There are 8 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Parking brake does not fully disengage. This causes the rear brakes to wear prematurely and also has the potential to generate excessive heat.
POWER BREAK BOOSTER FAILURE. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.
MY PASSENGER REAR CALIPER FROZE CAUSING THE PAD ON THE OUTBOARD SIDE TO WEAR DOWN TO METAL WHILE THE INBOARD PAD STILL HAD HALF OF ITS LIFE LEFT. THIS IS BEHAVIOR SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL 17V393000 BUT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY.
CAR SERVICED PER RECALL, NHTSA CAMP. NO. 17V393000, MAR. 2018. DEALER STATED NO CORROSION ON RAMP SHAFT FOUND, SO BOOTS INSTALLED W/OUT CALIPER REPLACEMENT. CAR BROUGHT TO DEALER JUN. 2018 B/C REAR BRAKE INDICATOR SQUEALING. DEALER FOUND THAT PISTON (POST-RECALL) HAD BOUND FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER REPLACED CALIPER. OWNER TESTED PARKING BRAKE LEVER ON OLD CALIPER AND VERIFIED IT WAS NOT BINDING. (BUT OWNER COULD NOT REMOVE NUT TO CHECK FOR RUST AT 1.6MM AREA OF RAMP SHAFT.) OWNER REPORTING TO NHTSA B/C CONCERNED THAT MAZDA3 CALIPER-BINDING ISSUE MAY EXTEND NOT JUST TO RAMP SHAFT BUT ALSO TO OTHER PARTS OF CALIPER, INCLUDING PISTON.
IN AUGUST I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE LETTER INSTRUCTED US TO WAIT FOR NOTIFICATION THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TWO MONTHS SINCE I GOT THE NOTIFICATION. I HAVE CALLED THE COMPANY, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF SAFETY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAZDA HAS NOT PERFORMED THE REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
PARKING BRAKE SAFETY RECALL
PARKING BRAKE SAFETY RECALL ON THE MECHANICAL (CABLE) TYPE PARKING BRAKE, WATER MAY ENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALING PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PROTECTIVE BOOT, PARTICULARLY UNDER LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT, WHICH IS THE COMPONENT OF REAR BRAKE CALIPER, MAY BE RUSTED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM BOTH REAR WHEELS THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BORMAN AUTOPLEX (470 W BOUTZ RD, LAS CRUCES, NM 88005 (575) 525-4500) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,238. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
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 26, 2026