Home · 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback · Complaints

What 138 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (138)Crash / fire / injury (12)Electrical system (27)Fuel system (24)Brakes (22)Engine (13)Backup camera & sensors (11)Speed control (9)Parking Brake (8)Transmission & drivetrain (7)Seat belts (5)Visibility & wipers (5)

Newest first · 138 complaints · page 4 of 6

Apr 7, 2019Parking BrakeBrakes

I BOUGHT MY 2014 MAZDA 3 IN NOVEMBER 2013. DURING THE FIRST 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE CAR, MY DIVER SIDE REAR CALIPER FROZE CAUSING ME TO PAY ALMOST 900 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE CALIPER, BOTH REAR PADS, BOTH REAR ROTORS, AND LABOR. A MAJOR REASON FOR THE INFLATED PRICE WAS DUE TO THE CALIPERS BEING A SPECIALTY ITEM WHICH NOT ONLY MADE THEM EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE BUT ALSO TOOK WEEKS TO GET DELIVERED. FAST FORWARD ANOTHER FIVE MONTHS LATER MY REAR SIDE PASSENGER CALIPER FROZE. SO, ONCE AGAIN I HAD TO PAY CLOSE TO 900 DOLLARS AND WAIT WEEKS FOR THE CALIPER TO COME IN. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE MAZDA CERTIFIED MECHANICS AS WELL AS THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SHOP MANAGERS TO KEEP MY RECEIPTS BECAUSE THE BRAKES I HAD WERE FREEZING ON A LOT OF THE NEW STYLE 2014 MAZDA 3S. FINALLY IN 2017, THE RECALL FINALLY POSTED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM, CENTRAL MAZDA IN PLAINFIELD, CT, AND WAS TOLD MY VIN DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH IT. APPARENTLY, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR HAD THE EXACT PART THAT WAS BEING RECALLED, AS WELL AS THE ISSUES DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL FITTING EXACTLY TO MY ISSUE, MY CAR WAS MADE IN 2013 WHICH THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE. I WAS TOLD TO CALL MAZDA TO SEE IF SOMETHING COULD BE DONE DUE TO MY SITUATION OBVIOUSLY BEING EXACTLY WHAT THE RECALL WAS POSTED FOR. UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE AGAIN I WAS TOLD BY MAZDA THAT MY ISSUE WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE RECALL DUE MY CAR BEING MANUFACTURED BEFORE THE DATE FOR THE RECALLED CARS. IN CONCLUSION , I WAS STIFFED WITH A BILL FOR ALMOST 2,000 DOLLARS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR, AS WELL AS WEEKS OF HEADACHES DUE TO NOT HAVING MY CAR. I HAVE HAD A GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH THE CAR AFTER THIS ISSUE WAS FINALLY FIXED, BUT I WILL NEVER BUY A OTHER MAZDA DUE TO THE WAY I WAS TREATED. IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MANIPULATIVE WAY MAZDA CLAIMED NO RESPONSIBILITY, I WOULD BE A RETURNING MAZDA CUSTOMER.

NHTSA ODI 11194415

Mar 23, 2019Parking BrakeBrakes

I NOTICED THAT MY PARKING BRAKE (EMERGENCY BRAKE) DID NOT FEEL AS STURDY AS IT HAD BEEN. IT FELT AS IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FULLY PULLED UP, BUT IT HAD BEEN. I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION AND PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING LOT, WHICH WAS FLAT. I TRIED TO PULL THE PARKING BRAKES, BUT IT WOULD NOT GO UP AT ALL. IF I HOLD ON TO THE PARKING BRAKE, IT WORKS, BUT THE LEVER WILL NOT STAY UP. THERE IS A RECALL ON PARKING BRAKES FOR THIS MODEL, BUT NOT FOR MY VIN. THIS SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD REACH A WIDER SPAN OF MAZDAS THIS MODEL.

NHTSA ODI 11191147

Mar 22, 2019

I HAVE 2 ISSUES. THE MOST DANGEROUS ONE IS THE ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. IT JUMPS AROUND FROM PHONE TO RADIO TO CONTACTS TO MUSIC AND RANDOMLY MAKES CALLS, PLAYS THE RADIO, AND CANNOT BE CONTROLLED. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AS IT IS DISTRACTING TO DRIVER. WHEN IT MAKE CALLS IT CANNOT BE DISCONNECTED AND WHICHEVER SCREEN IS DISPLAYED IT ACTS AS IF SOMEONE IS CONSTANTLY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE SYSTEM. RADIO STATIONS CHANGE AND PHONE CALLS ARE MADE THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT HALF OF THE SCREEN IS CRACKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING ON IT. BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED BY MAZDA BUT DID NOT REPAIR IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN. THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE SCREEN BUT I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE UNCONTROLLED SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS WARM OUTSIDE. I HAVE READ MANY OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINTS FOR BOTH OF THESE ISSUES. THESE ISSUES ARE MOSTLY WHEN I AM STOPPED BUT CONTINUES WHEN I AM MOVING. SINCE MAZDA DOES RECOGNIZE THESE PROBLEMS AND HAVE DIRECTIONS FOR CORRECTING THEM, THEY STILL WANT ME TO PAY FOR A NEW SCREEN AND SYSTEM

NHTSA ODI 11190930

Mar 2, 2019Brakes

TOOK MY 2014 MAZDA3 IGT HATCH TO A LOCAL SHOP TO HAVE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. TECH INFORMED ME THAT HE NOTICED ONE SIDE ON THE REAR WAS WORN MORE THAN THE OTHERS. PARKED ON A HILL THE NEXT DAY AND NOTICED THE PARKING BRAKE HAD A LOT MORE PLAY THAN NORMAL. THE PARKING BRAKE COULD NOT HOLD THE CAR WHEN PULLED ALL THE WAY UP. CAR ROLLED FORWARD IF SHIFTER WAS IN NEUTRAL WITH PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. TOOK CAR TO MARTIN MAZDA IN NEWARK, DELAWARE TO HAVE BRAKE FUNCTION CHECKED. FROM INVOICE: "FOUND INTERNAL MALFUNCTION IN DRIVERS SIDE CALIPER WITH E-BRAKE OPERATION, REQUESTED P/A ON CALIPER FOR REPAIR, CALIPER IS WORKING HYDRAULICALLY." THEY DID NOT HAVE THE CALIPER IN STOCK SO I HAVE TO RETURN WHEN THE PART COMES IN. CHECKING ONLINE, I FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (NHTSA RECALL NO. 17V-393 / MFR RECALL NO.1217F) BUT MY VIN IS NOT COVERED. I HAVE THE SAME E-BRAKE PROBLEM, AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED IN COLD WEATHER JUST AS THE RECALL STATES. THIS RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

NHTSA ODI 11183584

Feb 27, 2019Engine

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE PAST 35-40 MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR ENGINE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A MONTH AND HALF LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND ANOTHER ENGINE COIL IS NEEDING REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ODI 11182908

Jan 31, 2019Electrical system

UNFORTUNATELY A PICTURE WILL NOT WORK FOR WHAT US HAPPENING IN MY VEHICLE. THE NAVIGATION HUB IN MY VEHICLE WITH START TO PHANTOM PRESS BUTTONS WHEN STOPPED OR DRIVING. WHEN STOPPED IT WILL START TO OPEN MENUS AND CHANGE SETTINGS AS WELL AS OPEN THE PHONE AND ATTEMPT TO DIAL NUMBERS ON IT OWN. THIS CAN BE VERY DISTRACTING WHILE STOPPED AS IT IS CONSTANTLY BEEPING AND CLICKING WHICH PREVENTS ME FROM PAYING ATTENTION. WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION IT IS UNABLE TO DIAL NUMBERS BUT WILL STILL GO INTO MENUS AND START CHANGING SETTINGS WHICH IS A HUGE DISTRACTION FROM THE ROAD WHILE DRIVING. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF THE SYSTEM AND IF YOU TRY TO MUTE IT WITH THE MUTE BUTTON THE SYSTEM HAS UNLIMITED ITSELF AND CONTINUED TO RAPIDLY CHANGE SETTING OR SELECT DIFFERENT THINGS WITHIN THE MENU ALL THE WHILE MAKING VERY AUDIBLE AND DISTRACTING NOISES. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN SEEN IN MANY FORUMS AND MAZDA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS. MY FEAR IS THAT OF THE FACT THAT IT CAN TAKE YOUR ATTENTION AWAY FROM DRIVING WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. IT IS NOT A CONSISTENT CONDITION THOUGH AND WILL NOT DO IT FOR DAYS, WEEKS OR MONTHS BUT THEN WILL ALL OF A SUDDEN START UP AGAIN. RESETTING THE SYSTEM DOES NOTHING TO FIX THIS AS WELL AS TURNING THE CAR OFF THEN ON AGAIN. I HOPE THAT THIS ISSUE MAY BE RECALLED AS IT POSES SAFETY HAZARDS FOR ANYONE WITH THIS PROBLEM TO BE DISTRACTED AND NOT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE ROAD WHICH COULD LEAD TO TRAFFIC COLLISIONS ESPECIALLY IN IN CLIMATE WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI 11173266

Jan 2, 2019Electrical systemEngine

OCCASIONALLY THE ENGINE WILL HESITATE WHEN ACCELERATING, AND THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TPM, AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE DASH. LESS FREQUENTLY, THE ENGINE WILL OCCASIONALLY STALL WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD WILL REMAIN ILLUMINATED, SO I DO NOT THINK IT'S A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA ODI 11164555

Oct 30, 2018Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD STALLED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO WARNING. THE DEALER HERITAGE MAZDA CATONSVILLE (6616 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, CATONSVILLE, MD 21228, 1-(844) 224-1951) RECHARGED THE BATTERY AS AN INTERIM REPAIR DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT LOSS OF POWER. HOWEVER, THEY HAD NOT PROVIDED A PERMANENT REMEDY SO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WITHIN DAYS, THE VEHICLE HAD CONTINUED TO HAVE A LOSS OF POWER AND STALLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NO RECALL CAMPAIGN AND HAD ONLY 1 TSB ON THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL WHICH WAS UNACCEPTABLE TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL CAMPAIGN TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION SO THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF THE VEHICLE MAY BE REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11144176

Oct 27, 2018Lights

LED DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS FLICKERING GOING DIM AND THEN BRIGHT WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON, AND THE CAR IS IN GEAR.

NHTSA ODI 11143312

Oct 14, 2018Parking BrakeBrakes

PARKING BRAKES WILL NOT HOLD CAR, EVEN AFTER ADJUSTING THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11140245

Sep 17, 2018Electrical system

MY INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM AND BACKUP CAMERA IS ERRATIC. THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM WELL AUTOMATICALLY DIAL TELEPHONE NUMBERS, CHANGE CHANNELS AND RANDOMLY CHANGE OTHER ITEMS. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING. MY BACKUP CAMERA ALSO INTERMITTENTLY CUTS OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11129960

Aug 31, 2018Electrical system

THE 2014 MAZDA 3 HAS A NOTICE BULLETIN REGARDING A KNOWN ISSUE ON THE RADIO AND CONNECT SYSTEM FAILING. MAZDA WILL NOT REPLACE OR FIX THIS ISSUE WITHOUT TELLING CUSTOMERS TO PAY $1010 FOR A NEW HARDWARE UNIT WHICH SOME HAVE REPORTED NOT FIXING THE ISSUE. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART AS IT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE COMPUTER OF THE CAR BY NOT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO CONTROL THE RADIO, MAINTENANCE, HANDS FREE COMMUNICATION, NAVIGATION, AND CAR SETTINGS. SHAME ON MAZDA

NHTSA ODI 11123645

Jul 7, 2018Seat belts

REAR PASSANGER SEAT BELT FAILED IN LOCK POSITION NOTHING IN IT NO CANDY ECT AND STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION REFUSES TO LOCK BELT CURRENT MILEAGE 37989 JUST OUT OF BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTEE

NHTSA ODI 11110039

Mar 20, 2018Electronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

AFTER A CAR WASH AT HOME, THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR AND THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR SENSOR ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE BOTH FAILED. THE UNDERLYING SYSTEMS CONTINUED TO FUNCTION BUT DUE TO THE SENSOR FAILURE, WARNING LIGHTS FOR BOTH SYSTEMS SHOWED UP ON THE DASH AND ABS BRAKES WERE UNAVAILABLE. REPAIR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ABS MODULE.

NHTSA ODI 11080379

Mar 13, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

MY DAUGHTER'S 2014 MAZDA3 TRANSAXLE WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE. UPON DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH, WE DISCOVERED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) THAT ADDRESSED THIS SITUATION. THE TSB #'S ARE 05-008/16, 05-005/15 AND 05-004/14, AND MENTIONED A BEARING IN THE TRANSAXLE WILL BE DAMAGED DUE TO AN IMPROPER CONFIGURATION OF THE TRANSAXLE CASE. IN OTHER WORDS THE TRANSAXLE CASE WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND THE TRANSMISSION CANNOT BE REBUILT. WE VISITED SEVERAL MAZDA DEALERS WHOM VERIFY THE TSB ADDRESSED THE SITUATION. MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER THE $5,000 COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS PURCHASED OF THE IMPENDING PROBLEM, AND THAT IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE TRANSAXLE WOULD EVENTUALLY FAIL, MOST LIKELY ONCE OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY PERIOD, WHICH IS JUST WHAT HAPPENED. THE TRANSAXLE FAILED AT 70,000 MILES, 10,000 MILES OVER THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY, BUT IT WAS WELL WITHIN THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY PERIOD. WE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH AT LEAST A DOZEN LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS FOR ALTERNATIVES AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY WE ALSO SUBMITTED AN AUTO COMPLAINT FORM TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU (BBB), AND SPOKE WITH THE STATE OF WISCONSIN CONSUMER PROTECTOR DEPARTMENT, ALONG WITH THE LEMON LAW AUTO AREA. WE CONTACTED MAZDA USA'S 800# AND THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED TRYING TO OBTAIN A MORE FAVORABLE RESOLUTION. WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE SERVICE MANAGER AND MAZDA ZONE REPRESENTATIVE, MAZDA USA PRESENTED US WITH A FINAL OFFER OF $2,500 FOR A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANS-AXLE. WITH NO OTHER AVENUE AVAILABLE, WE DECIDED TO HAVE THE REPAIR DONE AT A FINAL COST OF $2,572. WE FEEL MAZDA SHOULD HAVE ISSUED A RECALL NOTICE TO FIX THIS SITUATION BACK IN EARLY 2014. THEY KNEW WHICH CARS MANUFACTURED WOULD HAVE THE PROBLEM AND AT WHAT POINT IN TIME THE TRANS-AXLES WOULD FAIL. WE ARE ALL VERY DISSATISFIED WITH MAZDA USA.

NHTSA ODI 11078911

Feb 27, 2018Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR BRAKES EMITTED EXTREME HEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INSPECTION STATION WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKES WERE WORN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000. *TT *TR

NHTSA ODI 11075169

Feb 27, 20181 injury

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY IN THE SNOW/RAIN MIX WHEN I HEARD A LOUD BANG! I THOUGH I WAS HIT BY ANOTHER CAR BUT WHEN I LOOKED AROUND I NOTICED THE GLASS OF MY SUNROOF HAD SHATTERED AND SOME GLASS FELL ON ME. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, THE SUNROOF HAD ACTUALLY BLEW OUT AND UPWARDS FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHO THEN SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO MAZDA. ALTHOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF LATENT DEFECTS IN SUNROOFS, THEY REFUSE TO REPAIR/REPLACE MINE. IT'S COLD AND RAINING HERE AND I HAVE PART OF MY CAR ROOF MISSING DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT THAT I KEEP READING ABOUT ALL OVER THE INTERNET. THIS IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE HAPPEN AND THESE SUNROOFS SHOULD BE REPLACED. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY THINKING I WAS EITHER HIT OR SHOT AT! I HAVE IMAGES UPON REQUEST AS THEY ARE NOT LOADED ON THIS COMPUTER.

NHTSA ODI 11075234

Jan 13, 2018Brakes

EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGES WHILE DRIVING & WILL NOT RELEASE. (EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHER MAZDAS WERE RECALLED.) OCCURRED ON BOTH CITY STREETS & HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11062549

Jan 12, 2018

SUNROOF GLASS SHATTERED IN VERY COLD WEATHER. GLASS ACTUALLY EXPLODED. VEHICLE STATIONARY AT STOPLIGHT ON CITY STREET

NHTSA ODI 11062456

Dec 4, 2017Parking BrakeBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WYOMING VALLEY PORSCHE, AUDI, MAZDA, VOLKSWAGEN AND KIA (126 NARROWS RD LARKSVILLE, PA 18651 (570) 288-7411), BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER WAS STICKING TO THE BRAKE ROTOR, AND THE CALIPER AND HOUSING NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO EXCESSIVE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,00.

NHTSA ODI 11052189

Nov 20, 2017Visibility & wipers

ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 18TH, I WAS DRIVING THROUGH SLOW-DOWN TRAFFIC PASSING THE SCENE OF A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 101 IN SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA AT 35-40 MPH. WITHOUT WARNING, THE MOONROOF GLASS EXPLODED. (IT WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME.) THERE WAS NO LOUD NOISE PRECEDING THE EVENT, AND NO SIGN OF ANY FOREIGN OBJECT STRIKING THE CAR, NOR AMONG THE DEBRIS. A WEEK LATER, I HAD THE GLASS REPLACED AT PUTNAM MAZDA IN BURLINGAME, CA. I PAID FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET (US$790.61). BUT IN TALKING TO THE SERVICE REP, HE CONFIRMED THAT NO OUTWARD CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS APPARENT. ALL GASKETS AND SEALS WERE INTACT AND INSTALLED CORRECTLY, ALL MOUNTING POINTS WERE WITHIN TOLERANCES, AND THE SUNROOF OPERATED NORMALLY. THE ONLY SIGN OF AN ISSUE WAS THE ACTUAL BROKEN GLASS. AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD I WAS THE THIRD MAZDA3 OWNER THAT WEEK TO COME IN FOR A MOONROOF REPAIR (THE SECOND ONE THAT VERY DAY). THIS POINTS MORE TO A LATENT DEFECT IN THE MATERIAL/PART, RATHER THAN A FORCE MAJEURE SITUATION. AND SEEING AS THE CAR WAS REPAIRED AT A MAZDA DEALERSHIP WITH MAZDA-APPROVED PARTS, THAT LEAVES ME CONCERNED THAT THIS EXACT SAME FAILURE MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. I REACHED OUT TO MAZDA USA, AND MY REQUEST TO HAVE MY EXPENSES REIMBURSED WAS DENIED BECAUSE WITHOUT "INSPECTION OR DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO REVIEW FOR REIMBURSEMENT". IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PERFORMED THE REPAIR RECOMMENDED THAT I SEEK OUT A GOODWILL REIMBURSEMENT FROM MAZDA USA.

NHTSA ODI 11047565

Sep 27, 2017Electrical systemEngineCrash

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHEN I ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD AND FEELS LIKE IT MIGHT BE JAMMED. THE CAR WILL THEN PROPEL INTO GEAR CAUSING MY VEHICLE TO SKID OUT. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. IT APPEARS TO BE HAPPENING THE WORST WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN ONE ACCIDENT, AND TWO NEAR FATAL ACCIDENTS.

NHTSA ODI 11030186

Sep 22, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

AT APPOX 84000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED WITH OUT WARNING. THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A TRIP FROM ALABAMA TO NORTH CAROLINA. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND HAD JUST TURNED OFF THE HIGHWAY TO GO TO HER FRIENDS HOUSE.

NHTSA ODI 11025007

Sep 15, 2017Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA 3. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A RUBBING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE RUBBING SOUND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (MALL OF GEORGIA MAZDA LOCATED IN BUFORD, GA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE CALIPER WAS DAMAGED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO WATER AND HAD MADE CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE ROTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11023595

Sep 11, 2017Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISES FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COOLEY MOTOR (401 NORTH N GREENBUSH RD, RENSSELAER, NY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER MOUNTING SUPPORT WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY UNDER MAZDA TSB 04-001-16 DUE TO IT NOT FALLING UNDER THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11022672

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Working with the data? Download all 138 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Hatchback verdict →