Mazda Mazda3 2014–2018
3rd generation (BM / BN)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026716 complaints, 367 with mileageMethod
On this generation, 31% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life.
- First 12,000 miles — 31% of all failures
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 2 complaints (0.5%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 1,350
- 25%
- 7,600
- Median
- 29,850
- 75%
- 60,000
- 90%
- 93,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 103 | 28.1% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 38 | 10.4% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 44 | 12.0% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 39 | 10.6% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 23 | 6.3% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 27 | 7.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 25 | 6.8% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 12 | 3.3% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 16 | 4.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 13 | 3.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 6 | 1.6% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 7 | 1.9% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 2 | 0.5% |
| 200,000+ | 2 | 0.5% |
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.
Owners filed 716 complaints with NHTSA about the 2014–2018 Mazda Mazda3, and 367 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
31% of failures fall within the first 12,000 miles — a rate roughly 3 times higher than during the rest of the car's life. Failures clustered that early usually indicate a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear.
The most-reported areas are problems owners could not categorise (17.6% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles), the electrical system (17.2% of complaints, typically around 24,000 miles), the brakes (10.3% of complaints, typically around 38,000 miles).
9 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Problems owners could not categorise34,000median 34,250 miles, middle half 21,000 to 66,000
- Electrical system24,000median 24,000 miles, middle half 5,000 to 44,000
- Brakes38,000median 37,500 miles, middle half 12,000 to 65,000
- Reversing camera and sensors60,000median 60,000 miles, middle half 38,000 to 80,000
- Fuel and propulsion system17,000median 17,000 miles, middle half 791 to 38,000
- Engine15,000median 14,600 miles, middle half 7,000 to 46,000
- Visibility/wiper24,000median 23,644 miles, middle half 15,000 to 50,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Problems owners could not categorise | 126 | 17.6% | 34,000 | 21,000–66,000 |
| Electrical system | 123 | 17.2% | 24,000 | 5,000–44,000 |
| Brakes | 74 | 10.3% | 38,000 | 12,000–65,000 |
| Reversing camera and sensors | 63 | 8.8% | 60,000 | 38,000–80,000 |
| Fuel and propulsion system | 49 | 6.8% | 17,000 | 791–38,000 |
| Engine | 43 | 6.0% | 15,000 | 7,000–46,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 37 | 5.2% | 24,000 | 15,000–50,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 29 | 4.1% | 26,000 | 9,000–68,000 |
| Parking brake | 17 | 2.4% | 71,000 | 60,000–98,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 16 | 2.2% | 16,000 | 6,500–27,000 |
Which systems, and when
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 29,850 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 17.6% of complaints (126 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 34,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 21,000 and 66,400 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 17.2% 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 10.3% of complaints (74 reports, 46 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 37,500 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 8.8% of complaints (63 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 6.8% 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 6.0% of complaints (43 reports, 32 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 14,600 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 7,062 and 46,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2014 model year drew the most — 181 complaints — while 2017 drew the fewest at 105. The median year sits at 139.
Recalls and what they cover
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.
The campaigns cluster around the fuel system (4), the reversing camera and sensors (1), visibility equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
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.
Reported severity
Of the 716 complaints filed against this generation, 61 reported a crash; 6 reported a fire; 35 reported an injury; 2 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.5% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, an early-failure pattern is comparatively good news on a used example: 30% of the reported failures occur in the first 12,000 miles, which on a car of this age means they have already happened or they were never going to. Service history matters more than mileage here.
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.
Documented problems
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 (valve spring recall); 2014–2018 (carbon/oil seepage)
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.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 181 | 120 |
| 2015 | 154 | 94 |
| 2016 | 137 | 61 |
| 2017 | 105 | 44 |
| 2018 | 139 | 48 |
Recalls (9)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 23V487000 | 2024-08-14 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 21V875000 | 2022-07-18 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 19V272000 | 2019-05-07 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer |
| 17V745000 | 2018-01-22 | Engine and Engine Cooling:exhaust System |
| 17V393000 | 2017-12-08 | Parking Brake |
| 16V685000 | 2016-11-18 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage |
| 16V684000 | 2016-11-18 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 15V621000 | 2015-10-20 | Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly |
| 14V173000 | 2014-05-19 | Electrical System:alternator/Generator/Regulator |
What owners reported
The passenger seat belt had a tensioner that was broken from either right off the dealer's lot or shortly after. Under hard braking, my wife hit the dashboard inside the car once as a passenger. I should have brought it in earlier. I just brought it in today (6/20/2017) to the Mazda dealer (putnam Mazda in burlingame…
2014 · 100 miles · Seat belts
On february 23, 2015, i purchased a new 2014 Mazda 3 s grand touring sedan with technical package, VIN # [xxx]. The vehicle current mileage is 5,470. Since purchase, this car has had a stalling problem that is intermittent, unpredictable, and not reproducible on demand. Stalling means it does not respond to normal…
2014 · 400 miles · Engine
Harsh vibration in cabin similar to an engine misfire occurs randomly near idle or immediately after ignition. The dealership and manufacturer have been made aware of this concern and were unsuccessful in reproducing or isolating source of the vibration. Video documentation of the failure during its occurrence has…
2014 · 791 miles · Engine
I initially had issue getting into and out of the 3rd and 4th gear (manual transmission car). I could feel gears grinding during shifting (with the clutch fully depressed). The dealer replaced the third gear. After the fix, the car now has difficulty getting into and out of gear 2 and 3. This problem is intermittent…
2014 · 1,500 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 367 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page