KnownCarProblems2013 Mazda Mazda3 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mazda Mazda3, most often about the lights (31% of complaints, typically around 45,500 miles). It is 10th of 23 Mazda3 model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Lights
36 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: headlights.
The headlights on a newly purchased used 2013 Mazda 3 flickering when applying the brakes. This is especially dangerous while driving on unlit streets at night. Trying to determine if there is a covered manufactured issue. This is while vehicle is in motion and being driven.
My headlights dim and flicker, most noticeably when applying the brakes. It was barely noticable at first. My son-in-law, who is an auto and diesel mechanic, brought it to my attention in december 2017 when he was driving it. It is getting worse and becoming more and more of a problem, making it hard to see…
Electrical
32 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles.
My headlights dim and flicker, most noticeably when applying the brakes. It was barely noticable at first. My son-in-law, who is an auto and diesel mechanic, brought it to my attention in december 2017 when he was driving it. It is getting worse and becoming more and more of a problem, making it hard to see…
A few weeks ago, the low battery indicator came on indicating that I needed to replace my key fob battery. My car has a keyless ignition/ push-button start. I replaced the battery in each of my key fobs about a week later. After an additional week, my car will not start with either key fob. The dashboard states that…
Transmission
18 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 28,500 miles.
The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while stopped at a stop light, the vehicle revved and violently jerked forward without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage…
When breaking my headlights flicker on and off. It only occurs when breaking. Second issue: when backing up from reverse gear and putting car into drive the transmission hesitates to engage and the car surges forward like it is not in gear. It will also make a metal on metal sound when foot is not on the brake pedal.…
Brakes
15 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 49,500 miles.
Headlights flicker while applying brakes. Problem occurs only when the car is in motion. Sometimes cars think I am flashing my lights at them so they will turn their bright lights on. Once I almost drove off the side of a winding road because when the flickering lights bounced off of the guard rail reflectors, it was…
My headlights dim and flicker, most noticeably when applying the brakes. It was barely noticable at first. My son-in-law, who is an auto and diesel mechanic, brought it to my attention in december 2017 when he was driving it. It is getting worse and becoming more and more of a problem, making it hard to see…
Engine
11 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 16,000 miles.
I started the car and the check engine light came on. Shifted into gear the "at" light came on. Brought it in for service and they need to replace the "trans valvebody". Looks like a recurring theme here. The car is a 2013 Mazda3 I grand touring hatchback that is only about 7 months old and has less than 7000 miles.
While driving the car engine suddenly turns off. Radio and headlights remain on, but power steering stops functioning. This has happened 5 times, 4 times on surface streets and once merging onto the highway. Local Mazda dealership could not find anything wrong the two times I have taken it in. There is no code being…
Body and structure
11 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: body.
A few months ago, I bumped a pickup truck - at perhaps 2 or 3 MPH. Air bags didn't deploy, but my car sustained over $4,000 in body damage from this very minor incident. Yesterday, I came back from the store and found that someone had backed into the front of the car with an SUV or something, and the whole left front…
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury. This is a current recall on other models but is not currently listed for my vehicle. It definitely effects my car and would like my model added to the current recall.
Other or unspecified
10 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 38,000 miles.
I purchased a 2013 Mazda 3 in march or 2020 with about 35000miles. About two months later I put down my back seats for the first time and noticed the middle seat buckle was fringed and looked cut about a half of inch in. It could not retract due to the buckle snagging on the cut. It is november 2020 and I have now…
On april 27, 2016 I noticed a gap between the screen or my information display and the upper portion of the dashboard. I asked my local body shop if it was related to something else they had just taken care of; the owner looked into it, spoke to dome local dealerships, and told me it's a known problem with Mazda…
Seats
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 62,500 miles.
The vehicle was stationary and was struck from behind at approximately 30mph. The ratcheting system that controls the recline of the drivers seat failed causing the seat to recline as a result of the impact.
The swing arm that attaches the driver's seat to the left-side seat runner unexpectedly detached. Close inspection revealed that this was caused by a weld failure / metal fatigue at the point where the arm was welded to the rod that runs below the cushion. The seat is now unstable and rocks in an alarming way, both…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2013 Mazda Mazda3 recalls
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 2013 Mazda Mazda3
- What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mazda Mazda3?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (36 complaints, typically around 45,500 miles); electrical (32 complaints, typically around 49,000 miles); transmission (18 complaints, typically around 28,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 6, 2016 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2013 a bad year for the Mazda Mazda3?
- It is 10th of 23 Mazda3 model years by number of complaints, with 117 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.