AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
2024 Mazda Mazda3
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2024 Mazda Mazda3, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and visibility categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 250 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2024 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2024 | 2 | 4 |
| Nov 2024 | 2 | 6 |
| Dec 2024 | 1 | 7 |
| Jul 2025 | 2 | 9 |
| Feb 2026 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 2026 | 1 | 12 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical529.4%
- Driver assistance423.5%
- Visibility211.8%
- Body & structure211.8%
- Brakes15.9%
- Powertrain (other)15.9%
- Tires & wheels15.9%
- Airbags15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
3 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING; LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA; FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA; LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I was denied work on a network issue recall 3 separate times at the dealership I bought the car. The first time I was told it was because of a smell. If I clean the car, they will fix it. I noticed after they were in the car my backup camera didn’t work which I also thought might be a recall but found out it wasnt. I went ahead and cleaned it twice. I came back they alleged it smelled like cat litter and urine. I asked to speak to someone else because there was nothing in my car and I know it didn’t. There were also no stains, mold, anything like that. It smelled of cleaning products. But I took it home and scrubbed extensively even though I was confused by the comment. When I went there it was smelling like lemon. Zero stains, mold, nothing in the car but maybe a little sand and baking soda. The person went as far as to say wow the car is improved said but thry still sorta smell it and there’s stuff on the window (there wasn’t). At that point I knew I was being picked on because either they didn’t know how to fix it or didn’t want to work with me. It felt discriminatory and differential to others. I now have a super clean car but a network issue and no backup camera because of this. They claim now they fixed everything but a non-safety issue but I also still have two errors that say “telematics” and “networking issue have vehicle inspected.” I believe I have rights under NC lemon law as this is within 24 months of purchase with only 4600 miles
- NHTSA ID
- 11755539
- Incident
- Aug 5, 2026
While driving on the highway (50mph), the sunroof had shattered unexpectedly. The sunroof itself was not open, but the visor was open so the glass fell into the car, onto the driver, the passenger and into the backseats. The glass shattering sounded like a gunshot which startled us while on the highway, and the broken glass cut the driver.
- NHTSA ID
- 11751469
- Incident
- Jul 18, 2026
left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000–5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempted to accelerate again, the RPM remained around 3,000, and I immediately received multiple warning messages on the dashboard, including: “Skyactiv Partially Disabled” warning Engine Malfunction warning ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) warning light Simultaneously, the vehicle rapidly decelerated from 65 MPH to approximately 55 MPH, creating an extremely hazardous situation and nearly resulting in a collision. I had to carefully maneuver across lanes to reach the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, the warning lights temporarily cleared; however, the vehicle appeared to be operating in limp mode. I had the car towed home via AAA. After this near-fatal incident, I scanned the vehicle using an OBD2 reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P0780 and P0761, indicating Shift Malfunction and Shift Solenoid 3 Performance issues. To address the issue proactively, I had my mechanic perform two full transmission fluid and filter exchanges on Monday, February 16, 2026, and again on February 18, 2026. Both services included a pan drop, replacement of the transmission filter, use of Mazda OEM transmission fluid (0000A7115QT and FZ01-21-500), and a complete transmission relearn procedure after each service. Despite these efforts, the same codes (P0761 and P0780) reappeared when scanned with a professional-grade diagnostic tool. The battery has been tested and confirmed fully charged. Additionally, my mechanic identified oil leaking from the timing chain cover.
- NHTSA ID
- 11718990
- Incident
- Feb 17, 2026
Car gives me emergency brake warnings about imminent collision maybe once or twice a week with nothing in front of me what so ever and once even straight up just brought me to a complete halt in the middle of the road with absolutely nothing in the road. The dealership basically told me it was a known issue and that “some models are more sensitive than others” and that they will be doing nothing about it. Different models of Mazda 3s from the same year are currently being investigated for the same recalls. This definitely needs to be addressed before I get into an accident.
- NHTSA ID
- 11676800
- Incident
- Jul 25, 2025
On July 1, 2025, I was involved in a severe rear-end collision while driving my 2024 Mazda3 manual hatchback. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the rear windshield, leave a deep dent in the tailgate, and bend the trailer hitch mount under the vehicle by several inches. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed, and there were no airbag warning lights before or after the crash. After the incident, I checked my vehicle’s VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and discovered that Recall 7525E had been issued on June 6, 2025, for a critical airbag sensing system defect (SAS module), which can disable airbag deployment after battery depletion or improper power conditions. According to Mazda and NHTSA documents, this defect can completely disable airbag function, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. As of July 11, 2025, I have not received any recall notice from Mazda by mail, email, phone, or dealer contact—despite being the registered owner. Mazda’s documentation shows that: Dealers were notified as early as June 3, 2025 Owner letters are not scheduled until July 28, 2025 This means that I was driving a defective vehicle without knowledge of a serious safety issue at the time of the crash. I believe that: Mazda failed in its legal obligation to notify me in a timely and adequate manner. The non-deployment of airbags in my crash is consistent with the failure described in Recall 7525E. Other affected Mazda owners may remain unaware and at significant risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA: Investigate whether Recall 7525E was the cause of airbag failure in this incident. Determine whether Mazda’s recall notification practices met regulatory requirements. Ensure immediate outreach to affected owners to prevent further injury or risk. I am also seeking legal counsel due to the serious safety implications and potential liability arising from this defect. I will be retaining all documentation, vehicle records, photos, and post-
- NHTSA ID
- 11672644
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2025
FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS GET EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF WINDOWS OBSTRUCTIING VISIBILITY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SAME SITUATION. THIS PUTS OTHERS AT RISK BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WELL WHEN THERE IS HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 2024.
- NHTSA ID
- 11631734
- Incident
- Dec 19, 2024
215/45R18 89V I bought a new 2024 Mazda 3 sedan Sport for my senior college son on [XXX] in Rockville, Maryland. In the evening of [XXX], during our attending my son's graduation in Nashville, Tennessee, on the highway to hotel, the front right tire was suddenly blowed out (air leaking quickly and completely). There was nothing on the highway, no object and no pothole. The cars in the front of us were just fine. My son only drove several thousand miles. We were very scared and our safety was threatened. My insurance Geico helped us to replace it with spare tire. We went to a local tire store at Nashville to replace the tire with BRI TURANZA EL440, and the new tire cost us $352.01. Our local Mazda dealer at Rockville Maryland asked us to contact Toyo for tire warranty, but nothing happened. We have kept the receipt. By the way, I googled new Mazda3 tire problems, and I found multiple complains on line. Examples [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11626309
- Incident
- May 9, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
- NHTSA ID
- 11625210
- Incident
- Sep 5, 2024
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE; EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued service alert listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-038/26 06/15/26 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote functions inoperative. Engine Start / Stop Door Lock / Unlock Lights ON / OFF Climate Control 3. MAZDA CONNECT connected vehicle reception strength icon shows "X" or " ". Index MAZDA CONNECT 2 Center Display Status Icon MAZDA CONNECT 3 Center Display Status Icon Remote Engine Start Will Not Function Remote Engine Start Function Will turn engine OFF Customer Subscription Status TCU Communication Line Status
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; WHEELS
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-006/23 01/23/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about the infotainment system and/or the MyMazda App showing incorrect clock and/or tire pressures and/or tire pressure missing. This may be caused by: Incorrect calendar entry (month/day/year) after a battery disconnect Infotainment system software update. BCM TPMS unlearn during vehicle storage or transport. Wheel/Tire change REPAIR PROCEDURE This can be corrected by the customer driving the vehicle for a day or two so that the following will occur.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-039/26 06/15/26 Mazda Connect Symptom Troubleshooting DESCRIPTION Customers having MAZDA CONNECT concerns should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair procedure.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may continue to display the recall notification "IMPORTANT NOTICE. VIEW VEHICLE STATUS MONITOR FOR DETAILS" on the center display even after the recall has been completed. NOTE: Once the warranty claim for the recall campaign is approved by Mazda Japan, the recall notification will be automatically removed via Connected Services on the following day or later. This condition may occur if the Connected Services subscription was canceled while the recall notification was still active. ACTION TO BE TAKEN If you encounter the situation above, use MDARS to manually remove the center display recall notification. Note: MDARS can only remove the recall notification when MCVV shows no CV contract.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-012/26 04/17/26, 03/04/26 and 02/26/2026 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience a message "TCU Malfunction. Have the Vehicle Inspected" in the instrument cluster. Additional symptoms that may occur: Connected Vehicle One Time Passcode (OTP) may fail. Connected Vehicle Remote functions may fail. The following DTC's may be stored: B1252:87-8B:TCU - COMMUNICATION ERROR WITH CONNECTIVITY MASTER UNIT (CMU) U0198:00-03:CMU - COMMUNICATION ERROR WITH EMERGENCY CALL UNIT/TELEMATICS COMMUNICATION UNIT REPAIR PROCEDURE 1. Verify the concern. 2. Check if any of the following DTCs are stored: B1252:87-8B:TCU - COMMUNICATION ERROR WITH CONNECTIVITY MASTER UNIT (CMU) U0198:00-03:CMU - COMMUNICATION ERROR WITH EMERGENCY CALL UNIT/TELEMATICS COMMUNICATION UNIT
ENGINE
Some vehicle may exhibit the CHECK ENGINE light on with DTC P0524 (Engine oil pressure control system: Oil pressure decrease) and no abnormal engine noise. This may be caused by a malfunction of the oil pressure control valve (located at the rear of the engine block near the oil filter) due to machining contamination inside the electromagnet sleeve and the solenoid plunger remaining during manufacturing. This contamination is affecting the OCV operation when oil pressure control is requested by the PCM. REPAIR PROCEDURE Perform the WSM inspection for P0524.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024Viewing | 12 | 3 | 0 | 56.9 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 38.3 |
| 2021 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 42.1 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 47.5 |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2018 | 108 | 4 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 2017 | 83 | 2 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 2016 | 104 | 6 | 0 | 52.1 |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 56.2 |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 | 0 | 54.8 |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 43.6 |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 | 1 | 41.2 |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 56.3 |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 2009 | 115 | 4 | 1 | 56.7 |
| 2008 | 303 | 3 | 1 | 55.4 |
| 2007 | 222 | 3 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 2006 | 166 | 2 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 2005 | 97 | 3 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 2004 | 145 | 3 | 0 | 51.6 |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.