RoadVitals

2016 Mazda Mazda3 Brakes Problems

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

Data refreshed

Brakes 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.
17
Latest Jan 23, 2025
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.
17%
of 103 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.
2
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 service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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 brake

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

Brakes
Filed Jan 23, 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the parking brake became firm and failed to engage as needed, causing the rear passenger’s side brake pads to not respond as needed after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE). The contact stated that the recall repair failed to fix the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact checked the temperature of the brakes and noticed that the brakes were hotter than normal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the parking brake actuator was rusted on the inside. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was 188,900.

NHTSA ID
11637981
Incident
Jan 21, 2025
Mileage
188,900 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 19, 2021

Parking brake does not fully disengage. This causes the rear brakes to wear prematurely and also has the potential to generate excessive heat.

NHTSA ID
11444337
Incident
Oct 20, 2021
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 28, 2020
Crash reported

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.

NHTSA ID
11376902
Incident
Aug 2, 2020
Mileage
26,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2020

POWER BREAK BOOSTER FAILURE. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP.

NHTSA ID
11362823
Incident
Oct 2, 2020
Body & structureBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed May 8, 2020

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323902
Incident
Sep 27, 2019
Mileage
93,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 6, 2018

MY PASSENGER REAR CALIPER FROZE CAUSING THE PAD ON THE OUTBOARD SIDE TO WEAR DOWN TO METAL WHILE THE INBOARD PAD STILL HAD HALF OF ITS LIFE LEFT. THIS IS BEHAVIOR SIMILAR TO NHTSA RECALL 17V393000 BUT MY VIN DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE PARAMETERS OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
11149591
Incident
Nov 1, 2018
Mileage
58,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 22, 2018
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND UNOCCUPIED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED BACK AND STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A DEALER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,735.

NHTSA ID
11103438
Incident
Jun 22, 2018
Mileage
31,735 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 12, 2018

CAR SERVICED PER RECALL, NHTSA CAMP. NO. 17V393000, MAR. 2018. DEALER STATED NO CORROSION ON RAMP SHAFT FOUND, SO BOOTS INSTALLED W/OUT CALIPER REPLACEMENT. CAR BROUGHT TO DEALER JUN. 2018 B/C REAR BRAKE INDICATOR SQUEALING. DEALER FOUND THAT PISTON (POST-RECALL) HAD BOUND FOR UNKNOWN REASON. DEALER REPLACED CALIPER. OWNER TESTED PARKING BRAKE LEVER ON OLD CALIPER AND VERIFIED IT WAS NOT BINDING. (BUT OWNER COULD NOT REMOVE NUT TO CHECK FOR RUST AT 1.6MM AREA OF RAMP SHAFT.) OWNER REPORTING TO NHTSA B/C CONCERNED THAT MAZDA3 CALIPER-BINDING ISSUE MAY EXTEND NOT JUST TO RAMP SHAFT BUT ALSO TO OTHER PARTS OF CALIPER, INCLUDING PISTON.

NHTSA ID
11101388
Incident
Jun 11, 2018
Mileage
12,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 22, 2018

PARKING BRAKE SAFETY RECALL ON THE MECHANICAL (CABLE) TYPE PARKING BRAKE, WATER MAY ENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE SEALING PERFORMANCE OF THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PROTECTIVE BOOT, PARTICULARLY UNDER LOW TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT, WHICH IS THE COMPONENT OF REAR BRAKE CALIPER, MAY BE RUSTED.

NHTSA ID
11097297
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Brakes
Filed Mar 27, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS A FLAPPING NOISE COMING FROM BOTH REAR WHEELS THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BORMAN AUTOPLEX (470 W BOUTZ RD, LAS CRUCES, NM 88005 (575) 525-4500) WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,238. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11081540
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
8,238 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 15, 2018

PARKING BRAKE SAFETY RECALL

NHTSA ID
11079495
Incident
Jun 22, 2017
Brakes
Filed Nov 24, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED (CJ WILSON MAZDA OF VENTURA, 6500 AUTO CENTER DR, VENTURA, CA 93003) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11048255
Incident
Nov 24, 2017
Brakes
Filed Nov 15, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OCEAN MAZDA DORAL (9675 NW 12TH ST, DORAL, FL 33172, PHONE NUMBER: (786) 464-1100), BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD BE NOTIFIED ONCE PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11046241
Incident
Aug 19, 2017
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Oct 21, 2017

NO ACCIDENTS RECALLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED. DEALER CAN'T GET PARTS

NHTSA ID
11035475
Incident
Jun 1, 2017
Brakes
Filed Oct 15, 2017

IN AUGUST I RECEIVED NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE OF A BRAKE PROBLEM. THE LETTER INSTRUCTED US TO WAIT FOR NOTIFICATION THAT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT HAS BEEN NEARLY TWO MONTHS SINCE I GOT THE NOTIFICATION. I HAVE CALLED THE COMPANY, AND THEY TELL ME THAT THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF SAFETY, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT MAZDA HAS NOT PERFORMED THE REPAIRS IN A TIMELY MANNER.

NHTSA ID
11033404
Incident
Aug 19, 2017
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE). THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. MAZDA OF WESLEY CHAPEL (26944 WESLEY CHAPEL BLVD, WESLEY CHAPEL, FL) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT A REPRESENTATIVE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11025025
Incident
Aug 19, 2017
Brakes
Filed Aug 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000 (PARKING BRAKE) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN AUGUST OF 2017. THE DEALER (ROMANO MAZDA, 3120 ERIE BLVD E, SYRACUSE, NY, 132140) WAS CONTACTED AT 315-446-9666 AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE REACHED; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE WAIT TIME, THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE CALL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11020382
Incident
Aug 19, 2017

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.

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Data sources

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