Mazda Mazda3 2014–2018 problems by year and mileage
3rd generation (BM / BN)
NHTSA data through 24 September 2026563 complaints, 278 with mileageMethod
A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation — check the VIN before driving it home.
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2014 Mazda Mazda3
Close- Median failure report
- 34,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 138
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2014
- Electrical system27 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise27 reports
- Brakes22 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2014: Back over prevention — sensing system; Parking brake; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2015 Mazda Mazda3
Close- Median failure report
- 34,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 130
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2015
- Brakes26 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise26 reports
- Electrical system24 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2015: Back over prevention — sensing system; Parking brake; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2016 Mazda Mazda3
Close- Median failure report
- 37,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 104
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2016 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2016
- Electrical system22 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise21 reports
- Brakes14 reports
6 recall campaigns name the 2016: Back over prevention — sensing system; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer; Parking brake. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2017 Mazda Mazda3
Close- Median failure report
- 29,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 83
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2017 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2017
- Problems owners could not categorise27 reports
- Electrical system20 reports
- Reversing camera and sensors11 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2017: Back over prevention — sensing system; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2018 Mazda Mazda3
Close- Median failure report
- 27,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 108
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
At least 40% of the complaints about the 2018 were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading. The median here rests on the earlier reports and likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported on the 2018
- Electrical system30 reports
- Problems owners could not categorise26 reports
- Visibility/wiper16 reports
4 recall campaigns name the 2018: Back over prevention — sensing system; Fuel system, gasoline — delivery; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. † marks a year whose median likely understates the mileage: much of its reporting came after 2020, when most complaints stopped recording an odometer reading. The 2016 reports latest and the 2018 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2016 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 32,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 94,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 278
- Recalls
- 9
At least 40% of this generation’s complaints were filed after 2020, and most complaints filed since then carry no odometer reading, so the median likely understates the mileage these failures happen at.
Most reported
- Problems owners could not categorise22.6% of complaints · median 34,000 mi
- Electrical system21.8% of complaints · median 24,000 mi
- Brakes13.3% of complaints · median 38,000 mi
Documented problems
- Infotainment2014–2016
- Brakes2014–2016
- Fuel System2015–2016
- Engine2018
Owners filed 563 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3; problems owners could not categorise leads with 22.6% of them, and half of the 278 that record an odometer reading came by 32,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 9,000 and 62,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3 last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3, half of the 278 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 32,000 miles and 90% by 94,000 miles.
7 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 2 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Mazda3 reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Mazda Mazda3 2014–2018 · 278 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 20,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 98 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,400
- 25%
- 9,000
- Median
- 31,528
- 75%
- 62,000
- 90%
- 94,160
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20,000 | 98 | 35.3% |
| 20,000–40,000 | 61 | 21.9% |
| 40,000–60,000 | 41 | 14.7% |
| 60,000–80,000 | 31 | 11.2% |
| 80,000–100,000 | 23 | 8.3% |
| 100,000–120,000 | 11 | 4.0% |
| 120,000–140,000 | 4 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–160,000 | 3 | 1.1% |
| 160,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.4% |
| 180,000–200,000 | 3 | 1.1% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Mazda3 problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Mazda Mazda3 2014–2018
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Engine43 reports15,0007,000–46,000Engine: 43 reports, median 15,000 miles, middle half 7,000 to 46,000 miles.
- Fuel and propulsion system49 reports17,000791–38,000Fuel and propulsion system: 49 reports, median 17,000 miles, middle half 791 to 38,000 miles.
- Visibility/wiper37 reports24,00015,000–50,000Visibility/wiper: 37 reports, median 24,000 miles, middle half 15,000 to 50,000 miles.
- Electrical system123 reports24,0005,000–44,000Electrical system: 123 reports, median 24,000 miles, middle half 5,000 to 44,000 miles.
- Problems owners could not categorise127 reports34,00021,000–66,000Problems owners could not categorise: 127 reports, median 34,000 miles, middle half 21,000 to 66,000 miles.
- Brakes75 reports38,00012,000–65,000Brakes: 75 reports, median 38,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 65,000 miles.
- Reversing camera and sensors62 reports60,00038,000–80,000Reversing camera and sensors: 62 reports, median 60,000 miles, middle half 38,000 to 80,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problems owners could not categorise | 127 | 22.6% | 34,000 | 21,000–66,000 |
| Electrical system | 123 | 21.8% | 24,000 | 5,000–44,000 |
| Brakes | 75 | 13.3% | 38,000 | 12,000–65,000 |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 62 | 11.0% | 60,000 | 38,000–80,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 49 | 8.7% | 17,000 | 791–38,000 |
| Engine | 43 | 7.6% | 15,000 | 7,000–46,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 37 | 6.6% | 24,000 | 15,000–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 29 | 5.2% | 26,000 | 9,000–68,000 |
| Parking brake | 17 | 3.0% | 71,000 | 60,000–98,000 |
| Airbag system | 16 | 2.8% | — | — |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 32,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 22.6% of complaints (127 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 34,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,000 and 66,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 21.8% of complaints (123 reports, 48 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 24,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 5,000 and 44,000 miles.
The brakes account for 13.3% of complaints (75 reports, 46 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 65,000 miles.
The reversing camera and sensors account for 11.0% of complaints (62 reports, 29 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail late — a median of 60,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 80,000 miles.
The fuel and propulsion system accounts for 8.7% of complaints (49 reports, 17 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 17,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 791 and 38,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 7.6% of complaints (43 reports, 32 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 15,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 7,000 and 46,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2014–2018 Mazda3
Infotainment 2014–2016
Mazda Connect TFT display delamination and ghost-touch behavior — the screen changes stations or navigation input on its own while the car is stationary. Replacement is expensive when not covered by goodwill.
Brakes 2014–2016
Water entry into the rear brake caliper corrodes the electric parking brake actuator shaft, which can bind and leave the parking brake applied or inoperative. Recall covering certain 2014-2016 cars. Separately, premature rear brake pad and rotor wear is a high-frequency complaint.
Fuel System 2015–2016
Fuel tank shut-off valve can allow liquid fuel into the evaporative emissions system, creating a leak and fire risk. Recall covering certain 2015-2016 cars.
Engine 2018
Incorrectly manufactured exhaust valve springs that may fracture in service, causing engine stall. Recall covering certain 2018 cars. Separately, front timing cover oil seepage and intake valve carbon deposits from direct injection with PCV oil carryover.
Before you buy a 2014–2018 Mazda3: the 3-minute check
Generated from 278 mileage-tagged complaints, 9 recall campaigns, 4 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- A DO NOT DRIVE recall covers part of this generation. Run the VIN before you drive it home — the fix is free at an authorized dealer.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 9 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check infotainment on 2014–2016 cars. Mazda Connect TFT display delamination and ghost-touch behavior — the screen changes stations or navigation input on its own while the car is stationary. Replacement is expensive when not covered by goodwill.
- Check brakes on 2014–2016 cars. Water entry into the rear brake caliper corrodes the electric parking brake actuator shaft, which can bind and leave the parking brake applied or inoperative. Recall covering certain 2014-2016 cars. Separately…
- Check fuel system on 2015–2016 cars. Fuel tank shut-off valve can allow liquid fuel into the evaporative emissions system, creating a leak and fire risk. Recall covering certain 2015-2016 cars.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 9,000 and 62,000 miles, with a median of 32,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, problems owners could not categorise and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 24,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Mazda3 problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi72% below | At 90k mi88% below | At 120k mi95% below | At 150k mi97% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problems owners could not categorise | 21,000–66,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 5,000–44,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Brakes | 12,000–65,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 38,000–80,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 791–38,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 7,000–46,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility/wiper | 15,000–50,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Mazda Mazda3 2014–2018 · 278 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 72% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 0.7% of reports (2) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3 recalls (9)
NHTSA records 9 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
1 of these carry a severe advisory — NHTSA's do not drive or park outside warnings, which the agency applies only when it considers the risk immediate. If you own one of these vehicles, that is the first thing to check by VIN.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (1), visibility equipment (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Jul 2023 · 2014–2018 · Back Over PreventionA rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a…
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
What can happen. A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim…
Nov 2021 · 2018 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to…
What can happen. Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for…
Apr 2019 · 2016–2018 · VisibilityReduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility.
What can happen. Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may…
Nov 2017 · 2018 · Engine and Engine CoolingAn engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3 vehicles, equipped with an incorrect exhaust valve spring. The incorrect exhaust valve spring may fail while driving, potentially causing an engine stall.
What can happen. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace any incorrect exhaust valve springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact…
Jun 2017 · 2014–2016 · Parking BrakeIf the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.
What can happen. If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a…
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing…
Sep 2016 · 2016 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the recirculation pipe weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1…
Sep 2016 · 2014–2016 · Fuel System, GasolineA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Mazda Motors North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured January 4, 2014, to September 18, 2015. The fuel tank of the affected vehicles may have been improperly handled during manufacturing and, as…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners may…
Oct 2015 · 2015–2016 · Fuel System, Gasoline do not driveA fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The defect. Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured May 21, 2015, to August 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank with a shut-off valve that can allow fuel to enter into the…
What can happen. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. An engine that stalls increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free…
Apr 2014 · 2014 · Electrical SystemOnce the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in…
The defect. Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through December 18, 2013, and model year 2014-2015 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 20, 2013, through December 4, 2013, and both equipped…
What can happen. Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible…
The free fix. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 563 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 37 (6.6%)
- Fires
- 4
- Injury reports
- 19
- Fatality reports
- 1
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Mazda3 problems by model year
The 2014 drew the most complaints of this generation, 138, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2017 the fewest, 83. A typical year drew about 108.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 138 | 87 | 34,000 | Electrical system (27) | 4 |
| 2015 | 130 | 75 | 34,000 | Brakes (26) | 4 |
| 2016 | 104 | 46 | 37,000† | Electrical system (22) | 6 |
| 2017 | 83 | 34 | 29,000† | Problems owners could not categorise (27) | 2 |
| 2018 | 108 | 36 | 27,000† | Electrical system (30) | 4 |
What Mazda3 owners reported
The contact owns a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that when attempting to secure the vehicle, the electric parking brake failed to engage after pulling up the hand lever. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (Parking Brake); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The…
2014 · 70,000 miles · Parking brake
The contact called on behalf of a customer who owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the windshield wipers had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the contact's auto repair shop, Tire-Rama, where the windshield wiper switch was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the…
2018 · 200,000 miles · Visibility/wiper
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3.The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact stated that the vehicle's steering wheel would fail to operate as needed. The contact stated that an abnormal, clunking noise would emit from the steering wheel while turning at various speeds. The contact also…
2016 · 117,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, or while attempting to reverse, the rear camera flashed on and off for approximately five minutes and then started working as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under the NHTSA Campaign…
2015 · 180,000 miles · Reversing camera and sensors
Built from 278 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Mazda3 generations
- Mazda3 2004–2009 914 reports with mileage, most about the steering
- Mazda3 2010–2013 873 reports with mileage, most about body structure