2021 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues

Engine is the leading concern among 52 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 17th highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.

Complaints by model year
  1. 52

Of the 2021 reports, 2 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 1 person was injured.

Primary concernEngine19 reports · 37% of complaints
Owner complaints52Filed with NHTSA
Recall relationship1 safety recallNHTSA campaign records

What owners report most often

  1. Engine19
  2. Forward collision avoidance7
  3. Other or unspecified7
  4. Electrical system6
  5. Service brakes5
  6. Air bags4
  7. Power train4
  8. Lane departure3

Recalls and investigations

  1. Tires, valveFeb 22, 2021

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve.

    A sudden air leak from the tire air valve may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four tire air valves with new parts, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4721B.

    Campaign 21V101000 on NHTSA.gov

Representative owner complaints: air bags

4 reports, newest first. Show all

  1. Air bags, Sep 4, 2022

    Air bag malfunction light comes on a and goes off multiple times while driving

  2. Air bags, Jun 11, 2022, crash

    The vehicle was badly rear ended and the airbags didn't deploy. The dashboard indicated an "airbag malfunction" after the collision happened. The failure of the airbags put myself and my passengers at serious risk; if we weren't wearing our seatbelts, which we were, we would have been gravely injured. The vehicle is less than a year old and still under warranty.

  3. Air bags, Apr 8, 2022

    My car started to show a warning on the dashboard that the airbag system is malfunctioning. The alarm would come on for a few seconds, then turn off, then repeat like that multiple times every drive. At the time it started, my car had less than 500 miles on it, and it continued after that until I got it fixed. I took it to the Mazda dealership where I bought it, and they said it was a short circuit to the driver's side airbags. They told me that could have caused the airbags to deploy prematurely or not at all in an accident. I am also a part of a Mazda 3 community and am active on the forums, and in the last month I have seen at least 30-40 other 2021 Mazda 3 owners also report the same exact error code, with the same short circuit issue being cited as the problem by the dealership. Parts are on backorder for weeks for most of these owners, and some of them were told by the dealership to keep their car while they waited for the part, whereas my own dealership told me it was unsafe to drive the car and to have it towed to the dealership instead.

  4. Air bags, Dec 18, 2021

    Instrument panel display shows a warrning message: Air Bag System Malfunction. Have the Vehicle inspected.