2013 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
176 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2013 Mazda Mazda3, alongside 1 recall campaign and 1 defect investigation. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports, typically around 47,498 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2013 sits among all Mazda3 years
What owners report
“When decelerating (braking) headlights flicker. This makes night time driving dangerous & difficult.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2013 Mazda3
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 119 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 41,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 28,000 and 65,000 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
503 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2013 Mazda Mazda3. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2013 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 2013 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2013 Mazda Mazda3 drew 176 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 are electrical (68 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (18), and brakes & stability (15).
At what mileage do 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems around 41,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 28,000 and 65,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2013 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.