Owners filed 130 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the unknown or other. It has been recalled 4 times.
Do not drive
NHTSA attached an advisory to a recall on this vehicle. Advisories apply to specific production runs — check your VIN with the manufacturer or at nhtsa.gov/recalls before driving it.
When it fails
03350033,500 milesMedian miles at failure
75 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 0–10,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes
24
3
0
2
Unknown or Other
22
0
0
1
Electrical System
20
0
0
0
Fuel/Propulsion System
11
0
1
0
Back Over Prevention
9
0
0
0
Structure › Body
6
1
0
0
Seats
5
1
0
1
Engine
5
0
1
2
Visibility/Wiper
4
0
0
0
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
4
0
0
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera23V487000
Filed Jul 14, 2023236,100 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
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.
Risk. A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy. 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 notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.
Parking Brake17V393000
Filed Jun 22, 2017227,814 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
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.
Risk. 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 slope, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy. 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 owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly16V684000
Filed Sep 22, 201617,484 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
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 a result, the welded attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy. 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 contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0116I.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly15V621000Do not drive
Filed Oct 2, 201514,411 vehiclesMazda North American Operations
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 fuel tank emissions systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.
Risk. 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.
Remedy. 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 of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2015. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repairs have been completed. Mazda will provide rental cars until that time. Owners may contact the Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800- 222-5500, option #6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8615J.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
Filed Apr 15, 2026180,000 milesNJ
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 Number: 23V487000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) by the owner of the vehicle; however, the fix failed to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the recall repair was performed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Mar 24, 2026OH
While parked on a slight downhill grade, gasoline started leaking and created a significant puddle on the ground. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms. An independent service center ran numerous tests over two days, including a smoke test. Diagnosis: There is a hole in top section of fuel tank and the fuel tank needs replaced. Recommendation was to not drive vehicle with fuel tank over half full. Due to the potential of leaking fuel in the presence of a hot ignition source increasing the risk of fire, driving the vehicle long distance with defective fuel tank appears to represent an unreasonable safety risk. Unfortunately, the vehicle is currently 300 miles from home. Mazda’s Mexican-made plastic fuel tank specifically required for our vehicle’s VIN is not currently available. (Mazda makes a similar metal fuel tank in [XXX] which will not fit.) Mazda has an estimated three-month backlog in [XXX] for the fuel tank. Still awaiting repair due to lack of availability of the appropriate fuel tank. Major safety recall NHTSA 16V684000 for the 2015 Mazda3 addresses a manufacturing defect where a fuel tank weld could fail, leading to fuel leaks and a potential fire. Recall is for vehicles produced between 12/4/13 – 9/18/15. Our vehicle was manufactured 02/2015 in [XXX] . However, recall is limited to three specific series of VINs and our vehicle falls in the gap between subject VIN ranges. A recent NHTSA complaint XXX (1/27/26) has the same issue: fuel tank leak, but not withi
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 27, 2026WV
Fuel leaking out of top of tank. Took car to two different shops. They both told me about a recall on the gas tank. They did every test possible and replaced O ring. Even did smoke evap system test. Tank still leaks from the top when full. They said the tank needs replaced. There is a recall for the year make and model but not my VIN?
Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jan 15, 2026GA
Description On 12-15-2025, in 18°F weather, the vehicle was parked on a residential sloped driveway with the manual parking brake fully engaged. While the driver was outside the vehicle, the parking brake system failed to hold the car’s weight. The vehicle rolled backward, crashed through a wooden railing, teetering on a 4-foot retaining wall, and came to rest over a culvert. Two young children were inside the vehicle at the time of the failure. Component Failure & Availability: The manual parking brake system failed to provide sufficient holding force to secure the vehicle. The rear brake calipers are currently available for inspection. Safety Risk: The safety of the two children inside the vehicle was put at extreme risk due to the unexpected movement of the car. This failure matches the exact conditions and consequences described in Safety Recall 1217F (NHTSA Campaign 17V-393), which states that "unexpected movement of the vehicle if parked on a slope" increases the risk of a collision. Reproducibility & Confirmation: The failure occurred under the specific environmental triggers (cold temperature and slope) identified in the manufacturer's own safety recall documentation. However, the manufacturer has officially refused to authorize the internal teardown of the actuator shafts—the only diagnostic method capable of verifying the rust and sliding resistance that causes this loss of holding force. Inspections: The vehicle has been visually inspected by an authorized dealersh
Engine
Filed Dec 24, 2025CA
Catalytic converter keeps giving me check engine
Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 21, 2025CA
I had purchased a car through Facebook Marketplace after talking to the seller and seeing a CarFax report on the car we decided to purchase it. After coming home the following day I look closer at the documents and realized the CarFax did not match the VIN of the car I purchased. After looking up the CarFax with the VIN on the car I purchased I saw that the person who sold me the car had rolled back the odometer.
Back Over Prevention
Filed Oct 29, 202586,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the dealer refused to complete the recall repairs due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact back to the dealer. The vehicle remained unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.
Parking Brake
Filed Oct 3, 2025OH
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (Parking Brake); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 30, 2025CA
The vehicle automator mileage was changed. The original mileage reading is over 200,000 mi. While the dashboard mileage only reads 90,780 mi. I was unaware of this until I went to the DMV to do a title transfer. The private seller is now nowhere to be found from Facebook marketplace and has blocked me but I do have receipts of everything
Electrical System
Filed Aug 29, 2025VA
The Infotainment System will randomly change radio stations while driving, or start scanning through the various system menus, and on at least in one case, started randomly making phone calls from a connected phone. This creates a major distraction while driving. This has been looked at by the dealership and would cost $1500 for the system repair. I understand that this is a known problem.
Power Train
Filed Mar 10, 2025AZ
1. Automatic transmission suffered a catastrophic failure during operation. Transmission was discarded by Bountiful Mazda, Utah. 2. Both other and I were at risk as the vehicle could not be controlled. 3. I read similar findings on Social Media posts. 4. Bountiful Mazda confirmed metal shavings in the drain trans fluid. 5. No prior warning on car instrumentation, or while driving, or on prior inspection by Cardinaleway Mazda, Gilbert, AZ 6. Neither Mazda USA (Mfr) nor Protective Asset Protection have taken responsibility for the initial equipment failure nor reimbursement through the extended service contract even with extenuating circumstances for late notification. I can provide copies of additional relevant material.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jan 2, 2025FL
Since the middle of 2023 I have noticed a gas fume smell both inside and outside of my 2015 Mazda Mazda3 after I fill my gas tank to full. This smell persists up until I use about a half tank of gas or slightly less. I do not top my gas tank off and stop filling when the automatic gas pump stops. There are no visible leaks on or around the gas tank or below the vehicle, and there are no noticeable cracks around the gas tank, valves, lines, etc. Additionally, there are no warning lights present on my dashboard or any codes.
Electrical System
Filed Dec 30, 2024IL
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display may not accept touch commands properly or may operate by itself (ghost touch). The ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) film of the touch screen may be corroded due to moisture, which may adhere on the lens of the touch screen during the cleaning process at the plant. The corrosion may allow the electrostatic capacity to vary without any input, causing the malfunction of the touch screen.
Electrical System
Filed Nov 2, 2024OR
Mazda call this “ghost touch” it happens when the screen starts to act up like crazy, jumping from different audio sources, Bluetooth lose connection, making unwanted phone calls. Almost like a ghost is touching the screen over and over again.
Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera
Filed Oct 21, 2024VA
On Thursday October 9th I drove to work at 11pm and parked my car. I backed up into my space using my back-up camera as I had always did since I had purchased my car in 2019. The next morning when I got home and put my car in reverse to back into my space, I noticed that the back-up camera did not come on. The radio continued to play on the screen, but in never switched over to the camera so that I could use this component to park. After trying several times to try to figure out what the issue was I gave up. I had an appointment that same morning, so I parked my car and came back about an hour later to leave and started my car, pulled out of my space, then put my car in reverse and the camera was back up and running again. I found this to be strange. Most likely this will happen again. I googled/researched this to see if there was a recall for this issue in this make and model and came across a few articles where others had the same or similar complaints. So it all lead me here. It seems as if there is a malfunction in these cameras, if it is happening to others, and happened to me, then it's happening. So what's happening...is my question? Why are these camera not recalled? Do we wait until it shuts down in the middle of us backing up or what? What's next? Can I get someone at Mazda to look at my camera, and replace it? Or is this something I have to live with? I should not have to, neither should I have to pay some outrageous price to get it replace on my own dime. There is
Back Over Prevention
Filed Sep 24, 202460,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the back-up camera screen image was flickering and became distorted while reversing. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 22, 2024OH
I am filing this complaint regarding existing Manufacturer Recall Number 6023G (NHTSA Recall Number 23V-487). This recall has been posted since Jul 14, 2023 and the manufacturer has failed to remedy the recall in a timely manner. The remedy is noted on the recall page: "If inspections verify there is image distortion or flickering, the rearview camera will be replaced with a new part and a wiring harness fastening seal will be added." However, the manufacturer continues to state that the remedy is not yet available.
Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection
Filed Sep 6, 2024CA
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that occasionally while the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the review camera image would not display on the digital screen. In addition, the contact stated that the image looked distorted. The contact received a notification of 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 4, 2024ME
The problem I have is with my rearview camera, as described in Manufacturer Recall Number 6023G / NHTSA Recall Number 23V-487. This problem has existed since I purchased the car in November 2022. The recall was announced on 7/14/23. Mazda has failed to provide a remedy. Dealers report that they don't have the parts needed to make the repair and that no remedy has been provided by Mazda. It is meaningless to have a recall if the manufacturer doesn't fix the problem. This is a serious safety issue as when the problem occurs, it is not possible to see behind the car via the camera/screen.
Back Over Prevention
Filed Aug 26, 202482,000 milesCA
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image failed to display. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jul 14, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.