2019 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Service brakes is the leading concern among 74 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 16th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 74

Of the 2019 reports, 3 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.

Primary concernService brakes15 reports · 20% of complaints
Owner complaints74Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship6 safety recallsNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Service brakes15
  2. Other or unspecified15
  3. Electrical system11
  4. Engine11
  5. Power train11
  6. Forward collision avoidance9
  7. Fuel/propulsion system8
  8. Visibility/wiper8

Recalls and investigations

  1. Forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency brakingDec 19, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System (SBS) can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and suddenly stopping the vehicle.

    Stopping the vehicle unexpectedly increases the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the SBS software. In addition, vehicles with certain production dates will receive an instrument cluster software update or replacement and a replacement owner's manual. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4219L.

    Campaign 19V907000 on NHTSA.gov

  2. Visibility, glass, side/rearJul 29, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with manual dimming mirrors. The adhesive between the interior rearview mirror and the housing may not be properly bonded, allowing the mirror to detach from the housing. Note: Vehicles equipped with auto dimming mirrors are not affected by this recall.

    Rearward visibility will be reduced without the rearview mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the interior rearview mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3919G.

    Campaign 19V558000 on NHTSA.gov

  3. Seats, front assembly, head restraintJul 5, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The seat cover material on both front seats may interfere with the head restraint lock release button, causing it to stick in the release position and not allow the head restraint to lock into place.

    Loose head restraints may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the lock release buttons on both front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3819F.

    Campaign 19V514000 on NHTSA.gov

  4. EngineJun 27, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

    An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

    Campaign 19V497000 on NHTSA.gov

  5. Wheels, lugs/nuts/bolts/studsJun 7, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The lug nuts on all four wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a wheel detaching from the vehicle.

    A wheel separating from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the front and rear wheel lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3519F.

    Campaign 19V425000 on NHTSA.gov

  6. Electrical system, instrument cluster/panelMay 14, 2019

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. Due to incorrect programing, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may erroneously turn off although the passenger air bag is deactivated. In addition, the seat belt status indicators for both the front passenger seat and/or rear seats may erroneously turn off although the front passenger and/or rear seat belts are unfastened.

    Incorrect indicator warning lights may lead the driver and/or passengers to be unaware of deactivated air bags or unfastened seat belts, increasing the risk of injury.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag/seat belt status indicator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3319E.

    Campaign 19V363000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: electrical system

11 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Electrical system, Sep 18, 2023

    The vehicle's battery has gone dead on several occasions since replacing the OEM battery. The OEM battery which was approximately 3 years old, also had gone dead, prompting its replacement. The battery has gone dead within 1-2 days of not using the car. Charging the battery by running it is only a temporary fix as the car needs to be constantly driven in order to charge the battery, which is not usual and customary for the maintenance of a vehicle. This cannot be functioning to manufacturer's specifications, as I find it extremely difficult to believe that manufacturer's specifications stipulate to drive the car with more frequency. This is a safety issue. Should this happen during the winter months, an individual may be left stranded. The NHTSA must demand Mazda to issue a safety recall to fix this safety issue.

  2. Exterior lighting, Electrical system, Engine, Jan 9, 2023

    The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that after pulling over to the shoulder the vehicle would not immediately restart. The contact stated that approximately five minutes later, the vehicle restarted without pressing the start button. The contact stated that the message "Network Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that several electrical malfunctions had previously occurred with the vehicle including the front windshield wipers independently activating, with the headlights and instrument cluster lights flickering. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.

  3. Power train, Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Apr 20, 2022

    the vehicle started surging at low soeeds and accelarating and control module issues for the transmission

  4. Electrical system, Engine, Jan 7, 2022

    Car will not start, instrument panel flashes on and off. I’ve had to jump the car to start it and then the check engine light and engine malfunction warning messages appear on the panel. I’ve had the battery tested and told it wasn’t the battery.

  5. Electrical system, Sep 1, 2021

    When trying to start the vehicle it is unable to start and the car chimes while the complete instrument cluster flashes off and on. The car will not start and the entire instrument panel blinks/flashes displaying all warning lights. I hear whirring and clicking noises. Just prior to it not starting I may experience the driver side vents pushing out hot air while the passenger side is pushing out cool air. I have the AC set to cool at 60 degrees both sides. I have 16k miles currently and the non start flashing instrument panel all started after Mazda did a recall and flashed the cars computer. The first problem was in April of 2020. The cars computer has been flashed more than 2 times. I have to jumpstart the car in order to start. Mazda has not found the problem and cannot recreate. The problem usually happens after the car is parked and in the sun.

  6. Electrical system, Service brakes, Oct 15, 2020

    THE SMART BRAKE SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING. THE CAR SLAMS ON ITS BRAKES FOR NO REASON. NO VEHICLE IS AHEAD OF ME. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THIS OCCURS AND I HAVEN'T BEEN REAR ENDED YET. IT'S HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER I COMPLETED THE RECALL. THE CONDITION IS WORSE WHEN IT'S RAINING. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR OVER 30 DAYS UNABLE TO REPAIR.

  7. Electrical system, Engine, Aug 15, 2020

    VEHICLE SLOWED TO 20MPH AND A WARNING MESSAGE 'ENGINE MALFUNCTION, TOKE TO DEALER''. PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY FOR A FEW MINUTES, RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND THE MESSAGE NO LONGER APPEARED. ( THE NEAREST DEALER IS 75 MILES AWAY) I AM IN FLAGSTAFF AT THIS TIME.

  8. Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 4, 2020

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AUTO ALARM ACTIVATED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO ENGAGE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN 19V907000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE) FOR WHICH THE REMEDY WAS COMPLETED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NETWORK MALFUNCTION WARNING LIGHT, VEHICLE INSPECTION NEEDED, SAFETY AND DRIVER SUPPORT SYSTEM DISABLED AND FRONT RADAR OBSCURED WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE LANE DEPARTURE ALARM ACTIVATED, AND THE AUTO CORRECT ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL BOTH TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER (RUSS DARROW METRO MAZDA - ADDRESS: 11330 W METRO AUTO MALL DRIVE, MILWAUKEE, WI 53224 PHONE: (414) 409-9201) WHO PERFORMED THE RECALL REMEDY ALONG WITH 8 OTHER UNSPECIFIED RECALL REPAIRS HOWEVER, THE FAILURES PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,491.

  9. Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, May 27, 2020

    RADAR CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTION AND SAFETY SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION FREQUENTLY. SAFETY SYSTEMS COMPLETELY DISABLE WITHOUT WARNING PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING. RADAR CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK RANDOMLY. MAZDA DEALERSHIP CAN'T REPLICATE THE ISSUE. OTHER 2019 MAZDA 3 OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT ISSUE AND NO RECALL OR FIX HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR

  10. Steering, Power train, Electrical system, Aug 6, 2019

    MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A BIG CLUNK NOISE AND I WAS WARNED OF A POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION. I HAVE ALSO BEEN WARNED MULTIPLE TIMES THAT DUE TO A MALFUNCTION THE 'SAFETY SYSTEMS HAVE BEEN DISABLED', ANOTHER ISSUE IN HAVING IS A HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTION OCCURS THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER GETS VERY DARK AND I AM UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST I AM GOING. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THE BRIGHTNESS UP TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER AGAIN UNTIL THE ERROR CODE GOES AWAY. MAZDA TOLD ME I MUST LEAVE MY WINDOWS DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS IN A HOT CLIMATE TO PREVENT IT FROM OVERHEATING WHILE NOT IN USE...I LIVE IN OHIO SO THE WEATHER IS NOT EXTREMELY HARSH. I'VE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FIXED ANY OF THE ISSUES. I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATE AND WAS TOLD 'WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO DO ABOUT IT' I WAS TOLD MY ISSUES HAD NO REMEDY. THE CORPORATE CALL CENTER WOULD NOT PUT ME THROUGH TO ANYONE ELSE FOR FURTHER HELP. I FEEL UNSAFE IN MY VEHICLE AND IT'S NOT EVEN OVER 8500 MILES YET.

  11. Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jul 2, 2019

    THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SAFETY SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING, MOST RECENTLY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATES STATING "SAFETY AND DRIVER SUPPORT SYSTEMS PARTIALLY DISABLED, DRIVE SAFELY". I LOSE BLIND SPOT MONITORING, LANE KEEP ASSISTANCE, RADAR, AND CITY BRAKE SUPPORT, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS.