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.
Of the 2019 reports, 3 involved a crash. 1 person was injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
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
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
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
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
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
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: forward collision avoidance
9 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Aug 6, 2025
To whom it may concern, I was on a back road late in the evening not far from home [XXX] and a small deer ran into the road. I needed to brake to avoid hitting the deer. After breaking, a Brake System Malfunction warning message and i-ACTIVESENSE System Malfunction warning illuminated on my dashboard. I brought the car to a Mazda dealership the next morning. The technician determined that the brake fluid level sensor became stuck, requiring replacement of the brake fluid reservoir and the brake fluid level sensor. What failed: The repairs include replacement of the Brake Fluid Reservoir and the Brake Fluid Level Sensor. This is the link to the dealer report [XXX] . No one other than the dealer has inspected these parts to my knowledge. There was no accident of any kind. I personally felt unsafe after these parts failing and reached out to Mazda Customer Care to request investigation of the issue. The case manager just called me back today to say they could not help me. Mazda has denied warranty coverage, claiming the parts are not covered. However, I really do feel this is a critical safety system component that failed after normal emergency use with no collision or impact. Why I feel this is a safety concern: - The brake warning system became unreliable after a single emergency stop. - My car only has 42k miles and is in excellent condition and is fully dealer serviced. - A driver could lose the ability to receive proper brake system warnings if this failure occurs again. - A critical brake sensor should not fail under normal driving conditions, and its failure could lead to delayed driver response in an actual brake fluid loss scenario. It makes me worry for the future. For your consideration: I believe this represents a safety-related defect that should be investigated, as it affects the reliability of the brake system warning indicators in the 2019 Mazda 3. I appreciate your time and consideration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Forward collision avoidance, Aug 18, 2022
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the brake warning light illuminated and the vehicle would brake suddenly without the driver depressing the brake pedal. The failure had become recurring. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V907000 (Forward Collision Avoidance). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
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
Forward collision avoidance, Jun 22, 2021
was driving in a car park and it randomly braked thinking someone was infront of me but there was nothing and the car behind me almost rear ended. Already fixed the recall last year according to Mazda. This is extremely scary and not sure what would have happened if this was on a highway
Forward collision avoidance, Apr 28, 2021
MAZDA DEALER IS REFUSING TO UPDATE SOFTWARE PER SSPC5 TO CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE RELATING TO THE MRCC (MAZDA RADAR CRUISE CONTROL) UNLESS I FIRST AGREE TO HAVING MAZDA CONNECTED SERVICES INSTALLED ON MY 2019 MAZDA 3 SEDAN (CSP06). WHEN I PURCHASED MY NEW CAR MAZDA CONNECTED SERVICES WAS NOT INCLUDED IN MY CAR. I AM NOW BEING COERCED INTO HAVING MAZDA CONNECTED SERVICES INSTALLED INTO MY VEHICLE BEFORE THEY WILL CORRECT A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. MY VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT UNLESS I AGREE TO HAVING THEIR TELEMETRICS CONTROL UNIT (TCU) INSTALLED, THEY REFUSE TO INSTALL THE SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE DANGEROUS ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONCERN PER SSPC5.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 21, 2020
I WAS ACCELERATING AFTER A TRAFFIC LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE CAR STARTED BRAKING AUTOMATICALLY AND CAME TO A FULL STOP. LUCKILY THE CAR BEHIND ME WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME BUT THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO REASON. I COULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE TWO SENSORS AND NEITHER ONE WAS BLOCKED (IT HAD SNOWED HERE RECENTLY). I'M HONESTLY SCARED THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND MAZDA IS SAYING THERE ARE NO OPEN RECALLS ABOUT THIS FOR MY CAR AND THAT THE CAR IS FINE.
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance, Dec 11, 2020
WITHOUT CAUSE: THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DETECT THE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND/OR SENSE AN IMMINENT COLLISION AND SUBSEQUENTLY APPLIES THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM, CAUSING THE VEHICLE SPEED TO SUDDENLY DECREASE. THIS HAS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY OVER THE COURSE OF DRIVING THE CAR AND RESULTED IN BEING ALMOST REAR ENDED NUMEROUS TIMES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SCENARIO AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A SEVERE ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY ON THE FREEWAY WHEN EVERYONE AROUND IS GOING REALLY FAST AND NEEDS MORE TIME TO REACT TO THE SUDDEN AND SHARP SLOWING DOWN OF MY VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENS IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS, FREEWAY, HIGHWAY, OR IN THE CITY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES TO HAVE THIS FIXED, BUT GET A DIFFERENT ANSWER EVERY TIME I TAKE IT IN. BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED AND CONTINUES TO PLACE ME, MY PASSENGERS, OTHER DRIVERS, AND EVEN PEDESTRIANS IN HARMS WAY.
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.
Forward collision avoidance, Nov 1, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO IMMEDIATELY ACCELERATE AFTER THE BRAKE ASSIST WAS ENGAGED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.