019 in which the Mazda Connect touch screen does not accept touch commands in part of the screen. I called Mazda and they said there are not any recalls for this but they did acknowledge this was an issue.
Other or unspecified, Dec 4, 2024
I am now experiencing the problems outlined in [XXX] approximately 18 months after the extended warranty period has ended for me. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2024
Rear view camera intermittently cuts out. Recall was issued 07/14/23 yet there is no fix yet??? Mazda Recall #: 6023G NHTSA Recall #: 23V-487
Other or unspecified, Aug 2, 2024
The recall related to the rear backup camera has not been addressed and it is more than a year later. I just got off the phone with a Mazda representative and they still do not have a solution nor know when one might be available. I would like to sell my car but with a defective backup camera and view screen, I will have trouble doing so and/or won't get as much for the vehicle as I should. I have a 5 year old and I don't feel safe driving this vehicle, as the rearview camera turns off suddenly at times when I am reversing the vehicle. I would like to submit a compliant for negligence on Mazda's part and urge you to do something to make them fix this defect. Thanks.
Other or unspecified, Apr 15, 2024
Reverse camera stops working at random for several hours at a time. Mazda has issued a recall for this issue but has yet to offer repair
Other or unspecified, Aug 11, 2023
ac/heat knob will not go into max air due to a cable slipping off the mechanism behind the dash when it does this the heat will not work and it is hard to defrost your windows if they get fogged up while driving making it difficult to see
Other or unspecified, Sep 13, 2022
The rear backup camera on my vehicle goes on and off or dims considerably when I back up, not allowing me to see cars and people potentially behind me. This is associated, I believe, with an issue with the screen and infotainment system of the car, which I had checked out on 9/24/21 at a Mazda dealership. The screen goes on and off constantly, not allowing me to use the radio, bluetooth, etc. They said it is a chip issue that they have seen in many other Mazda 3's from 2016. Not being able to listen to the radio is one thing, but having the backup camera not work or work improperly is a safety issue.
Other or unspecified, Jan 16, 2022
There is a main board failure that controls the information screen and back up camera The part number is TC3M-66-9C0B . The screen will keep rebooting not allowing the back up camera to work. According to Mazda dealer personal Mazda will not cover this. This is know to be a regular problem with many of these cars
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 24, 2021
I have had to replace the battery on this vehicle three times in the last year. I have taken it to Mazda who replaces the battery. No excessive electrical power is being used with in the car. The car is driven regularly as well.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Sep 8, 2021
The infotainment system fails to work - it is where I can access information re: maintenance schedule, or any info that is associated with a lit engine light. In addition the charging system for my mobile phone has ceased working. This includes both the usb ports and the lighter port which can be adapted with a charger that works in that receptable. These are all safety issues as far as I am concerned. Not having information related to the vehicle engine light is a big issue, but so is the fact that I can't charge my phone on long distance drives. If I needed assistance, I would be unable to contact anyone without a working cell phone. Because the display also controls the ability to pair a phone with blue tooth, there is concern for other drivers of the Mazda 3 (mine is a 2016) will be using the phone regardless of the bluetooth malfunction. I have seen a safety recall on other Mazda's with relation to the infotainment screen, but I do not see one here. I wonder why? To repair this crucial component would cost many hundreds of dollars -- something I am not in a position to do. Mazda claims this infotainment center is not under warranty, but with so much important information and safety features embedded into it, I think it should be corrected by recall. Thank you for investigating this issue. Regina
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 23, 2021
The Mazda Connect infotainment system will begin to press random buttons and continue to perform its own actions, at one point resulting in it dimming my screen so low I could not see my backup camera screen, which is a huge safety hazard.
Other or unspecified, Jan 26, 2021
I DROVE MY CAR TO THE STORE THIS MORNING LISTENING PANDORA (BLUETOOTH) AND ON MY WAY BACK HOME THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER JUST STARTED TO REBOOT CONTINUOUSLY AFTER I FOUND OUT RESETTING IT COULD HELP I DID THE BACK+NAV+MUTE BUT IT DIDN'T WORK I WENT TO THE MAZDA FORUM AND FOUND OUT THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH MANY MAZDA FANS I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT REPLACEMENT OF THE CMU IS VERY EXPENSIVE SINCE THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH SO MANY MAZDA FANS WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM? MY BACKUP CAMERA WORKS AND ONE RADIO STATION THERE IS NO GPS AND BLUETOOTH JUST CONTINUES TO REBOOT EVEN WHILE DRIVING
Other or unspecified, Engine, Oct 19, 2020
RATTLING/FLUTTERING NOISE EVERYTIME I INITIALLY TURN THE CAR ON WITH AC. WHENEVER THE A/C WAS IS ON AND I STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR. NOW, IT DOES IT EVERYTIME I PUSH ON THE ACCELERATOR WITHOUT THE A/C BEING ON.
Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2020
THE INFOTAMINMENT SYSTEM COMPUTER IS ON CONSTANT REBOOT LOOP,MAKING IT ALONG WITH ALL ITS FEATURES UNUSABLE. THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE THE BACKUP CAMERA BLACKS OUT AND ALSO THE HANDS FREE DRIVING IS UNABLE TO BE USED. THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING FINE IN THE MORNING AND WHEN I WENT TO DRIVE HOME IT CRASHED AFTER STARTING THE CAR. MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THE PART.
Other or unspecified, Feb 16, 2020
SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED OUTWARD WITHOUT ANY CAUSE OR WARNING. THE SUNROOF WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AND THERE WERE NO CRACKS, NO BREAKS, NO LEAKS, NO WEAKNESSES IDENTIFIED. WHEN IT SHATTERED, I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 25 AT APPROXIMATELY 78 MPH. TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED.
Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2019
TEMPERATURE CONTROL STOPS WORKING. THE KNOB FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL WILL NOT MOVE, THE TEMP CONTROL LINK UNDER DASH DISCONNECTS. WINDSHIELD BECOMES FOGGED AND CANNOT SEE OUT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN CAR IS BOTH MOVING AND STATIONARY. VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH WHEN TRAVELLING ON FREEWAYS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 16, 2019
A SENSOR (YELLOW/ORANGE COLOR) APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD INTERMITTENTLY. THE SETTINGS IN THE CAR SAY "BATTERY MGT. SYSTEM MALFUNCTION". AT THE TIMES WHEN THIS ERROR IS NOT ON THE DASHBOARD, THERE IS NO MESSAGE THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG. MY CAR ONLY HAS 23K MILES. THE DEALER WILL NOT DO A SENSOR CHECK BECAUSE IT IS JUST OVER 3 YEARS OLD.