2016 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
137 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, alongside 6 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Other leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2016 sits among all Mazda3 years
What owners report
“Reverse camera stops working at random for several hours at a time. Mazda has issued a recall for this issue but has yet to offer repair”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Mazda3
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 61 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 36,112 miles. Half of those reports fall between 19,000 and 58,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (6)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
Fix: 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…
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility.
Fix: 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…
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices…
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from…
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the recirculation pipe weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1,…
Mazda Motors North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured January 4, 2014, to September 18, 2015. The fuel tank of the affected vehicles may have been improperly handled during manufacturing and, as…
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2016. Owners…
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured May 21, 2015, to August 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank with a shut-off valve that can allow fuel to enter into the…
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free…
Technical service bulletins
666 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 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 2016 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2016 Mazda Mazda3 drew 137 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2016 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 are other (27 complaints), electrical (23), and brakes & stability (19).
At what mileage do 2016 Mazda Mazda3 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Mazda Mazda3 problems around 36,112 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 19,000 and 58,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 have recalls?
6 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Mazda Mazda3. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
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.