2017 Mazda Mazda3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (9) · Back Over Prevention (7) · Visibility/Wiper (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Mazda3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
34 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2023-07-14 · campaign 23V487000 · 236,100 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
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 notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipa
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer 2019-04-04 · campaign 19V272000 · 187,880 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
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 may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.
Service bulletins (510)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-09-11 · SA-041-26a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical con
Engine 2026-08-10 · 01-010-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 description some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2). this is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fittin
Suspension 2026-07-28 · PF-26-02 · Other
supersession between b60s-34-300g/350g and b60s-34- 300h/350h. please be advised that the g-level and h-level control arms are not interchangeable. the g-level part cannot be used to repair a vehicle built with the h-level. the h-level part can be used to repair a vehicle built with the g-level, but
Engine 2026-06-19 · SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sa supersedes the previously issued sa(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. sa-061/25 12/17/25 description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by ask
Power Train 2026-05-01 · 01-008-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. this may be caused by insufficient sealing at the driv
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-30 · SA-031-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged vin plate or vehicle certification label. to obtain a replacement vin plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact dag (dealer assistance group) using vin plate request form available on
Showing the 6 most recent of 510 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-10-19 · Unknown Or Other“the display is peeling internally/has spiderweb cracks such that it is not viewable and the backup camera display function is therefore unclear. in addition, the system randomly changes radio stations or turns on and plays random music. all of this feels unsafe. …”
2026-04-16 · Exterior Lighting“many modern trucks, suvs, and cars use led headlights that are excessively bright and create dangerous glare. when approaching these vehicles from the opposite direction, the headlights can be blinding — similar to having a flashlight shined directly into your eyes — causing temporary loss of visibility. the glare also affects drivers traveling in…”
2025-09-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System“anytime the tank was filled with gas there was a strong smell of gasoline vapors that persisted for several days. the car was a few months past its warranty on emissions issues and so i was charged about $1500 to replace a cracked fuel pump and fuel vent that was stuck open. the mechanic also said that the check engine light should have warned me a…”
2025-07-28 · Electrical System“repeated instances of the mazda infotainment system making changes randomly without any user input while driving. repeated instances of the navigation system freezing, going black, rebooting while driving.…”
2025-07-25 · Unknown Or Other“the original oem radio in my mazda has been experiencing persistent ghost touch issues, making it incredibly frustrating to use. the screen often registers inputs without me touching it, leading to random changes in volume, station selections, and menu navigation. as a result, i find myself unable to rely on my radio for music or navigation, which …”
2025-07-18 · Unknown Or Other“1. what component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -> infotainment display has "ghost touch" issue. infotainment starts acting up on its own without driver input. it changes radio station automatically, places a call randomly, disconnects call randomly. this is caused by the touchscreen digitizer, …”
2025-07-08 · Unknown Or Other“the screen that displays the backup camera image has an issue that makes it difficult to see the backup camera feed clearly. the screen appeared like this unexpectedly when i returned to my car after a work day. the only warning was a malfunction of the screen's touch function for the last several months. …”
2025-06-13 · Unknown Or Other“the infotainment screen in my mazda 3 will act as if buttons are being pressed without buttons actually being pressed. it a distraction and unsafe. i've noticed that other mazdas had issues with this as well and were given extended warranties to fix this problem. why not the 2017 mazda 3? i talked to a mechanic about fixing it and it's very expensi…”
2025-06-05 · Unknown Or Other · 💥 crash“i made a right turn onto a gravel driveway that has a slight incline. my speed was less than 10 mph. at the top of the incline i attempted to make a u turn so i could park the car. midway through the u turn the car's acceleration increased rapidly to high speed without my stepping on the accelerator. i pressed the brake 3 times. the brake pedal wen…”
2025-06-04 · Unknown Or Other“the vehicle's touch screen for radio/nav/vehicle settings has delaminated which causes the display to detect "touches" that are a result of the delamination. this can result in navigation exiting, radio changing audio levels, and a myriad of other things like turning on/off vehicle safety settings. this was a known issue on the previous models and …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.