2016 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems and Recalls (103 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3 is Rear camera / backup safety (11% of 103 owner reports). There are 6 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Rear camera / backup safety — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 103 complaints · 6 recalls

What problems show up on the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

11 of 103 filings named Rear camera / backup safety (11% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Electrical (10 reports).

There are 6 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about Fuel system, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Rear camera / backup safety. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov — a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific truck.

The 2015 has 129 reports on file; this year has 103. 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 2016 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 6 campaigns on file below.
  2. Rear camera / backup safety. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed.
  3. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Rear camera / backup safety. 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: Rear camera / backup safety 11 complaints · 10.7% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 7
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 5
  • Deaths 0
All Mazda MAZDA3 years →
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 Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) appears in 11 of 103 owner complaints (10.7%) in this vehicle snapshot. Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION): 11 complaints, 10.7% of reports Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 11 · 10.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 10 complaints, 9.7% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 · 9.7% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 9 complaints, 8.7% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 9 · 8.7% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 8 complaints, 7.8% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 crash reports 8 · 7.8% Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE): 6 complaints, 5.8% of reports Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 1 crash reports 6 · 5.8% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 6 complaints, 5.8% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 · 5.8% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 5 complaints, 4.8% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 · 4.8% Airbags (AIR BAGS): 3 complaints, 2.9% of reports Airbags (AIR BAGS) 2 crash reports 3 · 2.9% Engine (ENGINE): 3 complaints, 2.9% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 · 2.9% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 37 complaints, 35.9% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 37 · 35.9% 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)
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 11 10.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 10 9.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 9 8.7% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 8 7.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE) 6 5.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 6 5.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 5 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Airbags (AIR BAGS) 3 2.9% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 3 2.9% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 37 35.9% 2 crashes · 0 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 2016; the first recall shown was reported in Oct 2015. 2016-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2016-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2016-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2017-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2018-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2018-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q2: 4 owner reports 4 2019-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2019-Q4: 3 owner reports 3 2020-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q4: 6 owner reports 6 2021-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2021-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2021-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2022-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q2: 6 owner reports 6 2024-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2024-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2025-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 2026-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Oct 2015 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 15V621000 ◆ Recall campaign 15V621000 Recall campaign 16V684000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V684000 Recall campaign 16V685000 ◆ Recall campaign 16V685000 Recall campaign 17V393000 ◆ Recall campaign 17V393000 Recall campaign 19V272000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V272000 Recall campaign 23V487000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V487000
  • Campaign 16V684000 was reported 2 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 16V685000 was reported 3 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
  • Campaign 19V272000 was reported 877 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2016-Q2 Owner reports 1
2016-Q3 Owner reports 3
2016-Q4 Owner reports 1
2017-Q1 Owner reports 1
2017-Q3 Owner reports 5
2017-Q4 Owner reports 6
2018-Q1 Owner reports 2
2018-Q2 Owner reports 3
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 4
2019-Q2 Owner reports 4
2019-Q3 Owner reports 3
2019-Q4 Owner reports 3
2020-Q1 Owner reports 4
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q4 Owner reports 6
2021-Q1 Owner reports 3
2021-Q2 Owner reports 1
2021-Q3 Owner reports 5
2021-Q4 Owner reports 2
2022-Q1 Owner reports 2
2022-Q3 Owner reports 1
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 4
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 5
2024-Q2 Owner reports 6
2024-Q3 Owner reports 5
2024-Q4 Owner reports 7
2025-Q1 Owner reports 3
2025-Q2 Owner reports 2
2025-Q3 Owner reports 3
2026-Q1 Owner reports 1
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 15V621000
Recall campaign 1 16V684000
Recall campaign 1 16V685000
Recall campaign 1 17V393000
Recall campaign 1 19V272000
Recall campaign 1 23V487000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (6)

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

In short, these campaigns were filed about Fuel system, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Rear camera / backup safety.

  1. Recall campaign 15V621000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  2. Recall campaign 16V684000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  3. Recall campaign 16V685000

    Fuel system

    Report date
    Component:
    Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
    Consequence:
    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 recirculation pipe 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 0216I.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  4. Recall campaign 17V393000

    Safety recall 17V393000

    Report date
    Component:
    Not available in the source record
    Consequence:
    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.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  5. Recall campaign 19V272000

    Glass / wipers / cameras

    Report date
    Component:
    Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY)
    Consequence:
    Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
    Remedy:
    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.
    View authoritative NHTSA record →

  6. Recall campaign 23V487000

    Rear camera / backup safety

    Report date
    Component:
    Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION)
    Consequence:
    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.
    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 103 complaints · page 1 of 5
2026-05-12STEERING
NHTSA ODI 11737400
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 steering wheel felt loose while driving at high speeds, fearing that he would lose control of the vehicle if he did not firmly grip the steering wheel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer where they acknowledged that the heard the noise coming from the vehicle; however, they could not duplicate or diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
2026-01-08Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11709605
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 inoperable due to the failure. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact expressed concerns that the inoperable instrument cluster created a hazardous and unsafe condition due to the complete loss of instrument panel functionality. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.
2025-08-15Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11680982
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The “spidering” on the infotainment screen is spidering making it hard to see when in reverse.
2025-08-06Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN)
NHTSA ODI 11678732
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 was inaccurate in prior days, which may have been an early sign of failure •There was no protection mechanism to prevent complete drivetrain failure during normal use.
2025-07-28Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11676724
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The "Infotainment System" is activating itself and cycling through various options when I slow down or stop. It calls random numbers and changes settings on the system. It is distracting and dangerous. This is a known "ghost touch" problem for this model of vehicle, but the Mazda dealer I contacted in Knoxville, TN said it would cost nearly $300 to repair the problem (by replacing the entire system).
2025-06-18Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11667630
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Mazda supposedly repaired/replaced the backup camera issue under the recall. However, within one day it was doing the same thing again...the screen dims or flickers off when backing up the car. I told Mazda about that and they said I need a new screen, which would not be covered under the recall. This is a safety hazard that they should be required to address.
2025-04-24SEAT BELTS
NHTSA ODI 11656620
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
2025-02-06Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11641207
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The 2014 Mazda3 I own has a known "Mazda Connect Touch Screen Concern" in August 2019 in which the Mazda Connect touch screen does not accept touch commands in part of the screen. I called Mazda and they said there are not any recalls for this but they did acknowledge this was an issue.
2025-01-23Parking brake (PARKING BRAKE)
NHTSA ODI 11637981
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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 recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact checked the temperature of the brakes and noticed that the brakes were hotter than normal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the parking brake actuator was rusted on the inside. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 188,900.
2025-01-15Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11636134
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. Please see the attached screenshot of the website. Thanks.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners named Rear camera / backup safety most often — 11 of 103 reports (11%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

NHTSA lists 6 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about Fuel system, Glass / wipers / cameras, and Rear camera / backup safety. 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 2016 Mazda MAZDA3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed. 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