Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system22
- Unknown or other21
- Service brakes14
- Back over prevention12
- Power train9
- Engine7
- Visibility/wiper7
- Fuel/propulsion system6
- Parking brake6
- Air bags6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 48 2016 Mazda3 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 24 people died inside them, and 4 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
Registered new in Europe in 2016
44,232 new Mazda Mazda3 cars were registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland in 2016; the largest markets were Germany (11,629), the United Kingdom (11,219), Spain (3,448).
- Average mass
- 1,329 kg
- Average power
- 91 kW
- Fuel type recorded
- Petrol 77% · Diesel 22% · LPG 0.8%
European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · averages weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value; fuel type as recorded at registration, where many non-plug-in hybrids appear as petrol · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Engines
The most common engines in 2016 Mazda Mazda3 cars on Dutch roads are the 2.0 petrol (88 kW, 118 hp), 2.0 petrol (121 kW, 162 hp) and 1.5 petrol (74 kW, 99 hp), out of 4 versions with at least 20 cars.
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0 petrol | 88 kW 118 hp | 1,076 |
| 2.0 petrol | 121 kW 162 hp | 72 |
| 1.5 petrol | 74 kW 99 hp | 40 |
| 2.2 diesel | 110 kW 148 hp | 20 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
1,225 first registered in 2016 are on Dutch roads; 48% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €27,635.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde717
- Band onvoldoende profiel274
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht224
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld222
- Band beschadigd195
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt167
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm135
- Mechanische delen van het remsysteem vertonen slijtage104
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
10,301 cars built in 2016 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 111 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 10,687 of these cars first registered in 2016 took their annual MOT test. 75% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2016 the figure was 79%.
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
515 of these cars first registered in 2016 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 127,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
2,498 2016 cars are on the New Zealand register; 6% arrived as used imports, 93% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.5 % |
| 2016 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | 10.5 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 10 variants: combined 6.9–8.1 L/100 km (about 29–34 mpg US), CO₂ 162–190 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda3 4-Door · Compact · Regular gasoline | 7.9 | 5.7 | 6.9 |
| Mazda3 4-Door (SIL) · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.0 | 5.8 | 7.0 |
| Mazda3 5-Door · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 8.0 | 5.9 | 7.0 |
| Mazda3 5-Door (SIL) · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 5.9 | 7.1 |
| Mazda3 4-Door (i-ELOOP) · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 5.9 | 7.2 |
| Mazda3 5-Door (i-ELOOP) · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 6.0 | 7.2 |
| Mazda3 4-Door · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.4 | 6.1 | 7.4 |
| Mazda3 5-Door · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 8.7 | 6.5 | 7.7 |
| Mazda3 4-Door (SIL) · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.3 | 6.4 | 8.0 |
| Mazda3 5-Door (SIL) · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 9.2 | 6.6 | 8.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
6 Transport Canada recalls for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3.
| 2023391 14 Jul 2023 | Visual System Issue: On certain vehicles, a problem with the rearview camera connector could cause distortion or flickering of the rearview camera image. Note: This recal… |
| 2019169 4 Apr 2019 | Visual System Issue: An electrical problem may cause the windshield wipers to stop working. Safety Risk: Windshield wipers that do not work could affect a driver’s vi… |
| 2017312 22 Jun 2017 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with hand-operated parking brakes, the rear brake caliper protective boot on the parking brake system may not perform as intended, … |
| 2016464 22 Sept 2016 | Fuel System On certain vehicles. the fuel tank may contain a defect which could allow a weld to break, potentially resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of … |
| 2016465 22 Sept 2016 | Fuel System On certain vehicles. the fuel tank may contain a defect which could allow a weld to break, potentially resulting in a fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of … |
| 2015444 2 Oct 2015 | Fuel System Certain vehicles may have been manufactured with defective fuel tank shut-off-valves. Under certain conditions, this could cause fuel to flow through the shut-o… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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 the recirculation pipe welded connection.
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 a result, the welded attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.
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 fuel tank emissions systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 2016 Mazda Mazda3: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 11011141 | Some customers may report concerns with interior upholstery surface stains particularly on high contact areas (e.g.: seats, steering wheel, door panels, shifter...etc.). This may be caused by skin oils or chemicals such as hand lotions. |
| 11009654 | The SKYACTIV-DRIVE FW6A-EL AT uses Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) Type: FZ. Only use ATF-FZ to fill or top off the fluid level. ATF-FZ is specially designed for use in the SKYACTIV-DRIVE series AT. It is a low viscosity formula with less friction for better fuel economy. NOTE: ATF-FZ is colored blue for easy identification. |
| 11009644 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11008577 | Some customers may complain about scratches on the instrument cluster lens. |
| 11007029 | For improvement of electrical diagnosis, the SKYACTIV Wiring Terminal Test Kits has been delivered all the dealers. The terminal test kit enables you: To check pin fit drag of all PCM terminals used in SKYACTIV vehicles and compare suspect terminal drag with a known good terminal. To measure the voltage/resistance avoiding any terminal damage. |
| 11007022 | Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows. This may be caused by the sun's reflection. |
| 11007019 | If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. |
| 11007018 | Interior parts made of resin have antistatic coating to prevent dust from sticking on the surfaces, and depending on the conditions of use, the antistatic components may crystallize slightly, giving an appearance of white stains on the surface. To remove the stains, wipe the stained surface with a towel soaked with water mixed with a small portion of a neutral detergent. If the white stains reappear again, simply wipe them again in the same way. |
| 11007013 | Auxiliary key blank cutting procedure. There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank. A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method |
| 11007010 | Some customer's might state that they notice fluid or oil leaking/dripping on the ground when the vehicle is parked. For this concern, inspect the vehicle for any trace of a fluid or oil leak and use the following examples as a guide to determine if it is severe enough to require a repair, or just to clean the area and monitor it at the next service. |
| 11007009 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11006998 | Use the symptom troubleshooting tables below to diagnose MAZDA CONNECT concerns. |
| 11006987 | In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealers responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers. When a speedometer is replaced, the new speedometer will read zero (0) miles. This procedure is extremely important to accurately represent actual vehicle mi |
| 11006917 | Some customers may complain that their liftgate does not open. This can mean a range of things, from the liftgate not unlatching to the power liftgate (PLG) not opening automatically. If you confirm that the customer's concern is that the liftgate does not unlatch correctly, follow the repair information below. |
| 11005671 | Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. |
| 11003398 | Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. |
| 11003397 | Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains or discoloration. |
| 11003396 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 11000772 | Some customers may complain that the ambient temperature on the instrument cluster is displayed more than 50 F (10 C) lower than the actual temperature, resulting in insufficient performance of the air conditioning. This is caused by inappropriate soldering in the ambient temperature sensor. To eliminate this concern, the soldering process has been enhanced at the supplier. |
| 10254191 | Some automotive cleaning products contain strong acid or alkali. When these types of cleaners are used to clean the wheels on Mazda vehicles, the chemicals contents penetrate the clear coating of the wheel surface and damage the paint under the clear coating. The damaged area has the appearance of dark stains or discoloration. |
| 10254188 | Some customers may complain that the ambient temperature on the instrument cluster is displayed more than 50 F (10 C) lower than the actual temperature, resulting in insufficient performance of the air conditioning. This is caused by inappropriate soldering in the ambient temperature sensor. To eliminate this concern, the soldering process has been enhanced at the supplier. |
| 10254187 | Some customers may complain about infotainment center display. Peeling, spider cracks and white dots. |
| 10252508 | Some vehicles exhibit brake related concerns such as brake noise, brake judder or brake dragging. If you encounter a customer complaint for any one of these symptoms, refer to the following information to understand why symptoms may occur, and to better assist the customer in resolving their specific brake concern. |
| 10252507 | Due to limitations, certain vehicles from 2016 to current models might display an inaccurate transmission part number in the Global Electronic Parts Catalog (GEPC). To provide support in such cases, a temporary lookup guide has been developed for assistance. |
| 10251387 | Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not recommended. These services are unnecessary and create unneeded expenses for your customers. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)