Home · 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan · Complaints

What 138 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

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)

5 of 138 complaints match · Visibility & wipers · clear filters

Jan 19, 2026Visibility & wipers

Blend door actuator linkage will not allow for heat to be turned on, will blow cool/cold air, have had it looked at and the gear teeth will not stay in line with on another to be able to turn when the knob inside the car is turned. I was told that this may be a recall but do not see anything listed, but that it is a known problem for this model of mazda 3 and ford expiditions

NHTSA ODI 11711857

Feb 24, 2024Visibility & wipers

Recall for backup camera has not yet been remedied since September, 2023 issuance. Backup camera still flickers.

NHTSA ODI 11573746

Jul 10, 2022Visibility & wipers

MALFUNCTION LEVER WIPER-COMB SWITCH.

NHTSA ODI 11473237

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

Aug 20, 2014Visibility & wipers

THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SO LOW ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD THAT IT MAKES ANYTHING TO THE LEFT OF CENTER OF THE CAR, VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE. I RENTED THIS CAR. I CANT BELIEVE THEY ARE ALLOWED TO POSITION THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AS SUCH. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10626752

Working with the data? Download all 138 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 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 Sedan verdict →