NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving and while starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster was inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument cluster screen was peeling, and critical information for the vehicle was not displayed. Additionally, the infotainment system became intermittently inoperable due to the failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concerns that the inoperable instrument cluster created a hazardous and unsafe condition due to the complete loss of instrument panel functionality. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my 2016 Mazda 3 manual transmission, which experienced a sudden and complete clutch failure at less 60,000 miles — without any warning lights or diagnostic alerts. I am deeply concerned that: •There was no dashboard warning, even as the clutch system failed •The gear indicator was inaccurate in prior days, which may have been an early sign of failure •There was no protection mechanism to prevent complete drivetrain failure during normal use.
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).
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.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side seat belt became inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt latch failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake became firm and failed to engage as needed, causing the rear passenger’s side brake pads to not respond as needed after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE). The contact stated that the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact checked the temperature of the brakes and noticed that the brakes were hotter than normal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the parking brake actuator was rusted on the inside. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 188,900.
When I checked for recall information 2 recalls were listed under my car's vin #: Recall #1: 3219D with Closed status. Recall #2: 6023G is listed as Active. But, when I tried to schedule a repair for the active recall, the manufacturing website ONLY listed the "closed" recall (3219D) was listed as available for repair, which is bizarre. Please see the attached screenshot of the website. Thanks.
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)
It’s been over a year since recall number 23v-487 was issued Need to get it taken care of
Fuel Tank has corrosion that allows vapors to enter the passenger compartment.
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
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.
I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL CONCERNING THE CAMERA IN MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023. IT WILL SOON BE SEPTEMBER 2024 AND I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.ORIGINAL RECALLNOTICE STATED THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. HOW CAN THIS BE CALLED AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL WHEN A YEAR HAS GONE BY MY CAMERA NOT ONLY FLICKERS, BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL! PLEASE ADVISE WHAT I SHOULD DO NEXT.
The “spidering” on the infotainment screen is spidering making it hard to see when in reverse.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display does not accept touch commands properly or will often operate by itself (ghost touch). When it does this, even though I will have navigation on, it will interrupt the service to jump screens, causing me to lose guidance and force me to pull-over to try to deal with the issue. I have had to swerve in my lane trying to correct the issue until I have the opportunity to pull-over, and it has been dangerous to me and the folks on the road with me when this happens.
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
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the digital display screen flickered before going black and failed to display a proper rearview image. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed that when the A/C was activated, the rearview image was flickering quickly. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The cup holder on the car seat is damaged, as it broke from the car seat at the time of the incident. The hook in which buckles the car seat to the car is stuck and no longer pulls out nor in, No longer able to tie the car seat into the car correctly. My child is put at risk due to the buckle not being able to tighten nor more. Yes the insurance first stated they would replace it.
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.
A distorted or flickering rearview camera image while reversing could affect driver judgment, increasing the risk of a crash
Car began to smoke. Roof caught fire at driver's visor while occupied with 2 people. Both able to exit safely. Neighbor put out with fire extinguisher. Inspected by insurance adjuster - total loss. Dealership notified. No warning lamps or messages.
UNKOWN
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The backup camera is flickering and with distorted image. I called customer service but didn't provide information or solution of how to solve the issue even though they were aware of it.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front driver's side door air bag and the front driver's seat air bag deployed. The contact sustained some busies due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and diagnostic testing. The dealer inspected the vehicle and determined the failure was the result of an accident. The contact stated that the vehicle was inspected by Progressive Insurance and noted the failure as a mechanical failure by the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not assist. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Recently noticed the odor of unburned gasoline, both inside and outside the vehicle. When driving, the ventilation system would flush this away in a few moments, but this phenomenon is new within the past few weeks. Our mechanic (not the dealer) traced the issue to the fuel tank, where the port for the fuel pump and sensors is located on top. This area is accessible by removing the rear seat cushion and a cover plate. He showed me how the fuel pump and sensor module has rusted to the thread of the port, preventing removal of the assembly, and that the port flange itself has rusted and has pin-holes, allowing vapor to escape. He was able to put slight positive air pressure to the tank as a test, and was able to cause liquid fuel to escape from the holes. The tank was about 3/4 full at the time. This seems like a serious safety issue. The port and matching threaded parts (fuel pump / sensor module) that inserts there should be corrosion-proof. I can provide a photo of the affected area if needed; I would get the image file from my mechanic.
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
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse, the digital display screen flickered before going black. The display screen failed to produce a proper image after powering on independently. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA Recall # 23V-487 Manufacturer Recall # 6023G issued July 14, 2023 After repeated phone calls to the Manufacturer and the Mazda Dealership, the recall has not been fixed. I have been told that the parts are not available. As of this date, 16 months after the recall, Mazda has not fixed the problem. I have been told by the Manufacturer and the Mazda Dealership, that parts are not available. The manufacturer told me that they have no date when parts will be available. I have asked to speak with a Manager at the Manufacturer and was told that there is no one else to talk to except Customer Service. I asked for a contact at the Corporate level that I could send an email to, and was told that there was no email address available. They have suggested that I get it fixed at my own cost and submit a claim that may or may not be reimbursed. I consider the distorted rear view camera picture to be a safety hazard when backing up. I believe that 16 months should be plenty of time to fix this problem and that Mazda just does not want to fix a manufacturing problem on a 8 year old car.
shock towers are disintegrating so the shocks would not be connected to anything.
When cleaning and adjusting the seat to move it to forward-facing, we discovered that two of the child harness straps (the crotch strap and one of the shoulder straps) had significant grooves cut into them, presumably by the plastic edges of the base. Given that this damage was not visible before moving the cover and adjusting the seat, and given that Graco advertises this seat as rear-facing from 4 to 50 pounds and forward-facing up to 65 pounds, a consumer wouldn't see or have any reason to expect this level of damage after about 3.5 years of use. I have to assume that this sort of severe wear compromises the strength of the straps and thus the safety of the seat if there were an accident (thank goodness we didn't have one). I have the seat still, and I contacted the manufacturer with pictures of the damage, and they did not seem to think it was out of the ordinary or alarming at all, just told me that they could send me a rebate for a discount on a new seat if I wanted since this one was out of warranty. I cannot believe that this is an acceptable and safe amount of normal wear. I can attest that we followed manufacturer instructions for care and install and did not use any cleaning products on the seat, submerge the seat, leave it outside, or do anything else that I can think of that would have constituted inappropriate care of the seat.
Nothing has happened yet but Ive done a bunch of research and a lot of the 3rd generation Mazda 3's all have the same airbag code 16 flashing on their dash and it's not on any recall list
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was distorted or failed to display an image while reversing. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
My 2016 Mazda 3 has had a faulty rearview camera, computerized controls, and monitor display screen for over 2 years now. I am not sure if there is a problem with the electrical system because I have lost the ability to turn on the navigation function, the stereo function, and to see the vehicle maintenance information with non-functioning electrical controls and display screen. Sometimes the monitor display would show a blank screen or a fuzzy screen which is a safety hazard especially when I'm driving my vehicle in reverse and could potentially cause an accident. There has been a recall on the rearview camera since July 2023. I have contacted the Mazda dealership multiple times, and they have repeatedly said that the rearview camera parts are still not available. This is unacceptable because it seriously compromises my safety and the safety of others if I cannot safely back up my vehicle when driving due to the faulty rearview camera, computerized controls and monitor display screen. There should also be a recall on the computerized controls and monitor display screen.
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while reversing, the back-over prevention camera, began to flicker, flashed, and became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
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
Apparently all of sudden the front occupants seat belt had lock and malfunctioning to the point you are unable to pull the belt strap to securely wrapped around the passenger, took it to have it evaluated at the request of the auto maker, supposedly this what I understood from two separate auto repair shops ( Mazda) dealership and a reliable auto repair (Apex) shop stating that a spring loaded system mechanism part was actually missing and that the standard mechanical labor (code) cost for the repair were not (unknown) listed while the other suggested the whole seat belt needed to be replaced I strongly feel this should be a safety related issue for both the driver and passenger seat belts should be recalled and carefully looked into for driver/passenger safety reasons.
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.
Parking brake does not fully disengage. This causes the rear brakes to wear prematurely and also has the potential to generate excessive heat.
Timing cover leak, all maintenance was completed before the service bulletin. This is a TSB but should be a recall for how common this issue is as they stated it could be caused from the assembly line during a pressurized test. “ This may be caused by oil escaping from a fine clearance created at the sealant applied to joint (A)between the cylinder block (B) and head (C) when the engine was pressurized during leak testing on the engine assembly line.” TSB Bulletin No.: 01-018/18. Timing cover issues are not something that should be happening under 100k miles.
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.
Front end passages side shaking with 60 mhg. And some time smelling gasoline when first started up my car.
In mid-2021, the Mazda Connect infotainment system suddenly stopped working. Upon starting the car, the software boots over and over again. The Bluetooth is inoperable; radio plays but I cannot change stations; steering wheel functionality of these features is absent; backup camera is intermittent and dimmer. The latter is a safety issue. The Mazda dealer diagnosed a malfunction of the connectivity master unit (CMU) and said they have had a rash of the same problem with 2016's recently.
The windshield wipers work but the washer does not squirt the windshield washing fluid out and it the reservoir is full of fluid but there are certain days in which I need that to work because my visibility is greatly reduced which has made the risk of accident that much greater. it says there is a recall pertaining to this problem and the fix was a relay However nothing comes up for my specific car when I enter the Vin but I would like this problem fixed and I’m not sure how to go about it
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
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.
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON 2-16-2021, ALL OF A SUDDEN WITH OUT WARNING, EVERY WARNING AND INFORMATION LIGHT LIGHT UP LIKE A XMAS TREE, THE POWER STEERING WENT AWAY MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE, THE ENGINE RAN IN LIMP MODE., I MANAGE TO GET IT PULLED OFF TO A SAFE SPOT , TURN OFF THE CAR, AND THEN TRY TO RESTART . NO GO , DEAD THE DASH LIGHTS LIGHT UP BUT THE STARTER WILL NOT ENGAGE . TOWED TO DEALER, 1ST THEY SAYS ITS THE ENGINE COMPUTER, THEN ITS THE , TRANSMISSION COMPUTER . BUT WHEN I GET THE BILL , I SEE IT IS THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY HTTPS://WWW.MAZDASWAG.COM/OEM-PARTS/MAZDA-AUTOMATIC-TRANSMISSION-VALVE-BODY-FZ2121100J . MY CAR HAS ONLY 39900 MI ON IT ,MAZDA REFUSES TO HONOR ITS 5YR 50000 MI POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN AFTER CALLING MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE
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
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the digital screen went blank and was repaired previously under an extended warranty. The contact then received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse, the digital screen displayed a distorted image. In addition, the failure was occasionally self-corrected after opening and closing the trunk of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026