USED VEHICLE RESEARCH

2024 Mazda Mazda3

Is This A Good Car? organizes available NHTSA-derived research for the 2024 Mazda Mazda3. This page includes owner complaint records, safety recall campaigns, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and information about the completeness of the available evidence.

DATA CONFIDENCE: Limited

Owner complaints

11NHTSA records

Recall campaigns

3Year, make and model lookup

Manufacturer communications

0Matched NHTSA records

Investigations

0Matched NHTSA records

EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY

DATA CONFIDENCE

Limited

Data Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.

Why this rating?
Owner complaint data
Available
Manufacturer communications
Available
Recall data
Available
Investigation data
Available
Production denominator
Unavailable
Complaint component completeness
100%
Mileage completeness
0%
Incident-date completeness
100%

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS

DATA INSIGHTS

Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.

Complaint records analyzed
11
NHTSA complaints
Most reported component
Electrical System
36% of categorized complaint records
Top-three component concentration
64%
Records mentioning at least one top-three component
Median reported incident mileage
Not available from current source
0 valid mileage observations
Recall campaigns
3
NHTSA recalls
Most recent recall report
May 29, 2025
NHTSA recalls
Manufacturer communications
0
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Most documented component
Not available
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Top-three communication concentration
Not available
Share of categorized manufacturer communications

SOURCE COMPLETENESS

DATA QUALITY

Complaint records analyzed
11
Component classification available
100%
Incident date available
100%
Mileage available
0%
Structured outcome fields available
100%

Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.

Learn about CarIQ methodology

PRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC

NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT

Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.

This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.

It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.

OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA

OWNER-REPORTED COMPLAINTS

TOTAL COMPLAINTS11

COMPONENT CATEGORIES

Electrical System4 complaints
36%of categorized complaint records
Unknown or Other3 complaints
27%of categorized complaint records
Forward Collision Avoidance2 complaints
18%of categorized complaint records
Lane Departure2 complaints
18%of categorized complaint records
Structure2 complaints
18%of categorized complaint records
Air Bags1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records
Power Train1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records
Service Brakes1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records
Tires1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records
Visibility1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records
Visibility/wiper1 complaint
9%of categorized complaint records

A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.

INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR

2023
1
2024
6
2025
2
2026
2

Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.

RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS

Unknown or Other

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11751469
Read complaint narrative

While driving on the highway (50mph), the sunroof had shattered unexpectedly. The sunroof itself was not open, but the visor was open so the glass fell into the car, onto the driver, the passenger and into the backseats. The glass shattering sounded like a gunshot which startled us while on the highway, and the broken glass cut the driver.

Power Train · Forward Collision Avoidance

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11718990
Read complaint narrative

left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000–5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempted to accelerate again, the RPM remained around 3,000, and I immediately received multiple warning messages on the dashboard, including: “Skyactiv Partially Disabled” warning Engine Malfunction warning ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) warning light Simultaneously, the vehicle rapidly decelerated from 65 MPH to approximately 55 MPH, creating an extremely hazardous situation and nearly resulting in a collision. I had to carefully maneuver across lanes to reach the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, the warning lights temporarily cleared; however, the vehicle appeared to be operating in limp mode. I had the car towed home via AAA. After this near-fatal incident, I scanned the vehicle using an OBD2 reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P0780 and P0761, indicating Shift Malfunction and Shift Solenoid 3 Performance issues. To address the issue proactively, I had my mechanic perform two full transmission fluid and filter exchanges on Monday, February 16, 2026, and again on February 18, 2026. Both services included a pan drop, replacement of the transmission filter, use of Mazda OEM transmission fluid (0000A7115QT and FZ01-21-500), and a complete transmission relearn procedure after each service. Despite these efforts, the same codes (P0761 and P0780) reappeared when scanned with a professional-grade diagnostic tool. The battery has been tested and confirmed fully charged. Additionally, my mechanic identified oil leaking from the timing chain cover.

Electrical System · Service Brakes · Forward Collision Avoidance

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11676800
Read complaint narrative

Car gives me emergency brake warnings about imminent collision maybe once or twice a week with nothing in front of me what so ever and once even straight up just brought me to a complete halt in the middle of the road with absolutely nothing in the road. The dealership basically told me it was a known issue and that “some models are more sensitive than others” and that they will be doing nothing about it. Different models of Mazda 3s from the same year are currently being investigated for the same recalls. This definitely needs to be addressed before I get into an accident.

Air Bags · Structure · Lane Departure

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11672644
Crash reported1 reported injury
Read complaint narrative

On July 1, 2025, I was involved in a severe rear-end collision while driving my 2024 Mazda3 manual hatchback. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the rear windshield, leave a deep dent in the tailgate, and bend the trailer hitch mount under the vehicle by several inches. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed, and there were no airbag warning lights before or after the crash. After the incident, I checked my vehicle’s VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and discovered that Recall 7525E had been issued on June 6, 2025, for a critical airbag sensing system defect (SAS module), which can disable airbag deployment after battery depletion or improper power conditions. According to Mazda and NHTSA documents, this defect can completely disable airbag function, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. As of July 11, 2025, I have not received any recall notice from Mazda by mail, email, phone, or dealer contact—despite being the registered owner. Mazda’s documentation shows that: Dealers were notified as early as June 3, 2025 Owner letters are not scheduled until July 28, 2025 This means that I was driving a defective vehicle without knowledge of a serious safety issue at the time of the crash. I believe that: Mazda failed in its legal obligation to notify me in a timely and adequate manner. The non-deployment of airbags in my crash is consistent with the failure described in Recall 7525E. Other affected Mazda owners may remain unaware and at significant risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA: Investigate whether Recall 7525E was the cause of airbag failure in this incident. Determine whether Mazda’s recall notification practices met regulatory requirements. Ensure immediate outreach to affected owners to prevent further injury or risk. I am also seeking legal counsel due to the serious safety implications and potential liability arising from this defect. I will be retaining all documentation, vehicle records, photos, and post-

Visibility

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11631734
Read complaint narrative

FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS GET EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF WINDOWS OBSTRUCTIING VISIBILITY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SAME SITUATION. THIS PUTS OTHERS AT RISK BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WELL WHEN THERE IS HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 2024.

Tires

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11626309
Read complaint narrative

215/45R18 89V I bought a new 2024 Mazda 3 sedan Sport for my senior college son on [XXX] in Rockville, Maryland. In the evening of [XXX], during our attending my son's graduation in Nashville, Tennessee, on the highway to hotel, the front right tire was suddenly blowed out (air leaking quickly and completely). There was nothing on the highway, no object and no pothole. The cars in the front of us were just fine. My son only drove several thousand miles. We were very scared and our safety was threatened. My insurance Geico helped us to replace it with spare tire. We went to a local tire store at Nashville to replace the tire with BRI TURANZA EL440, and the new tire cost us $352.01. Our local Mazda dealer at Rockville Maryland asked us to contact Toyo for tire warranty, but nothing happened. We have kept the receipt. By the way, I googled new Mazda3 tire problems, and I found multiple complains on line. Examples [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Electrical System

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11625210
Read complaint narrative

See attached document for complaint.

Electrical System · Unknown or Other

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11615673
Read complaint narrative

My Mazda3, odometer reading about 3000 miles, would not start. I have been driving normally daily, do not leave lights on or any other equipment connected when the car is off. I have not had any warning lights displayed other than startup. Monday I drove to my local CT. golf course, 20 miles from home, arrived at 9am. 5 hours later I after golf, I can’t open trunk. Fortunately I left the car unlocked. The car would not start. Road Service tried to jump battery unsuccessfully. Dragged the car onto truck-bed and transports to dealer. Service tech contacts me next day … charged battery, checked electric system and found no malfunctions. This is a scary situation when one never knows when this will happen again. Is there a solution??

NHTSA complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.

A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.

Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.

OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA

MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS0

No NHTSA manufacturer communication records were returned for this year, make, and model.

Manufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.

Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communications

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS

TOTAL INVESTIGATION RECORDS0

No applicable NHTSA defect investigation records were returned for this year, make, and model.

NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.

Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.

View official NHTSA investigation data ↗

DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP

CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA

CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.

ComponentOwner complaintsManufacturer communicationsRecall campaignsNHTSA investigationsOfficial sources containing records
Electrical System40001 of 4
Unknown or Other30001 of 4
Forward Collision Avoidance20001 of 4
Lane Departure20001 of 4
Structure20001 of 4
Air Bags10001 of 4
Power Train10001 of 4
Service Brakes10001 of 4
Tires10001 of 4
Visibility10001 of 4

Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.

complaint
Available
communication
Available
recall
Available
investigation
Available
production
Unavailable

OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA

SAFETY RECALLS

3 recall campaigns found

01AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARECampaign 25V357000May 29, 2025

Summary

Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda3 and CX30 vehicles. The Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) units may set an error code and deactivate the air bags, due to a low battery condition.

Safety Consequence

Air bags that do not deploy in the event of a crash increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the SAS unit with improved software or replace the unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2025. Mazda's number for this recall is 7525E.

02LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERACampaign 24V649000September 3, 2024

Summary

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning. In addition, the headlights will not automatically adjust from high beams to low beams as intended.

Safety Consequence

Automatic braking, steering assist, and headlight control systems that do not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the forward sensing camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6824H.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

03BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERACampaign 23V718000October 26, 2023

Summary

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and MAZDA3 vehicles. Due to a software error, the rearview, front, and/or side camera images may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Safety Consequence

A camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy

Dealers will update the view monitor control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6223J.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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