2021 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other MAZDA3 years
- Far fewer complaints than other years 17th of 23 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3. That ranks 17th out of 23 MAZDA3 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (19 complaints, 35%). Complaints mention 2 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 54owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 35% | — | — | — |
| Electrical System | 7 | 13% | 1,700 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 7 | 13% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 9% | — | — | — |
| Air Bags | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 4 | 7% | — | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 6% | 1,700 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Tires:valve
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve.
Risk: A sudden air leak from the tire air valve may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four tire air valves with new parts, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4721B.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
While driving to work, the dashboard displayed âCharging system malfunction, pull over.â The driver pulled over safely. The vehicle has electric power steering, so a loss of charging power while driving could reduce steering assist and cause the vehicle to stall in traffic. This happened three…
Vehicle: 2021 Mazda Mazda3 VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 111,777 Date the problem started: [date you first heard the clunk] Location: [town], [XXX] Crash / fire / injury / death: No Was the vehicle moving? Yes Component: Suspension: Front (Lower Control Arm) Description: The front passenger-side…
Car made grinding sound with notable vibration when starting to move after shifting into drive. Felt like brakes weren't releasing. Had car towed to dealership where they diagnosed that the front left brake shim was damaged and making contact with the rotor, had to pay to fix it out of pocket.
Low engine oil message appeared on dash. Had car towed to Mazda. Had valve stem seals replaced under warranty.
Making sharp right turn out of parking lot under hard acceleration, car suddenly made terrible grinding sound that shook the whole car. Continued driving, within another quarter mile the whole car started shaking again with loud noise. Had car towed to Mazda where they discovered that the rear…
Other Mazda MAZDA3 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 MAZDA3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2025 MAZDA3 | 8 | 1 |
| 2024 MAZDA3 | 12 | 3 |
| 2023 MAZDA3 | 12 | 0 |
| 2022 MAZDA3 | 24 | 0 |
| 2021 | 54 | 1 |
| 2020 MAZDA3 | 32 | 2 |
| 2019 MAZDA3 | 74 | 6 |
| 2018 MAZDA3 | 109 | 4 |
| 2017 MAZDA3 | 83 | 2 |
| 2016 MAZDA3 | 104 | 6 |
| 2015 MAZDA3 | 130 | 4 |
| 2014 MAZDA3 | 138 | 4 |
| 2013 MAZDA3 | 117 | 1 |
| 2012 MAZDA3 | 226 | 1 |
| 2011 MAZDA3 | 132 | 2 |
| 2010 MAZDA3 | 686 | 3 |
| 2009 MAZDA3 | 115 | 3 |
| 2008 MAZDA3 | 303 | 2 |
| 2007 MAZDA3 | 222 | 2 |
| 2006 MAZDA3 | 166 | 1 |
| 2005 MAZDA3 | 97 | 2 |
| 2004 MAZDA3 | 145 | 2 |
See all Mazda MAZDA3 problems by year, every Mazda model, or the Mazda VIN decoder.
Similar Mazda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, forward collision avoidance problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 19 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Mazda MAZDA3 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other MAZDA3 model years, the 2021 has far fewer complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.