NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2015 Mazda Mazda3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE WEAR ON MY BACK BRAKES WAS ABNORMALLY FAST. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL FOR JAPANESE MADE BRAKES BUT MINE WERE MEXICAN MADE. THE FRONT BRAKES HAD VERY LITTLE WEAR WHERE AS I HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK AFTER ABOUT 25,000 MILES.
THE HEAD REST PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHEN I SIT UPRIGHT WITH GOOD POSTURE NO MATTER WHAT THE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT I USE. THE ANGLE OF THE HEADREST IS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND IS WAY TO FAR FORWARD FOR ME. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A NEW REGULATION, AND I BELIEVE THE STANDARD IS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR EVERYONE.
THE CAR HAD A CATASTROPHIC ELECTRICAL FAILURE, MAZDA IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE. I HAVE ASKED MAZDA AND THE DEALER BY PHONE, EMAIL, AND POSTAL MAIL WHAT I SHOULD DO IF THIS OCCURS ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE FROM MAZDA. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A CITY STREET, DURING THE DAY OF 8/11/16,ALL THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I PULLED IN TO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO START IT AGAIN (PUSH BUTTON) AND NOTHING HAPPENED; NO LIGHTS, NO SOUNDS. I WAITED SEVERAL MINUTES AND TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN. THIS TIME IT STARTED. I TURNED IT OFF AND TRIED TO START IT AGAIN, NOTHING HAPPENED. I CALLED MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A DEALER. ON 8/20/16 THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMED THAT MORE THAN 60 ERROR CODES HAD GONE ON A ONCE, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. I HAVE EMAILED AND WRITTEN TO MAZDA ASKING IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY, ASKING IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN AGAIN WOULD THE AND WHAT I SHOULD DO IF IT HAPPENS. MORE THAN A MONTH HAS PASSED AND I HAVE HAD NO RESPONSE FROM MAZDA.
HEADLIGHTS ON LOW BEAM ARE AIMED TOO LOW AND THUS HAVE A VERY SHORT RANGE. DEALER SAID THEY WERE AT FACTORY SPEC SO HE WOULD NOT ADJUST THEM.
VEHICLE WAS INADVERTANTLY TURNED OFF WHILE IN DRIVE, WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE NO ALARM SOUNDED. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, FORCING ME TO JUMP BACK INTO THE CAR AND JAM ON THE BRAKE. ONE WOULD THINK THAT AS A SAFETY MEASURE, THE CAR WOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE IN PARK, BEFORE TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. WHILE ITS CONCEIVABLE THAT IN AN EMERGENCY THE DRIVER MAY WANT TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WHILE IN GEAR, THIS WOULD BE VERY RARE, AND COULD BE ACCOMMODATED BY PROGRAMING THE OFF SWITCH TO REQUIRE MULTIPLE PUSHES OR HOLDING IN THE BUTTON FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD. EXITING THE CAR WHEN IT IS NOT IN PARK IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, JUST AS DANGEROUS AS TRYING TO START THE CAR WHILE IN GEAR, RESULTING IN UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. SINCE THE CAR REQUIRES THE GEARSHIFT TO BE IN PARK AND THE BRAKE ON BEFORE STARTING, ONE WOULD THINK A SIMILAR PROCESS WOULD BE USED FOR TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE.
THE DASHBOARD HAS SEPARATED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN LESS THAN 52,000 MILES.
I HAVE FILED THIS CLAIM BECAUSE THE CAR IN MENTION HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY MAZDA FOR FAILURES IN THE DOOR LATCHING-LOCKING SYSTEM ON THREE (3) SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON DIFFERENT DOORS SINCE I PURCHASED IT AND IT IS CURRENTLY SHOWING SIGNS OF FAILURE ON ONE OF THE DOORS THAT WAS NOT AFFECTED BEFORE. I NO LONGER CONSIDER THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT FAILURES OF THIS NATURE MAY CAUSE ACCIDENTS WITH CATASTROPHIC INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND TO OTHERS. AS A MAZDA CUSTOMER, CAR OWNER AND ENGINEERING PROFESSIONAL, I'M EXTREMELY CONCERNED WHEN I CONTEMPLATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THIS MIGHT NOT BE AN ISOLATED CASE AND THAT OTHER MAZDA OWNERS MIGHT BE DRIVING UNSAFE VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO STARTED A CLAIM WITH THE BBB AUTO LINE CASE MAZ1714424 WHERE I PURSUE REPURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE BY MAZDA AMONG OTHER ITEMS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA MAZDA3 EQUIPPED WITH 215/45/ZR18 WHEELS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE WHEELS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO THE WHEELS COMING OUT OF ROUND. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE RIM WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAVIS DISCOUNT TIRE LOCATED AT 1118 E PUTNAM AVE, RIVERSIDE, CT 06878, (203) 698-9599, TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT 3 OUT OF 4 WHEELS WERE SLIGHTLY BENT. THE WHEELS WERE REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. SMITH CAIRNS LOCATED AT 900 CENTRAL PARK AVE, YONKERS, NY 10704, (914) 377-8100, WAS CONTACTED AND DECLINED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND DECLINED TO OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED CASE NUMBER: 1-1568373109. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,728. *DT *JS
HEADREST UNUSABLE IN SAFE DRIVING POSITION. FORCES HEAD TO FLOOR OR PREVENTS PROPER BACK PLACEMENT ON SEAT, SOMETIMES BOTH. THE ONLY WAY TO SIT IN THE SEAT COMFORTABLY IS TO HAVE THE SEAT LEANING TOO FAR BACK WHERE I CANNOT REACH THE STEERING WHEEL COMFORTABLY. WHEELS WOULD VIBRATE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55, SOMETIMES AS LOW AS 40. RECENTLY FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. BRAKES WERE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AND SCRAPED AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. MADE A LOUD SCRATCH SOUND. TOOK TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. ALL EVENTS REQUIRED INDIVIDUAL VISITS TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. ANY SMALL ISSUE RAISES EXTRA CONCERNS. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 2K MILES AFTER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP BECAUSE OF EITHER DRIVING DISCOMFORT OR THE VEHICLE BEING IN THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON.
INTERIOR DOME LIGHT STARTED FLICKERING, LOOKED UP TO SEE WHY, THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR FLAMES COULD BE SEEN. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED, APPROX. 65 MPH. CAR HAD 22,000 MILES ON IT.
TOOK CAR IN FOR FIRST OIL CHANGE AT 1429 MILES AND WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WERE GROOVED AND THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
TURNING TO PARK HER VEHICLE, IN A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS IN FRONT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WOULD BE KEPT UNTIL THE RECALL REMEDY COULD BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT FELT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000.
RADIATOR HOSE DISCONNECTED WHICH DRAINED ANTIFREEZE AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO RUN HOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V621000(FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.
THE CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START IT AGAIN. I HAD IT FOR ONE MONTH.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL TANK KIT, THE GASKET, THE NUT AND THE RETAINER WERE REPLACED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 732. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH IN MY BRAND NEW MAZDA 3 COUPE WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY IMPLODED THROWING SAFETY GLASS ALL OVER DRIVER AND PASSENGER.
THE DAY WAS HOT AND I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WITH THE AC SET TO 72 DEGREES IN MY 2015 MAZDA 3 WITH JUST 21K MILES ON IT. MY CAR UNEXPECTEDLY STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE AND CHARGING SYSTEM/BATTERY LIGHTS CAME ON BRIEFLY IN THE DASH. I HAD TO SHIFT INTO PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO RESTART MY VEHICLE. THE CAR'S ECU/PCM DID NOT SET ANY CODES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT OCCURRED AGAIN SINCE THAT HOT DAY. THIS IS A DANGER BECAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER COULD RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION LUCKILY I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. DEALER AND MAZDA HAVE BEEN SLOW TO INVESTIGATE THIS THOROUGHLY. FEELS LIKE THEY JUST WANT TO SEND ME ON MY WAY WITHOUT DOING A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION OF THIS ISSUE.
2015 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO RECALLS BEING ISSUED FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/29/2017*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TPMS WARNING LAMP REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH INDICATED A FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO PLACED AIR IN ALL FOUR TIRES AND RESET THE CODE. WITHIN LESS THAN A WEEK, THE TPMS WARNING LAMP CAME BACK ON AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
HEADLIGHTS ARE AIMED VERY LOW AND PROVIDE ZERO LIGHT ABOVE A LOW VERTICAL CUT OFF POINT. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY AIMED THE LIGHTS HIGHER, BUT I DO NOT NOTICE A DIFFERENCE. LOOKED AT CHANGING THE AIM MYSELF, BUT THERE IS NO OBVIOUS ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS FREQUENTLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE *ANYTHING* MORE THAN 8, 20, OR 70 FEET AHEAD WHEN THE GRADE OF THE ROADWAY CHANGES IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION, FOR INSTANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL WHEN THE ROADWAY BEGINS TO TRANSITION FROM LEVEL TO A POSITIVE GRADE UPHILL, OR AS YOU ARE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, REACH THE BOTTOM OF A HILL AND THE CAR IS POINTED DOWNHILL BUT THE ROAD AHEAD IS LEVEL. THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM WHEN YOU ARE ON A HILL AND THE GRADE OF THE HILL CHANGES. THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE FINE ON PERFECTLY LEVEL ROADS, BUT ARE A CRASH WAITING TO HAPPEN ANYWHERE ELSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *TR
VEHICLE NAVIGATION DISPLAY HAS MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE DRIVING, UNEXPECTEDLY RESTARTED. ONCE WAS LISTENING TO RADIO, RADIO DID NOT STOP BUT SYSTEM RESTARTED. OTHER TIME, WAS ON CALL, AND SYSTEM RESTARTED BUT CALL DID NOT DISCONNECT, USER ON OTHER END COULD NOT HEAR ME AND I COULD NOT HEAR THEM. WHEN SYSTEM RESTARTED, CALL CONTINUED. CALLED DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE MAY BE A SYSTEM FIRMWARE UPDATE NEEDED. BROUGHT VEHICLE IN, WAS TOLD THAT NO FIRMWARE UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE ISSUE.
WINDSHIELD HAS BEGUN CHIPPING IN MULTIPLE PLACES IN ONLY THE FIRST 1.5 MONTHS / 1400 MILES OF USE CREATING A SAFETY ISSUE (VISIBILITY OF THE ROAD IS IMPAIRED). WHAT IS SURPRISING IS THE RAPIDNESS AT WHICH THEY OCCUR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM, THE BLUETOOTH FUNCTION, AND THE USB SYSTEM REBOOTED AND FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 5/4/15*CN
WHEN THE CAR IS GETTING WET AND RUNNING IN A HUMPS WE ALWAYS HEARD A SQUEAKING OR CRACKING SOUNDS ON THE FRONT WHEEL, LIKELY ITS IN FRONT SHOCK, I GUESS
I WAS IN A REAR END COLLISION WITH THE MAZDA, AND WAS HIT AT 50MPH SPEED BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE DRIVER HAD FALLEN ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL, SO DID NOT BRAKE PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. DURING THE COLLISION, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, NOR DID THE SEAT BELT CATCH ME, AND I HIT THE STEERING WHEEL WITH FULL STRENGTH, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY FACE WHERE I HAD HIT WITH EYE DAMAGE, AND SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE ALL OVER THE FACE WITH NERVE NUMBNESS ON THE WHOLE LEFT SIDE. OF CONCERN IS WHY NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES OF A 2 MONTH OLD VEHICLE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A HIGH IMPACT CRASH. *TR
THERE IS A SHARP OBJECT IN THE REAR OF THE DRIVERS SEAT OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL/TRIM COMBINATION. IT IS DIRECTLY BELOW THE LAYER OF VINYL AT THE BACK OF THE SEAT. AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE PERSON BEHIND THE DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT WOULD RESULT IN THIS SHARP PROTRUSION TO COME TROUGH THE VINYL RISKING INJURY TO THAT PERSON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A RAILROAD TRACK, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER SEAT TO MOVE FORWARD. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK, BUT DID NO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 550.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026