10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,988 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Mazda MAZDA3 drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2016 Mazda MAZDA3 Owner Comments

problem #8

Sep 282021

MAZDA3

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Timing cover leak, all maintenance was completed before the service bulletin. This is a TSB but should be a recall for how common this issue is as they stated it could be caused from the assembly line during a pressurized test. -?? This may be caused by oil escaping from a fine clearance created at the sealant applied to joint (A)between the cylinder block (B) and head (C) when the engine was pressurized during leak testing on the engine assembly line.-?? TSB Bulletin No.: 01-018/18. Timing cover issues are not something that should be happening under 100k miles.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #7

Feb 162021

MAZDA3

  • 39,900 miles
I was driving home from work on 2-16-2021, all of a sudden with out warning, every warning and information light light up like a xmas tree, the power steering went away making it hard to drive, the engine ran in limp mode., I manage to get it pulled off to a safe spot, turn off the car, and then try to restart. No go, dead the dash lights light up but the starter will not engage. Towed to dealer, 1st they says its the engine computer, then its the, transmission computer. But when I get the bill, I see it is the transmission valve body https://www.mazdaswag.com/oem-parts/Mazda-automatic-transmission-valve-body-fz2121100J. my car has only 39900 mi on it, Mazda refuses to honor its 5yr 50000 mi power train warranty even after calling Mazda customer care

- Indianapolis, IN, USA

problem #6

Aug 022020

MAZDA3

  • 26,000 miles
I parked at the top of my driveway at a slight incline position with the emergency brake engaged and the car was in second gear (manual transmission). It was in a stationary position at that time. My family exited the vehicle and we went inside our home. Approximately a half our later I notice my car rolled down my driveway and crashed in between two trees on my property. Either the emergency brake failed or the car's transmission failed while parked. The car was found at the bottom of my property still in gear and had the emergency brake in the engaged position.

- North Andover, MA, USA

problem #5

Sep 272019

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 93,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Water gets into the trunk and fills up the spare tire well. Causing mold and rust inside trunk. Throughout baring inside clutch/transmission component explodes destroying the clutch and transmission. Parking break doesn't disengage correctly causing brakes to wear down quickly. Water getting into rear break calipers making them defective. This has happened mainly in city street driving but noticeable on the highway.

- Longmont, CO, USA

problem #4

Aug 102019

MAZDA3

  • 50,000 miles
My car twice in one day shifted out of gear and became unresponsive when I tried to use the accelerator. I was on a surface street making a U turn the first time, and had made a right turn the second time. I took it to my mechanic after the first time it happened. He told me it was the module in my automatic transmission that was sending a faulty signal. There is a recall for other 2016 Mazda 3 vehicles for this problem, but my VIN isn't included, so a Mazda dealer I called refused to fix it unless I paid for it.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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problem #3

Dec 082018

MAZDA3

  • 26,000 miles
This vehicle cannot tolerate even the slightest bit of slush or snow or ice on the road. The wheels start to spin and it goes nowhere. Many times in light wintery conditions, the vehicle failed to handle the winter conditions, especially on any kind of an incline, and my whole county is located on one big incline. This vehicle is supposed to have full time traction control. That's laughable. On the slightest incline with 1/4" of slush on the road, we were forced to turn around and take a route that is flat. The car just cannot handle it. I cannot give it to any of my daughters as they all live further North than we do. It needs to go to a Florida or Texas or California owner.

- Staten Island, NY, USA

problem #2

Dec 012018

MAZDA3 4-cyl

  • 54,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda 3. while driving 75 mph with the cruise control engaged, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle accelerated. Upon depressing the brake pedal for the third time, the vehicle stalled and completely shut off. When the vehicle restarted, the check engine indicator flashed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 54,000.

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #1

Mar 172017

MAZDA3

  • 7,000 miles
The clutch failed at 7000 miles. Dealer, hennessey Mazda in atlanta suburbs, denies responsibility, will not honor warranty, attributes failure to driver misuse. Driver denies "'riding the clutch" and majority of use was highway travel. Dealer quoted repair cost at $1600, later reduced to $1126. Clutch failed at traffic light near residence. Driver was then unable to shift into first gear; car became disabled at traffic intersection.

- Peachtree City, GA, USA

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