RoadVitals

2016 Mazda CX-3 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 16, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 48 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Mazda CX-3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 16, 2024

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear view camera and speedometer How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Rear view camera restarts and flickers so seeing behind while in reverse is dangerous. The electrical component issues have bled over to the digital speedometer, making it difficult to see the speed at which you are driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Unknown Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Unknown Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No

NHTSA ID
11589104
Incident
May 15, 2024
Electrical
Filed Dec 25, 2023

My Mazda CX3’s touchscreen started registering “ghost presses” without any input from me. This leads to the car scrolling through contacts and placing calls while driving. This almost caused an accident as I was scrambling to avoid the embarrassment of randomly dialing someone multiple times. Many others have also experienced the same issue with their Mazda infotainment systems. This should be a recall as the sudden distraction and panic caused by this poses a serious safety risk.

NHTSA ID
11561796
Incident
Dec 16, 2023
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 2023

Mazda CX3 Connect touch screen in the center display may not accept touch commands properly and faded. The film inside the touch screen may be corroded due to moisture

NHTSA ID
11547818
Incident
Oct 1, 2022
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2023

The contact's daughter owns a 2016 Mazda CX-3. The contact stated that while her daughter's vehicle was in reverse(R), the vehicle failed to stop upon the depression of the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that her daughter engaged the parking brake; however, the vehicle continued to roll back until the vehicle hit a curb and stopped. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who noted that the failure was not brake related but was a computer malfunction. The contact called a dealer who referred her to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 57,000.

NHTSA ID
11506483
Incident
Feb 6, 2023
Mileage
57,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 15, 2022

Infotainment system and screen failure. The screen develops "spiderweb" cracking. This cracking first appeared 3 years ago. Now the computer reboots continuously. This causes zero access to radio, GPS, or other features to operate the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, at the suggestion of Mazda USA. For a "diagnostic" fee of $180 I was told what I already knew. The system is broken. This is a rampant problem with multiple complaints online regarding Mazda Infotainment systems. They expect consumers to pay $2,800 to repair the system.

NHTSA ID
11456732
Incident
Mar 2, 2022
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2021

The media console screen on my Mazda CX-3 has spiderweb-like cracking. This causes "ghost touch" which means that while I am driving, the system makes consistent loud beeping noises, frantically changes screens, changes music, calls people (if my phone is connected to bluetooth), etc.. There is no way to turn this off and it is incredibly distracting and startling while I am on the road. I know that this same issue has occurred in other Mazda vehicles (like the Mazda3) and the part has been recalled/been covered for replacement under an extended warranty. My local Mazda dealership diagnosed this issue and acknowledged that it is a problem that this is not covered under warranty to fix. They gave me a $2,000 quote to replace the screen (this is money I do not have and believe I should not have to pay to ensure my safety).

NHTSA ID
11432537
Incident
Sep 1, 2021
Electrical
Filed Apr 9, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA CX3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EVAPORATOR FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS BLOWING WARM AIR INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BELLAMY STRICKLAND CHEVROLET BUICK PARTS (145 INDUSTRIAL BLVD, MCDONOUGH, GA 30253 770-30253). THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND A PRESSURE TEST FOUND A LEAK IN THE EVAPORATOR. A TSB WAS FOUND WHICH WOULD COVER THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO HENNESSY MAZDA (7261 JONESBORO RD BUILDING 2, MORROW, GA 30260 844-237-2079). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TSB EXPIRED AND WOULD NO LONGER COVER THE VEHICLE UNDER A WARRANTY REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DECLINED TO OFFER A FREE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,700.

NHTSA ID
11320657
Incident
Mar 16, 2020
Mileage
58,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 10, 2020

THE HEADLAMPS HOLD MOISTURE. THERE ARE NO CRACKS IN THE HEADLAMPS. I FEAR THIS WILL CAUSE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID
11298373
Incident
Apr 5, 2019
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Jan 1, 2020

DRIVING ON INTERSTATE CAR LOST POWER ALL WARNING LIGHTS WENT ON THEN DIED COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD COULD NOT RESTART CAR HAD ABOUT 1/8 TANK GAS DOT CAME AND PUT IN SOME MORE GAS RESTARTED WENT TO GAS STATION AND OIL CHANGE SHOP THAT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING TO REPAIR RESET WARNING LIGHTS

NHTSA ID
11292395
Incident
Dec 29, 2019
Mileage
55,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 13, 2019

THE HEADLAMPS CONTAIN AND HOLD MOISTURE CAUSING A SOFTER LIGHT AND LESS VISIBILITY. I AM AFRAID THE MOISTURE WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID
11288896
Incident
Oct 1, 2019
Mileage
13,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 19, 2019

VEHICLE A/C QUIT WORKING AFTER LESS THAN 3 YRS, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY NO LESS. DEALER WANTS NEARLY $2K FOR REPAIR. TURNS OUT THE CAUSE IS A DEFECTIVE PART MAZDA HAS BEEN AWARE OF SINCE 2016. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE TSB'S ABOUT THE ISSUE AND A MAZDA SERVICE PROGRAM (MSP 50) ALERT. TSB'S: 07-001-18-3465 07-001-18-3274B 07-004/17-3332A NHTSA #'S 10136781 10129570 10120389

NHTSA ID
11256659
Incident
Jun 17, 2019
Mileage
50,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .