There are 5 owner-reported visibility & wipers complaints for the 2014 Mazda Mazda3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Blend door actuator linkage will not allow for heat to be turned on, will blow cool/cold air, have had it looked at and the gear teeth will not stay in line with on another to be able to turn when the knob inside the car is turned. I was told that this may be a recall but do not see anything listed, but that it is a known problem for this model of mazda 3 and ford expiditions
Recall for backup camera has not yet been remedied since September, 2023 issuance. Backup camera still flickers.
MALFUNCTION LEVER WIPER-COMB SWITCH.
ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 18TH, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW-DOWN TRAFFIC PASSING THE SCENE OF A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 101 IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA AT 35-40 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOONROOF GLASS EXPLODED. (IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME.) THERE WAS NO LOUD NOISE PRECEDING THE EVENT, AND NO SIGN OF ANY FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKING THE CAR, NOR AMONG THE DEBRIS. A WEEK LATER, I HAD THE GLASS REPLACED AT PUTNAM MAZDA IN BURLINGAME, CA. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET (US$790.61). BUT IN TALKING TO THE SERVICE REP, HE CONFIRMED THAT NO OUTWARD CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS APPARENT. ALL GASKETS AND SEALS WERE INTACT AND INSTALLED CORRECTLY, ALL MOUNTING POINTS WERE WITHIN TOLERANCES, AND THE SUNROOF OPERATED NORMALLY. THE ONLY SIGN OF AN ISSUE WAS THE ACTUAL BROKEN GLASS. AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I WAS THE THIRD MAZDA3 OWNER THAT WEEK TO COME IN FOR A MOONROOF REPAIR (THE SECOND ONE THAT VERY DAY). THIS POINTS MORE TO A LATENT DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL/PART, RATHER THAN A FORCE MAJEURE SITUATION. AND SEEING AS THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WITH MAZDA-APPROVED PARTS, THAT LEAVES ME CONCERNED THAT THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I REACHED OUT TO MAZDA USA, AND MY REQUEST TO HAVE MY EXPENSES REIMBURSED WAS DENIED BECAUSE WITHOUT "INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REVIEW FOR REIMBURSEMENT". IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR RECOMMENDED THAT I SEEK OUT A GOODWILL REIMBURSEMENT FROM MAZDA USA.
THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SO LOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IT MAKES ANYTHING TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE CAR, VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. I RENTED THIS CAR. I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO POSITION THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS SUCH. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026