2013 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems and Recalls (117 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 is Lights (28% of 117 owner reports). There are 1 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Lights — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 117 complaints · 1 recalls

What problems show up on the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3?

33 of 117 filings named Lights (28% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Transmission / driveline (12 reports).

There are 1 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2012 has 225 reports on file; this year has 117. A smaller lifetime total is not a clean bill of health. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 2013 Mazda MAZDA3

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov. This year has 1 campaigns on file below.
  2. Lights. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working.
  3. Transmission / driveline. Have a shop drive it and check the transmission: hard or delayed shifts, burnt-smelling fluid, and 4WD engagement if equipped.
  4. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Lights. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Lights 33 complaints · 28.2% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 7
  • Fires 2
  • Injuries 4
  • Deaths 0
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) appears in 33 of 117 owner complaints (28.2%) in this vehicle snapshot. Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 33 complaints, 28.2% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 fire reports 33 · 28.2% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 12 complaints, 10.3% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 · 10.3% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 10 complaints, 8.6% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 · 8.6% Engine (ENGINE): 9 complaints, 7.7% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 1 fire reports 9 · 7.7% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 9 complaints, 7.7% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 9 · 7.7% Steering (STEERING): 8 complaints, 6.8% of reports Steering (STEERING) 8 · 6.8% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 6 complaints, 5.1% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 crash reports 6 · 5.1% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 4.3% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 5 · 4.3% Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 4 complaints, 3.4% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 1 crash reports 4 · 3.4% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 23 complaints, 19.7% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 23 · 19.7% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 33 28.2% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 12 10.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 8.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 9 7.7% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 9 7.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Steering (STEERING) 8 6.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 6 5.1% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 4.3% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 4 3.4% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 23 19.7% 2 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Apr 2013; the first recall shown was reported in Sep 2016. 2013-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2013-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2014-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2014-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2014-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2014-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2015-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2015-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q3: 6 owner reports 6 2016-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2017-Q1: 9 owner reports 9 2017-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2017-Q3: 11 owner reports 11 2017-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 5 owner reports 5 2019-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2020-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2024-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2025-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2013 Apr 2025 Recall campaign 16V644000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V644000 Investigation EA21002 ● Investigation EA21002
  • Campaign 16V644000 was reported 572 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2013-Q2 Owner reports 1
2013-Q3 Owner reports 1
2013-Q4 Owner reports 3
2014-Q1 Owner reports 2
2014-Q2 Owner reports 4
2014-Q3 Owner reports 1
2014-Q4 Owner reports 2
2015-Q1 Owner reports 4
2015-Q2 Owner reports 1
2015-Q3 Owner reports 2
2015-Q4 Owner reports 3
2016-Q1 Owner reports 3
2016-Q2 Owner reports 6
2016-Q3 Owner reports 6
2016-Q4 Owner reports 4
2017-Q1 Owner reports 9
2017-Q2 Owner reports 3
2017-Q3 Owner reports 11
2017-Q4 Owner reports 4
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 5
2019-Q1 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 6
2020-Q1 Owner reports 3
2020-Q4 Owner reports 3
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 3
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q2 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 2
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 1
2024-Q1 Owner reports 1
2025-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 16V644000
Defect investigation 1 EA21002
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (1)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

In short, these campaigns were filed about Body / frame.

  1. Recall campaign 16V644000

    Body / frame

    Report date
    Component:
    Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
    Consequence:
    If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
    Remedy:
    Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 117 complaints · page 1 of 5
2025-05-01Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES)
NHTSA ODI 11658244
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The Brake Pedal consistently malfunctions, even after the replacement of the master cylinder (by independent service center). The master cylinder does not hold pressure due to a faulty ABS control unit (which, when Mazda was contacted, said that part was on backorder until September). If the manufacturer knows this is an issue and can't supply the part due to so many replacements needed in their vehicle, why is there no recall? There is no warning to the driver on the dashboard of this issue and has causes repeated issues while breaking.
2024-02-14Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11572005
CrashFireInjuryDeath
There seems to be a lot of people who own 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3 Sedans (with SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and Halogen Type Headlights) that are dealing with the same issue I am dealing with myself. I have just purchased a used 2013 Mazda 3 with Skyactive Technology and I noticed that when I was braking the headlights would pulse on and off and would continue while I braked. I have been told there is a TSB on this issue (attached) and Mazda is well aware of this happening. This concern is caused by inadequate alternator output controlled by the PCM when the battery is under a heavy load. They are to the point now of charging people for a doing the TSB on the car that is causing the problem of the alternator not producing the proper wattage to support both the headlights and the brake lights at the same time. There are numerous online forum entries that speak of this issue with 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3's. I am very concerned that my headlights may stop working which could result in my death or the death of my occupants of my vehicle not to mention the other motorists on the road around me if my head lights were to eventually fail at night due to lack of proper wattage to the headlights. There are videos on you tube that show these pulsing headlights on Mazda's. I believe that headlights are important enough safety issue that their failing could result in death if the headlights completely failed due to the known fault in these vehicles over time.
2023-11-26Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11556887
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Transmission Control Module malfunction. The AT light came on and the car made a jerking motion and a clunking noise. It lost power and would not shift which is very dangerous in moving traffic. It put me at risk for getting hit by another vehicle not expecting the abrupt change in speed by my vehicle. The check engine light is now lit up. There were no warning lights before the vehicle’s transmission malfunctioned. A code came up on the vehicle when tested. U0101 lost communication with TCM. From what I have read, researched, and have been told this issue is very common for certain years of Mazda 3’s including mine.
2023-08-24Body / frame (STRUCTURE)
NHTSA ODI 11540603
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V644000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2023-08-07Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)
NHTSA ODI 11537049
CrashFireInjuryDeath
All my seatbuckels are tearing. I thought it could of been my dog, but I a certain I did not give up my seat or let him drive. My driver side is also tearing. I noticed the buckle catching when securing it, and now it has moved past snag and had a quarter inch tear that it catches on. The buckle is not wide enough for the belt. The belt is no longer able to constraint as good as when it was whole. Unknown
2023-06-10FUEL SYSTEM
NHTSA ODI 11526376
CrashFireInjuryDeath
After filing up the gas tank, there is a strong smell of fuel coming from the car. It remains strong until the tank is run down to about 3/4. Gas can be seen dripping down the tank under the car. Gas drips are clearly visible on the ground. This has been an ongoing problem for approximately two years.
2023-02-16Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 11507600
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882
2023-01-29Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11504342
CrashFireInjuryDeath
ABS Module suddenly start failing causing brake sinks down. Almost crashed because of it. It appears to be a very common issue but Mazda still does not recall these ABS modules made by Ford/ATE. Also, it does not show any ABS warning light, which might be why not many people have called on this as they probably thought it was normal. There is all sort of communication error codes if you read with a OBDII scanner. In fact, Ford had a recall for these ABS modules, citing "stuck or slow-responding valves due to reaction with brake fluid".
2022-08-04Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11477650
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I had the dashboard recalled and replaced. The new dashboard is separating from the computer screen on dash.
2022-04-22Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11461825
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TRACKING NUMBER 11461728 ADDED INFORMATION EMAIL FROM MANUFACTURE MITSUBUSHI ELECTRIC INCORPORATED

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners named Lights most often — 33 of 117 reports (28%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3?

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Body / frame. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 2013 Mazda MAZDA3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Walk around the vehicle: headlights, brake lights and turn signals all working. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources