2017 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems and Recalls (83 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 2017 Mazda MAZDA3 is Electrical (13% of 83 owner reports). There are 2 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Electrical — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 83 complaints · 2 recalls

What problems show up on the 2017 Mazda MAZDA3?

11 of 83 filings named Electrical (13% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Rear camera / backup safety (9 reports).

There are 2 official safety recalls on this year. They were filed about 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 2016 has 103 reports on file; this year has 83. 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 2017 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 2 campaigns on file below.
  2. Electrical. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on.
  3. Rear camera / backup safety. Confirm the rear camera works and that related campaigns are closed.
  4. Brakes. Have a shop check pads, rotors, fluid and whether the pedal feels firm.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Electrical. 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: Electrical 11 complaints · 13.3% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 6
  • Fires 0
  • Injuries 1
  • 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 Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) appears in 11 of 83 owner complaints (13.3%) in this vehicle snapshot. Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 11 complaints, 13.3% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 11 · 13.3% Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION): 9 complaints, 10.8% of reports Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 9 · 10.8% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 5 complaints, 6.0% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 2 crash reports 5 · 6.0% Engine (ENGINE): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 4 · 4.8% Body / frame (STRUCTURE): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 1 crash reports 4 · 4.8% Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY): 4 complaints, 4.8% of reports Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 · 4.8% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 3 complaints, 3.6% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 · 3.6% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 3 complaints, 3.6% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 crash reports 3 · 3.6% Wheels (WHEELS): 3 complaints, 3.6% of reports Wheels (WHEELS) 3 · 3.6% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 35 complaints, 42.2% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 35 · 42.2% 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)
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 11 13.3% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) 9 10.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 5 6.0% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 4 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Body / frame (STRUCTURE) 4 4.8% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Glass / wipers / cameras (VISIBILITY) 4 4.8% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 3 3.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 3 3.6% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Wheels (WHEELS) 3 3.6% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 35 42.2% 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 2017; the first recall shown was reported in Apr 2019. 2017-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2017-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q1: 3 owner reports 3 2018-Q2: 5 owner reports 5 2018-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2018-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 2019-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2019-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q1: 5 owner reports 5 2020-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2020-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2020-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2021-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2021-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2022-Q4: 4 owner reports 4 2023-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2023-Q3: 2 owner reports 2 2023-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2024-Q2: 11 owner reports 11 2024-Q3: 7 owner reports 7 2024-Q4: 7 owner reports 7 2025-Q1: 4 owner reports 4 2025-Q2: 3 owner reports 3 2025-Q3: 5 owner reports 5 2026-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Apr 2017 Apr 2026 Recall campaign 19V272000 ◆ Recall campaign 19V272000 Recall campaign 23V487000 ◆ Recall campaign 23V487000
  • Campaign 23V487000 was reported 241 days after the first earlier complaint mapped to its component.
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
2017-Q2 Owner reports 1
2017-Q4 Owner reports 1
2018-Q1 Owner reports 3
2018-Q2 Owner reports 5
2018-Q3 Owner reports 1
2018-Q4 Owner reports 1
2019-Q2 Owner reports 2
2019-Q3 Owner reports 2
2019-Q4 Owner reports 2
2020-Q1 Owner reports 5
2020-Q2 Owner reports 1
2020-Q3 Owner reports 2
2020-Q4 Owner reports 2
2021-Q1 Owner reports 1
2021-Q2 Owner reports 2
2021-Q3 Owner reports 1
2022-Q1 Owner reports 1
2022-Q4 Owner reports 4
2023-Q1 Owner reports 1
2023-Q2 Owner reports 1
2023-Q3 Owner reports 2
2023-Q4 Owner reports 2
2024-Q1 Owner reports 2
2024-Q2 Owner reports 11
2024-Q3 Owner reports 7
2024-Q4 Owner reports 7
2025-Q1 Owner reports 4
2025-Q2 Owner reports 3
2025-Q3 Owner reports 5
2026-Q2 Owner reports 1
Recall campaign 1 19V272000
Recall campaign 1 23V487000
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (2)

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

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

  1. 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 →

  2. 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 7 of 83 complaints · page 1 of 4
2026-04-16EXTERIOR LIGHTING
NHTSA ODI 11731744
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Many modern trucks, SUVs, and cars use LED headlights that are excessively bright and create dangerous glare. When approaching these vehicles from the opposite direction, the headlights can be blinding — similar to having a flashlight shined directly into your eyes — causing temporary loss of visibility. The glare also affects drivers traveling in the same direction, as the intense light reflects sharply off rear‑view and side mirrors. This creates a persistent distraction and makes it difficult to maintain safe awareness of the road. This issue is widespread across many vehicle types and appears to be related to the brightness and mounting height of LED headlights, especially on larger vehicles. It poses a significant safety hazard and should be investigated as a systemic lighting problem.
2025-09-11Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11686763
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Anytime the tank was filled with gas there was a strong smell of gasoline vapors that persisted for several days. The car was a few months past its warranty on emissions issues and so I was charged about $1500 to replace a cracked fuel pump and fuel vent that was stuck open. The mechanic also said that the check engine light should have warned me about the problem but that neither the dashboard light nor his diagnostic equipment was triggered by the defect. He suspects the car's computer is programmed to avoid drawing attention to the problem. Had the light been working I would likely have caught the problem while it was still under warranty.
2025-07-28Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM)
NHTSA ODI 11676786
CrashFireInjuryDeath
Repeated instances of the Mazda Infotainment system making changes randomly without any user input while driving. Repeated instances of the navigation system freezing, going black, rebooting while driving.
2025-07-25Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11676190
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The original OEM radio in my Mazda has been experiencing persistent ghost touch issues, making it incredibly frustrating to use. The screen often registers inputs without me touching it, leading to random changes in volume, station selections, and menu navigation. As a result, I find myself unable to rely on my radio for music or navigation, which significantly detracts from my driving experience. I’m considering possible solutions, but for now, it's an inconvenience that I can't overlook.
2025-07-18Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11674432
CrashFireInjuryDeath
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -> Infotainment display has "ghost touch" issue. Infotainment starts acting up on its own without driver input. It changes radio station automatically, places a call randomly, disconnects call randomly. This is caused by the touchscreen digitizer, the display lens of poor quality which leads to webbing or cracking on the inside. This leads to loss of touch and ghost touch issue 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? -> It is distracting to the driver when the radio station is switch automatically. It sometimes freaks me out. When the infotainment places call to someone back to back, I need to keep disconnecting the call manually. It creates an unsafe environment for the driver. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? -> Yes, the issue is acknowledged by the dealer, but refused to fix it. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? -> No. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? -> No. There is no warning. It appeared 2 years ago with mild discolored screen, then it lead to webbing/cracks on the inside
2025-07-08Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11671873
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The screen that displays the backup camera image has an issue that makes it difficult to see the backup camera feed clearly. The screen appeared like this unexpectedly when I returned to my car after a work day. The only warning was a malfunction of the screen's touch function for the last several months.
2025-06-13Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 11666760
CrashFireInjuryDeath
The infotainment screen in my Mazda 3 will act as if buttons are being pressed without buttons actually being pressed. It a distraction and unsafe. I've noticed that other Mazdas had issues with this as well and were given extended warranties to fix this problem. Why not the 2017 Mazda 3? I talked to a mechanic about fixing it and it's very expensive yet it's a widespread Mazda problem. Someone is going to crash because of this.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 2017 Mazda MAZDA3?

Owners named Electrical most often — 11 of 83 reports (13%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 2017 Mazda MAZDA3?

NHTSA lists 2 safety recall campaigns. They were filed about 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 2017 Mazda MAZDA3?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Have a shop scan for stored codes and check battery, charging and any warning lights that stay on. 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