2016 Mazda Mazda3 Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving and while starting the vehicle, the instrument cluster was inoperable. The contact also stated that the instrument cluster screen was peeling, and critical information for the vehicle was not displayed. Additionally, the infotainment system became intermittently…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 142,000 miles

When I checked for recall information 2 recalls were listed under my car's vin #: Recall #1: 3219D with Closed status. Recall #2: 6023G is listed as Active. But, when I tried to schedule a repair for the active recall, the manufacturing website ONLY listed the "closed" recall (3219D) was listed as available for repair, which is bizarre.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

After speaking with Mazda customer support, the sales department at Germain Mazda of Columbus, and the service department of Mazda Columbus, I have come to learn that in response to recall 1217F | XXX17V-393, the dealership that performed the recall only performed an inspection with no repair or replacement made to the vehicle. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake became firm and failed to engage as needed, causing the rear passenger’s side brake pads to not respond as needed after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE). The contact stated that the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 188,900 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

My 2016 Mazda 3 has had a faulty rearview camera, computerized controls, and monitor display screen for over 2 years now. I am not sure if there is a problem with the electrical system because I have lost the ability to turn on the navigation function, the stereo function, and to see the vehicle maintenance information with…Owner complaint, filed 2024

The contact owns a 2016 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 that the rearview camera image was distorted or failed to display an image while reversing. The local dealer was contacted.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 60,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

I am writing to formally report a serious safety issue with my 2016 Mazda 3 manual transmission, which experienced a sudden and complete clutch failure at less 60,000 miles, without any warning lights or diagnostic alerts. I am deeply concerned that: •There was no dashboard warning, even as the clutch system failed •The gear indicator…Owner complaint, filed 2025

I was driving home from work on 2-16-2021, all of a sudden with out warning, every warning and information light light up like a xmas tree, the power steering went away making it hard to drive, the engine ran in limp mode., I manage to get it pulled off to a safe spot , turn off the car, and then try to restart . No go , dead the dash…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 39,900 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The windshield wipers work but the washer does not squirt the windshield washing fluid out and it the reservoir is full of fluid but there are certain days in which I need that to work because my visibility is greatly reduced which has made the risk of accident that much greater. it says there is a recall pertaining to this problem and…Owner complaint, filed 2021

All of the windows have bubbles and ripples in the factory tint which causes poor visibility. The windows have to be rolled down to to see oncoming traffic. The ripples and bubbles are so bad that you can't see out of the rear view or side view mirrors which could easily cause an accident.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 32,700 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 28,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

While driving the car went into a complete stall. It continued to roll and the check check engine line, tire pressure, power steering light, traction control, key not present. The car didn't start right back up. The key had to be put to the start button before the car restarted. We immediately pulled off the road and parked. We left the…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 7,100 miles

Timing cover leak, all maintenance was completed before the service bulletin. This is a TSB but should be a recall for how common this issue is as they stated it could be caused from the assembly line during a pressurized test. “ This may be caused by oil escaping from a fine clearance created at the sealant applied to joint (A)between…Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Recently noticed the odor of unburned gasoline, both inside and outside the vehicle. When driving, the ventilation system would flush this away in a few moments, but this phenomenon is new within the past few weeks. Our mechanic (not the dealer) traced the issue to the fuel tank, where the port for the fuel pump and sensors is located on…Owner complaint, filed 2023

During hot summer months when running errands (for example) which would require stopping and re-starting the vehicle several times, the cabin will begin to fill with gas fumes. This will start about 30 minutes into the trip. The fumes become so strong that I become sick and have a headache. You can smell fumes inside and outside of the…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 56,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the front driver's side door air bag and the front driver's seat air bag deployed. The contact sustained some busies due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection and diagnostic testing. The dealer inspected the vehicle and determined…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 126,000 miles

The vehicle was in motion, going west, another vehicle in motion hit me, by the time it was over I was facing east and went up a curb and into a wall of a homeowners yardOwner complaint, filed 2020, at 19,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the driver’s side seat belt became inoperable. The contact stated that the seat belt latch failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 60,000 miles

Apparently all of sudden the front occupants seat belt had lock and malfunctioning to the point you are unable to pull the belt strap to securely wrapped around the passenger, took it to have it evaluated at the request of the auto maker, supposedly this what I understood from two separate auto repair shops ( Mazda) dealership and a…Owner complaint, filed 2022

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The hood of my car collapsed into an enormous dent while parked in a private garage. When I went to to a body shop to get it fixed, I was shown that the metal is very flimsy from the bottom of the hood. When the gentleman dropped the hood back down to close it, the dent almost entirely popped out on its own.Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 2,000 miles

I parked at the top of my driveway at a slight incline position with the emergency brake engaged and the car was in second gear (manual transmission). It was in a stationary position at that time. My family exited the vehicle and we went inside our home. Approximately a half our later I notice my car rolled down my driveway and crashed…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 26,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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 stated that the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 117,000 miles

My car has 28330 miles. I bought the car two years ago. Last week I was park in from of my house. In the morning, I got in the car and my steering wheel doesn't turn. I took it to mazda and they want to charge me $3200 to fix this. They won't tell my what happen other than I need a new steering racks. I barely drive this car, never…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 28,330 miles

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

While at a stop light in mountain view at california ave. In california , as I pulled away from a red light intersection and I decided to do a passing manuever on the vehicle next to me I fully deppresed the gas pedal all the way and felt the gas pedal give the right and moved to the left and quickly lost feeling of gas pedal and became…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 47,873 miles

The contact owns a 2016 mazda 3. While driving 75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle [VIN]. Upon depressing the brake pedal for the third time, the vehicle stalled and completely shut off. When the vehicle restarted, the check engine indicator flashed. The vehicle was not taken to…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 54,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Air bags and bad tires - I hydroplaned on an interstate and totaled my car and another vehicle. I lost control and hit the other vehicle with the front of my car and continued to go up a 30ft embankment. On the way back down I took out a very large metal light pole with the front of my car and the air bags never deployed. After…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 18,000 miles