2012 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
328 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 35/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 60,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2012 sits among all Mazda3 years
What owners report
“When the vehicle slows down or i hit the brakes, the headlights and interior lights flicker.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Mazda3
“The shifter assembly (tiptronic) fails to change gears when using the "manual" mode. Vehicle has 64k miles. Vehicle was serviced for same issue 3 years prior.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Mazda3
“Dashboard is lifting and its suppose to be covered under warranty for replacement per mazda. But mazda dealers decline to fix it under warranty claiming the 10 years are up. This is a lie. The vehicle is a 2012. Its 2020.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Mazda3
“Mass airflow sensor failed at 38,000 miles causing the car to stall and wouldn't restart.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2012 Mazda3
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 250 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 38,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 17,030 and 64,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
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…
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…
Federal defect investigations
Still open as of the last data refresh. An investigation is not a recall; it may close with no action. All open investigations →
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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,…
Technical service bulletins
444 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2012 Mazda3 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 drew 328 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 35/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 are electrical (56 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (40), and other (37).
At what mileage do 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems around 38,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 17,030 and 64,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2012 Mazda Mazda3. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.