What 129 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

Description On 12-15-2025, in 18°F weather, the vehicle was parked on a residential sloped driveway with the manual parking brake fully engaged. While the driver was outside the vehicle, the parking brake system failed to hold the car’s weight. The vehicle rolled backward, crashed through a wooden railing, teetering on a 4-foot retaining wall, and came to rest over a culvert. Two young children were inside the vehicle at the time of the failure. Component Failure & Availability: The manual parking brake system failed to provide sufficient holding force to secure the vehicle. The rear brake calipers are currently available for inspection. Safety Risk: The safety of the two children inside the vehicle was put at extreme risk due to the unexpected movement of the car. This failure matches the exact conditions and consequences described in Safety Recall 1217F (NHTSA Campaign 17V-393), which states that "unexpected movement of the vehicle if parked on a slope" increases the risk of a collision. Reproducibility & Confirmation: The failure occurred under the specific environmental triggers (cold temperature and slope) identified in the manufacturer's own safety recall documentation. However, the manufacturer has officially refused to authorize the internal teardown of the actuator shafts—the only diagnostic method capable of verifying the rust and sliding resistance that causes this loss of holding force. Inspections: The vehicle has been visually inspected by an authorized dealership and insurance representatives. The manufacturer has declined the necessary internal mechanical diagnostics to verify the internal defect. Warning Symptoms: There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms prior to the failure. The parking brake felt fully engaged at the time the vehicle was parked.

NHTSA ODI 11711269

The parking brake does not disengage even after the recall fix was applied. Mazda refuses to look at it any more as the fix has passed your testing despite it not working.

NHTSA ODI 11487104

MY REAR BRAKES ALWAYS SEEM TO BE DRAGGING. THEY MAKE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AS I EXIT MY NEIGHBORHOOD. AFTER DRIVING A WHILE, THE NOISE IS QUIETER BUT STILL NOTICEABLE. I AM AFRAID OF IT LOCKING UP WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI 11343445

THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD HAS A PROBLEM AND IT STUCK ON EVEN WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL, THIS DEFECT CAUSE SOME NOISE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPING AND CAUSE PREMATURE WEAR ON THE BRAKE PAD AND ROTORS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325918

I'VE HAD TO REPLACE BACK BRAKES TWICE IN 4 YEARS. NOW CALIPERS HAVE GONE OUT WHICH RUINED ROTORS AND PADS. IT LOOKS LIKE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH CALIPERS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND WEARING THE BRAKES PREMATURELY.

NHTSA ODI 11320516

2015 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11258138

I STARTED NOTICING A SQUEAL FROM MY REAR BRAKES THAT WOULD OCCUR AT THE BEGINNING OF DRIVING (NOT WHILE BRAKING) THEN GO AWAY AFTER 1 OR 2 STOPS. ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF LATER, THE DAY I USED MY HANDBRAKE TO PARK, AFTER MY 25 MINUTE COMMUTE HOME I NOTICED A HOT METAL SMELL. I PUT MY HAND UP TO MY DRIVER SIDE REAR WHEEL AND FELT INTENSE HEAT FROM THE BRAKES. SAW THE ROTORS WERE DUG IN. I BOUGHT REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS AND CHANGED THEM OUT MYSELF. THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT WAS STUCK, BINDING THE BRAKES ON BOTH REAR CALIPERS. THE METAL AROUND THE BOOT OF BOTH SHAFTS ON THE CALIPER LOOK WET. THE PISTON OF THE CALIPER WAS EASILY ROTATED BACK IN AFTER UNBINDING THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT. PARKING BRAKE NOW IS UNHOOKED DUE TO IT BEING UNSAFE. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFTS ON THE REAR CALIPERS AFTER ONLY 24,900 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11258867

LIKE MANY OTHER MAZDA 3 OWNERS, I HAVE HAD WATER ENTER MY CALIPERS AND BIND, LEAVING BRAKES ACTIVATED ON THE ROTORS WEARING DOWN THE BRAKES FASTER THAN NORMAL. APPROX 65,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND I AM CURRENTLY GETTING MY THIRD SET OF BRAKES AND ROTORS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE, WITH NEW CALIPERS THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. AFTER CONTACTING MAZDA, MY VIN SPECIFIC DOES NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS RECALL. THIS ISSUE IS KNOWN FROM MAZDA AND SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11257397

PASSENGER SIDE REAR BRAKE CALIPER DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY AND WEARS OUT BRAKE PADS QUICKLY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPEN AT LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE MY VIN.

NHTSA ODI 11243790

COMMING TO A STOP CAR DIDNT SLOW DOWN AND WHEN EMERGENCY LEVER WAS PULLED FOR A STOP IT DIDNT WORK! RECALL NOTICE1217F NHTSA NUMBER17V393

NHTSA ODI 11184240

I TOOK MY CAR TO A BRAKE SHOP BECAUSE OF SCRAPING NOISE FROM THE BRAKES. THE PASSENGER REAR BRAKE WAS PREMATURELY WORN BECAUSE THE BRAKE WAS CONSTANTLY ENGAGED. THE BRAKE REPAIR SHOP HAS SEEN THIS ISSUE ON MAZDA3 AND INFORMED ME IT WAS PART OF A RECALL, AND THAT THIS POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK TO ME WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC SHOP HANDED ME A SHEET WITH THE RECALL CAMPAIGN 17V393000. I CALLED THE 800 222 5500 FOR MAZDA ON INFORMATION ON THE RECALL. BUT BECAUSE MY VIN DOES NOT SHOW UP IN THE SYSTEM UNDER THIS CAMPAIGN I AM NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL REPAIR. SHOULD I BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN REGARDLESS OF VIN NUMBER IF THE ISSUE IS THE SAME IS IDENTICAL TO RECALL ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11140082

I WENT INTO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE A REPAIR COMPLETED FOR THE BRAKE RECALL. THE MECHANIC CLAIMED TO HAVE FIXED EVERYTHING COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, THE MAZDA WEBPAGE IS SHOWING THE RECALL HAVING BEEN DONE INCOMPLETE.

NHTSA ODI 11128463

FAILED BRAKE BOOSTER, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAULTY, EXCESSIVE BRAKE PRESSURE REQUIRED TO ENGAGE SWITCH. VEHICLE DID NOT START BECAUSE SWITCH NOT ENGAGED.

NHTSA ODI 11073160

RECALL ISSUED JUNE 2017 REGARDING BRAKE PROBLEM - PARTS STILL NOT AVAILABLE AS OF FEBRUARY 2018 TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11071865

ON THE MECHANICAL (CABLE) TYPE PARKING BRAKE, WATER MAY ENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALING PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PROTECTIVE BOOT, PARTICULARLY UNDER LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT, WHICH IS THE COMPONENT OF REAR BRAKE CALIPER, MAY BE RUSTED. IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USED WITH SUCH CONDITION, THE RUST MAY PROGRESS, INCREASING THE SLIDING RESISTANCE OF THE ACTUATOR SHAFT. IN EXTREME CASES, THE RUSTED ACTUATOR SHAFT MAY GET STUCK IN THE BRAKE CALIPER BODY, CAUSING BRAKE DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING AND DECREASING THE PARKING BRAKE HOLDING FORCE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLE IF PARKED ON A SLOPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A COLLISION.

NHTSA ODI 11063650

SAFETY RECALL 1217F RECEIVED 8/2017. TO DATE "REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE." THIS TIME (NOW 6 MONTHS) SEEMS TO BE AN UNREASONABLE AMOUNT OF WAIT TIME FOR THE PARTS TO BE RECEIVED BY MY MAZDA DEALER. WHAT IN YOUR VIEW IS "A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME"?

NHTSA ODI 11058006

NOTIFIED OF RECALL 8/19/17 WENT TO DEALER 10/24/17 DEALER STILL STATES THEY DO NOT HAVE PARTS. WISH TO SELL CAR BUT MUST HAVE REPAIR DONE FIRST. STILL CONTINUING TO DRIVE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11055123

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER:17V-393 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER:1217F RECALL ISSUED JUNE 22, 2017 NO MANUFACTURER FIX AVAILABLE, YET AS OF OCTOBER 27, 2017 SUMMARY ON THE MECHANICAL (CABLE) TYPE PARKING BRAKE, WATER MAY ENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALING PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PROTECTIVE BOOT, PARTICULARLY UNDER LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT, WHICH IS THE COMPONENT OF REAR BRAKE CALIPER, MAY BE RUSTED. SAFETY RISK DESCRPITION IF THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USED WITH SUCH CONDITION, THE RUST MAY PROGRESS, INCREASING THE SLIDING RESISTANCE OF THE ACTUATOR SHAFT. IN EXTREME CASES, THE RUSTED ACTUATOR SHAFT MAY GET STUCK IN THE BRAKE CALIPER BODY, CAUSING BRAKE DRAGGING WHILE DRIVING AND DECREASING THE PARKING BRAKE HOLDING FORCE, WHICH MAY RESULT IN UNEXPECTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLE IF PARKED ON A SLOPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A COLLISION. REMEDY YOUR MAZDA DEALER WILL CHECK THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFTS INSIDE THE LEFT AND RIGHT REAR BRAKE CALIPERS. IF THE ACTUATOR SHAFT IS FOUND TO BE RUSTED, THE BRAKE CALIPER ASSEMBLY WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED ONE. IF NO RUST IS FOUND ON THE ACTUATOR SHAFT, THE PROTECTIVE BOOT WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED ONE. THE INSPECTION AND REPAIR WILL BE PERFORMED AT NO COST TO YOU. RECALL STATUS RECALL INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE

NHTSA ODI 11040379

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION AS INTENDED UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED EXCESSIVELY. THE BRAKE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPERS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. ANYTHING MAZDA (5576 PLEASANT VIEW RD, MEMPHIS, TN) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 68,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11031367

2015 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO NO RECALLS BEING ISSUED FOR DEFECTIVE PARTS ON VEHICLE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/29/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI 11031068

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE DRAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (SERVICE BRAKES). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE LOCAL DEALER (CONNECTICUT'S OWN VOLVO, 909 BOSTON POST ROAD, MILFORD, CT, 06460) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,500. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11020085

PARKING BREAK DOES NOT HOLD OR RELEASES AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED (FLAT OR HILL SURFACES) CAR HAS ROLLED 3 TIMES IN PARKING LOTS SITUATION. 3RD TIME CAR ROLLED AFTER BEING STATIONARY FOR 45 MIN. I WITNESSED CAR LOCKED ROLLING IN THE LOT AS I CAM OUT AND CLICKED THE DOOR LOCKS FROM DISTANCE OF 20 FT AWAY. CAR ROLLED SILENTLY - COULD HAVE HIT ANYONE BEHIND IT IN THE PARKING LOT AREA - VERY VERY DANGEROUS! MAZDA CLAIMS MY CAR VIN NO. IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR MAZDA 3 AND MAZDA 6S THAT HAS JUST BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM - PARKING BRAKES NOT HOLDING. I BEG TO DIFFER. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THIS HAPPENED I THOUGHT IT WAS ME, BUT NOW AM CONVINCED CAR HAS AN ISSUE. HAVE DRIVEN STICK / MANUAL WITH PARKING BRAKE FOR 23 YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. NOW, HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. AM HAVING BRAKES INSPECTED AT THE DEALERSHIP LOOKING FOR CORROSION OR OTHER ISSUES THAT COULD CAUSE BRAKE TO NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY - NO MATTER WHAT MAZDA CLAIMS - THIS IS LIKELY A DESIGN ISSUE ON MY VIN NUMBER AS WELL. RECALL IS 1217F - FOR VEHCILES 14-16.. ONLY THOSE WITH HAND BRAKES LIKE MINE. MAZDA IMPLIED I DID NOT SET PARKING BRAKE. I BEG TO DIFFER. READ THE PART WHEN I'VE DRIVEN 2 STICK SHIFTS FOR 23 YEARS - WITH NO ROLL ISSUES EVER. ALL 3 ROLLS OCCURED IN PARKING LOTS, WHEN I THOUGHT I HAD THE BRAKE SET. I NOW LEAVE CAR IN FIRST GEAR AND USE PARKING BRAKES. JUST TO BE SURE. THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE. OTHER VEHICLES SHOULD BE CHECKED AND OWNERS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI 11005441

I WENT TO GO STEP ON BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN AS I WAS COMING UP ON A VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DUE TO TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WHEN MY BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I SLID RIGHT INTO THE GUY. I TRIED TO TURN MY WHEEL TO GO ON SHOULDER, BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND IN TRAFFIC. I WASN'T SPEEDING AS THERE WAS NO POSSIBLE WAY TO AS TRAFFIC WAS IN PLAY, BUT OUR LANE STARTED TO MOVE AND I STAYED BACK AND WHEN I WENT TO STEP ON BRAKES, THEY LOCKED UP.

NHTSA ODI 11002481

THE WEAR ON MY BACK BRAKES WAS ABNORMALLY FAST. THERE WAS ALREADY A RECALL FOR JAPANESE MADE BRAKES BUT MINE WERE MEXICAN MADE. THE FRONT BRAKES HAD VERY LITTLE WEAR WHERE AS I HAD TO REPLACE THE BACK AFTER ABOUT 25,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10950168

HEADREST UNUSABLE IN SAFE DRIVING POSITION. FORCES HEAD TO FLOOR OR PREVENTS PROPER BACK PLACEMENT ON SEAT, SOMETIMES BOTH. THE ONLY WAY TO SIT IN THE SEAT COMFORTABLY IS TO HAVE THE SEAT LEANING TOO FAR BACK WHERE I CANNOT REACH THE STEERING WHEEL COMFORTABLY. WHEELS WOULD VIBRATE AT SPEEDS ABOVE 55, SOMETIMES AS LOW AS 40. RECENTLY FIXED BY DEALERSHIP. BRAKES WERE IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED AND SCRAPED AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY. MADE A LOUD SCRATCH SOUND. TOOK TWO VISITS TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE FIXED. ALL EVENTS REQUIRED INDIVIDUAL VISITS TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND I AM UNCERTAIN OF THE LONG-TERM VIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. ANY SMALL ISSUE RAISES EXTRA CONCERNS. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 2K MILES AFTER A YEAR OF OWNERSHIP BECAUSE OF EITHER DRIVING DISCOMFORT OR THE VEHICLE BEING IN THE SHOP TO BE WORKED ON.

NHTSA ODI 10863296