Mazda MAZDA3 Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 249 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Mazda MAZDA3 across 21 model years. The 2010 model year has the most (40). The words owners use most often: “automatic transmission” (10% of reports).
- 249power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 4mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $2,500typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Automatic transmission: mentioned in 24 of 249 complaints (10%)
- 4TH gear: mentioned in 14 of 249 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Mazda MAZDA3 at $2,500, and half of them between $1,500 and $3,550.
Based on 15 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2004–2023), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 194 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 249 complaints, 4 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 3 an injury.
Mazda MAZDA3 power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 MAZDA3 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2023 MAZDA3 | 3 | 25% | — |
| 2022 MAZDA3 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2021 MAZDA3 | 4 | 7% | — |
| 2020 MAZDA3 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2019 MAZDA3 | 11 | 15% | 11,340 |
| 2018 MAZDA3 | 5 | 5% | 16,009 |
| 2017 MAZDA3 | 3 | 4% | 6,600 |
| 2016 MAZDA3 | 9 | 9% | 39,900 |
| 2015 MAZDA3 | 5 | 4% | 21,000 |
| 2014 MAZDA3 | 7 | 5% | 44,000 |
| 2013 MAZDA3 | 18 | 15% | 28,535 |
| 2012 MAZDA3 | 40 | 18% | 20,000 |
| 2011 MAZDA3 | 12 | 9% | 27,250 |
| 2010 MAZDA3 | 40 | 6% | 33,000 |
| 2009 MAZDA3 | 6 | 5% | 19,000 |
| 2008 MAZDA3 | 15 | 5% | 85,234 |
| 2007 MAZDA3 | 17 | 8% | 80,100 |
| 2006 MAZDA3 | 21 | 13% | 95,000 |
| 2005 MAZDA3 | 5 | 5% | 67,715 |
| 2004 MAZDA3 | 24 | 17% | 38,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm); engine
Model years: 2019
Problem: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Transmission failure when driving. Car was towed to dealership and diagnosed. Transmission and torque converter replacement required under factory warranty. Very long lead time for dealer to acquire replacement parts, about 4 months.
My Mazda3 began producing a chirp when shifting from 3rd to 4th gear (automatic transmission). The dealer stated that the car needed a new torque converter. At the time the car only 37,000 miles on it, quite low mileage for a torque converter to fail. Mazda has previously admitted to producing cars…
left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000â5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempted to accelerate again, the RPM remained around 3,000, and I immediately received multiple warning…
My rear differential case cracked, anytime the four wheel drive system was engaged the entire drivetrain would lock up. Luckily we were only on side roads so going less than 30 mph if we had been on the highway when this happened we could have been in an accident or lost control. The dealer did…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Mazda MAZDA3s have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 249 owner complaints about power train for the Mazda MAZDA3. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Mazda MAZDA3 power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Mazda MAZDA3?
Owners report a typical cost of $2,500 (half paid between $1,500 and $3,550), from 15 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Mazda MAZDA3?
The most frequent phrase is “automatic transmission”, in 24 of 249 complaints, followed by “4th gear” (14).
Other Mazda MAZDA3 problems
- Steering problems (393)
- Electrical System problems (366)
- Structure problems (282)
- Air Bags problems (259)
- Engine problems (211)
- Service Brakes problems (197)
- Seats problems (175)
- Tires problems (167)
See all Mazda MAZDA3 problems.