NHTSA vehicle safety data
2013 Mazda MAZDA3 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 117 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Mazda dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2013 Mazda MAZDA3 owner complaints
Owners have filed 117 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3, describing incidents dated April 29, 2013 to February 13, 2024.
Most-cited components
- Exterior Lighting 36 complaints
- Electrical System 32 complaints
- Power Train 18 complaints
- Service Brakes 15 complaints
- Engine 11 complaints
- Structure 11 complaints
Of the 117 complaints on file, 7 report a crash and 2 a fire; across all 117 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11658244 · Filed
The Brake Pedal consistently malfunctions, even after the replacement of the master cylinder (by independent service center). The master cylinder does not hold pressure due to a faulty ABS control unit (which, when Mazda was contacted, said that part was on backorder until September). If the…
ODI #11572005 · Filed
There seems to be a lot of people who own 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3 Sedans (with SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and Halogen Type Headlights) that are dealing with the same issue I am dealing with myself. I have just purchased a used 2013 Mazda 3 with Skyactive Technology and I noticed that when I was braking the…
ODI #11556887 · Filed
Transmission Control Module malfunction. The AT light came on and the car made a jerking motion and a clunking noise. It lost power and would not shift which is very dangerous in moving traffic. It put me at risk for getting hit by another vehicle not expecting the abrupt change in speed by my…
Owner-reported
2013 Mazda MAZDA3 mileage at failure
80 of the 117 complaints on file for the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | Median 45,000 miles | Middle half 30,000–75,000 miles | Based on 30 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
Rear Lift Gate may Fall if Lift Gate Stays Corrode
NHTSA #16V644000 · Structure — Body — Hatchback/Liftgate · NHTSA notice
Reported September 6, 2016 · Mazda North American Operations
Potentially affected: 580,455 vehicles
Repair completion: 65.42% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Mazda campaign 9916H · Owners notified March 8, 2017 · Vehicles built November 18, 2008 – June 8, 2013 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Safety consequence
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Other Mazda MAZDA3 model years
Check your 2013 Mazda MAZDA3 VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Mazda MAZDA3 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Mazda VIN