"How reliable is the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?"

"Based on 136 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 has a median complaint mileage of 35056 miles. The most common issue is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, accounting for a significant portion of the 136 total complaints filed."

2016 Mazda Mazda3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 136 complaints

136

Total Complaints

35,056mi

Median Mileage

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

18,750 25th Percentile

35,056 Median Mileage

56,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SERVICE BRAKES

POWER TRAIN

ENGINE

VISIBILITY/WIPER

BACK OVER PREVENTION

PARKING BRAKE

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AIR BAGS

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. WHILE STOPPED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT FRACTURED AND COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIES TO THE NECK AND LOWER BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TAKEN AWAY BY AMBULANCE. MEDICAL A..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE."

"AIR BAGS AND BAD TIRES - I HYDROPLANED ON AN INTERSTATE AND TOTALED MY CAR AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. I LOST CONTROL AND HIT THE OTHER VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND CONTINUED TO GO UP A 30FT EMBANKMENT. ON THE WAY BACK DOWN I TOOK OUT A VERY LARGE METAL LIGHT POLE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR AND THE ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28