2011 Mazda MAZDA3

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 has 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (16% of all complaints), specifically: approximately 60 mph the air bag light illuminated on the dash board. there was a passenger seated in the front passenger seat. the vehicle was taken to the dealer. the technicians inspected the vehicle and could not diagnose a failure. the technicians stated the air bag light illuminated because t. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 13 crash reports 14 injuries

179

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

29 complaints

16%

• APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THERE WAS A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE T
• WHEN A PASSENGER WHO IS 5'2" AND WEIGHS 95 POUNDS SITS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF MY 2011 MAZDA 3, THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES THAT THE PASSENGER-SIDE AIRBAG IS NOT ON. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. ON MY OTHER CAR (A HONDA) AND ON ALL PREVIOUS
• THE MAZDA 3 HIT A LARGE TRUCK BROADSIDE, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR. THE MAZDA IS LIKELY TOTALED. THOUGH THE MAZDA 3 IS EQUIPPED WITH FRONT, SIDE AND OVERHEAD AIRBAGS, NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE ACCIDENT, NOT EVEN THE DRIVER'S-SIDE FRONT AIRBAG. AMAZINGLY, NO ON

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THERE WAS A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE T”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

24 complaints

13%

• 2011 MAZDA3 I TOURING 5 SPEEDS 4 DOORS. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS
• DRIVER SEAT GETS REALLY HOT AND BURNS YOUR BACK. HAVE TO TURN OFF AFTER 10 MINS. EVEN ON LOWEST SETTING. KEEPS GETTING TOO HOT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“2011 MAZDA3 I TOURING 5 SPEEDS 4 DOORS. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

18 complaints

10%

• I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME BUT I WAS BEING PULLED SLOWLY FORWARD ON TO A BUSY ROADWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE SHOUL
• I LEFT THE LIGHTS ON AND THIS DRAINED THE BATTERY. I HAD MY JUMPER CABLES IN THE SPARE-WHEEL COMPARTMENT. THERE WAS NO WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH (FIFTY DOOR) FROM THE INSIDE, OR ANY OTHER WAY. SEEMS LIKE THE ONLY WAY THAT THE BACK DOOR OPENS IS ELECTRONICALLY. THIS IS A FLAW IN TESTING AND DESIGN, THIS
• DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING ABOVE RADIO/INFO SCREEN.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME BUT I WAS BEING PULLED SLOWLY FORWARD ON TO A BUSY ROADWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE SHOUL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

• THE BATTERY APPEARS TO BE DEAD. AFTER JUMP START, THE CAR WORKS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IF LEFT TO SIT OVER NIGHT WITHOUT DRIVING. THE BATTERY WILL NOT POWER THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT ALLOW FUEL TO EXCHANGE FOR A PUSH START (MANUAL 5 SPEED). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BEAVERTON MAZDA D
• MY MAZDA3 HAS, AND HAS ALWAYS HAD, TONS OF SPIDERS BUILDING NESTS AND WEBS. THIS OCCURS ACROSS MY MIRRORS(INSIDE AND OUTSIDE), SEATS, SEATBELTS, FRONT SPEED AND RPM GAUGES, WINDOWS, AND UNDER THE HOOD. USUALLY OCCURS AT NIGHT AND I FIND THEM IN THE MORNING. NEVER OF THE SAME SIZE OR TYPE, BUT IT IS
• EVIDENCE OF FIRE DAMAGE AROUND THE FIVE SPEED GEAR SHIFTING MECHANISM ONLY WITH RADIATED HEAT MELTING THE ADJOINING DRIVERS SEAT. NO OTHER INDICATIONS OF FIRE ANYWHERE ELSE AND THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF DUE TO THE VEHICLES WINDOWS BEING ROLLED-UP WHICH CAUSED THE FIRE TO LACK OXYGEN WHICH IN TUR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“THE BATTERY APPEARS TO BE DEAD. AFTER JUMP START, THE CAR WORKS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IF LEFT TO SIT OVER NIGHT WITHOUT DRIVING. THE BATTERY WILL NOT POWER THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT ALLOW FUEL TO EXCHANGE FOR A PUSH START (MANUAL 5 SPEED). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BEAVERTON MAZDA D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

13 complaints

• ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 MAZDA 3 FROM MAZDA OF ESCONDIDO. ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE I NOTICE
• DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN TO CHICAGO ILLINOIS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WHEN I STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH AND STARTED ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS OK AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY DRIVING ON SOUTH ON HWY I55 ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME. WHEN I
• ON OR ABOUT APRIL 15TH , DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND ALL FLUID INSPECTION BY EWING ,PLANO ,TX, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK. AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD BRING THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP ASAP AFTER I CALLED MAZDA USA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THAT LASTED A WEEK, TO GET MAZDA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 MAZDA 3 FROM MAZDA OF ESCONDIDO. ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE I NOTICE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 179 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THERE WAS A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE T
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: 2011 MAZDA3 I TOURING 5 SPEEDS 4 DOORS. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME BUT I WAS BEING PULLED SLOWLY FORWARD ON TO A BUSY ROADWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE SHOUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE BATTERY APPEARS TO BE DEAD. AFTER JUMP START, THE CAR WORKS FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START IF LEFT TO SIT OVER NIGHT WITHOUT DRIVING. THE BATTERY WILL NOT POWER THE VEHICLE AND WILL NOT ALLOW FUEL TO EXCHANGE FOR A PUSH START (MANUAL 5 SPEED). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO BEAVERTON MAZDA D
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)