KnownCarProblems2011 Mazda Mazda3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 132 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Mazda Mazda3, most often about the air bags (22% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is 8th of 23 Mazda3 model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2011 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Air bags
29 complaints · 22%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, sensor.
The drivers seat will sometimes come out of its track, and not lock in securely. When the seat is locked, it seems to be ok, but if I should move the seat forward to accommodate for a rear passenger its like the seat will not sit squarely in the track, and it will either sink, or elevate at one corner and slide…
The vehicle was parked for 2 days then when the vehicle was started the airbag light went through it's normal procedure. After a brief pause, the airbag light flashed once then paused and then flashed six times. Then, the passenger airbag indicator on the dash came on and remained on, indicating the passenger airbag…
Seats
20 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 72,000 miles.
While driving my 2011 Mazda 3 grand touring hatchback I heard a loud snapping sound. Upon hearing that sound. I practically wound up in the back seat. It appears that either a weld broke or a bolt snapped somewhere at the bottom in the back of the seat on the right. I almost lost complete control of my car. Luckily I…
The drivers seat will sometimes come out of its track, and not lock in securely. When the seat is locked, it seems to be ok, but if I should move the seat forward to accommodate for a rear passenger its like the seat will not sit squarely in the track, and it will either sink, or elevate at one corner and slide…
Other or unspecified
18 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles.
My dashboard has seperated from my control panel due to heat in florida even though I use sun visor each day. Also I notice that the electronis door locks fail to work when attempting to unlock the door, after turning the keu to the open position and returning the key back to the start possition the car re locks…
I left the lights on and this drained the battery. I had my jumper cables in the spare-wheel compartment. There was no way to open the hatch (fifty door) from the inside, or any other way. Seems like the only way that the back door opens is electronically. This is a flaw in testing and design, this needs addressed for…
Electrical
15 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
Passenger headlamp getting excessive condenstation build up after car wash or rain storm eventually causes hid bulb and ballast failure due to short caused by water ingress. Housing has been changed and still leaks in almost exact same pattern as old housing. This is a safety defect as it affects my ability to safely…
My dashboard has seperated from my control panel due to heat in florida even though I use sun visor each day. Also I notice that the electronis door locks fail to work when attempting to unlock the door, after turning the keu to the open position and returning the key back to the start possition the car re locks…
Steering
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 65,000 miles.
On april 8 while picking up my daughter from school on nautilus street in la jolla, pointed downhill on a steep grade, my idling vehicle lost power without warning, I lost control of steering and brakes had to stop the vehicle with the handbrake, the passenger car door was open at the time my daughter was trying to…
While driving the vehicle on city streets and highway the power steering stopped functioning. Causing the vehicle to be manuel steering. A less expierianced driver was opperating the vehicle at the time. Had him turn the car off wait a short time and start the car. Power steering was back. Problem persisted and the…
Body and structure
13 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Hood latch striker rusts at its welding point. If it separates from the hood, following may occur during vehicle movement: 1. Hood opens and impacts driver front visibility 2. Hood brakes the windshield and potentially injures the driver 3. Hood separates from the vehicle and impacts other drivers (behind)
After parking, I was unable to exit the car. The cable connecting the inside door handle to the door latch had snapped. The only way to exit car is to climb over seat to passenger side, or roll down window and open door using outside handle. There is a similar item I found: NHTSA action number: 10033728.
Transmission
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 27,500 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission.
I went on a trip and had my tires rotated and no brake work had been done to my car. The dealer that rotated tires mechanic called me to look at my car and showed me that my brakes were wearing unevenly. The one on the right side had about 10mm of brake pad on it and the left side had only about 3mm of brake pad left.…
I first took my car in to the dealer when I noticed the clutch slipping after I shifted or when I accelerated at freeway speeds. Now, after 16 days, I finally have my 2011 Mazda 3 back with a completely new clutch assembly. Mazda paid 50%, not including the rental car. My final bill: $700 (not including the rental car…
Lights
10 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles.
Vehicle headlight failed due to faulty seal allowing moisture to enter the headlight assembly. I brought the headlight into the dealer while still under warranty when I noticed moisture in the headlight but before it failed. My claim was denied stating that it was a cosmetic issue. Now this is a safety issue that…
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda 3. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed water in the passenger side head lamp. As a result, the head lamp failed to illuminate. The dealer diagnosed that the head lamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was also included in NHTSA campaign number…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2011 Mazda Mazda3 recalls
Seats
Risk: If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began april 7, 2017. Owners may contact mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917b.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain 2011 mazda2 and 2010-2011 mazda3 and mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
Body and structure: hatchback/liftgate
Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
Mazda north american operations (mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 mazda3 and mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured november 18, 2008, to june 8, 2013, 2012-2015 mazda5 vehicles manufactured october 26, 2010, to june 22, 2015, 2016 cx-3 vehicles manufactured june 1, 2015, to december 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 cx-5 vehicles manufactured december 15, 2011, to december 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Questions about the 2011 Mazda Mazda3
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mazda Mazda3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: air bags (29 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); seats (20 complaints, typically around 72,000 miles); other or unspecified (18 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 9, 2017 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2011 a bad year for the Mazda Mazda3?
- It is 8th of 23 Mazda3 model years by number of complaints, with 132 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.