Steering
Filed Apr 3, 2026
Steering sticks in one direction doesn’t recenter by itself stiff while driving even city or freeway
- NHTSA ID
- 11729124
- Incident
- Mar 22, 2026
2026 Mazda Mazda3
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Apr 3, 2026
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview
Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2026 Mazda Mazda3, most frequently naming the steering category. 78 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
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 1 month of data.
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Steering1100.0%
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
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
Dlr Claim Resp
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subject: Update – Campaign Warranty Claim Response Enhancements – Modules Not Repaired for Certain Campaigns Dear Mazda Dealer Colleagues, On October 28, 2026, a change was implemented in the warranty claim response screen to provide precise information for all campaigns requiring module programming or module replacement subject to the LECS system software checks. As previously announced, some claims were automatically rejected with the Edit code JN1 – One or More Modules Are Not Updated when submitting a campaign warranty claim. This response was based on the session file received from MDARS or MDARS II at the dealership and the VIN on the claim submitted. This change provides additional Related Information which enhances the edit code information. This information allows the dealer to correct the error without contacting Warranty or Hotline. Edit code JN1 now contains the actual module name and the software version that was collected from the car and what the minimum required software needed to be for the claim. Using this information, the technician can now identify the exact error or errors and correct the concern.
SA-038-26c
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 function(s) inoperative.
DRW59 Warr a
ENGINE
Subject: Notification of Dealer Re-Work (DRW59) – 2026MY CX-30 and 2026MY Mazda3 - Check Engine Light On With DTC P0126:00 Dear Mazda Dealer Colleagues, Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to conduct a Dealer Re-Work on certain 2026MY CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles. Concern Outline: On certain subject vehicles, the check engine light may illuminate with DTC P0126:00 (Thermostat stuck open) stored due to improper PCM control logic. Repair Outline: Reprogram the PCM with the Mazda Modular Diagnostic System (M-MDS), using Mazda Diagnostic and Repair Software (MDARS) by following TSB 01-006/26 repair instructions. ACTION ITEM - STOP DELIVERY: All affected vehicles in inventory can be sold but not delivered until repaired. There are approximately 17,942 new vehicles in dealer stock and/or in transit to dealers. All affected dealer inventory types with this DRW must be repaired prior to delivery. The number of affected units at your dealership can be seen in Inventory & Sales 2.0 in eMDCS and a VIN list (via an internal MNAO campaign reporting) will also be provided to your District Service Manager by 5pm (Pacific Time) on the date this dealer email is sent. Owner Notification: There is no Owner Notification with this or any Dealer Re-Work. PARTS INFORMATION: There are no parts required for this repair.
SA-012-26d
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 Are the following DTCs stored? YES: Proceed to next step. NO: This service information does not apply. Continue troubleshooting using MGSS.
SA-042-26a
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mazda Connected Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-042/26 06/30/26 DESCRIPTION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI General Informatio Opening the TCU Communication Line WI-FI How-To Conditions for Remote Engine Start Will Not Function WI-FI Trial Period Conditions for Remote Engine Start Function Will turn engine OFF Interacting With The App TCU Communication Line Status Service Issues Educational Videos Troubleshooting Resources MyMazda App Error Codes Customer Opt-Out
SA-041-26a
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Examples: 1. Devices connected to the DLC-2 (battery discharge/DTC stored) 2. Devices plugged into the 12V outlet 3. GPS tracking device (engine no start/battery discharge) 4. Dash cam (DTC stored) 5. Non-certified USB cable (Apple Carplay™/ Android Auto™ will not connect) 6. Over-sized wheels/tires (incorrect GPS location) 7. DTC C0023:14 8. Decorative trim and/or cover on the START/STOP ENGINE button
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026Viewing | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 56.8 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 36.8 |
| 2021 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 45.2 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 47.5 |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2018 | 110 | 4 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2017 | 84 | 2 | 0 | 47.7 |
| 2016 | 104 | 6 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 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.