Steering sticks in one direction doesn’t recenter by itself stiff while driving even city or freeway
- NHTSA ID
- 11729124
- Incident
- Mar 22, 2026
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2026 Mazda Mazda3, most frequently naming the steering category. 65 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 1 month of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Steering sticks in one direction doesn’t recenter by itself stiff while driving even city or freeway
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; STEERING
DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start and DTC U2011:1C is stored. Zinc-plated whisker may form inside the EPS motor and trigger the DTC. However, since it is cleared when power is supplied during DTC detection, normal operation can be restored by turning the ignition OFF and then ON. Furthermore, there is no possibility of recurrence. This case may be resolved through a simple inspection or repair without the need for parts replacement, potentially avoiding unnecessary customer waiting time.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-063/24 09/06/24 DESCRIPTION The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system can malfunction with the following symptoms if the rear side radar sensors are installed facing the wrong direction.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-017/25 12/16/25, 09/08/25, 07/14/25, 05/15/25 and 03/21/25 DESCRIPTION Mazda Connect 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
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
COMPLIANCE WITH NEW YORK STATE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW §399‑CCCCC (CONNECTED VEHICLE SERVICE; DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS) DESCRIPTION This Service Information is issued in accordance with New York State General Business Law §399CCCCC (Connected Vehicle Service; Domestic Violence Victims). This regulation is intended to protect victims of domestic violence by allowing them to request the termination of third-party access (including access by an alleged abuser) to connected vehicle services, such as vehicle location tracking and remote control functions. To support this requirement, this Service Information enables confirmation of whether a vehicle is subject to connected vehicle services by referring to the SUBJECT VIN & PRODUCTION DATE RANGE, and provides guidance on the procedure to terminate such services when a customer requests the removal of third-party access for an applicable vehicle. Effective July 1, 2026, if a customer requests action under this regulation, a CMU/CDC software update must be performed to enable appropriate control of connected vehicle service access. If no request is made by the customer, the CMU/CDC software update is not required. REPAIR PROCEDURE 1. Confirm that the customer has requested deactivation of connected services in accordance with New York State General Business Law related action. 2. Perform the CMU/CDC software update according to the procedures outlined in the appropriate TSB shown in the table below:
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UPDATED SOFTWARE RELEASE FOR CONCERNS WITH MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION The release notes outlined below provide an overview of bug fixes, feature improvements, and updates included in the latest software release. The latest version of software contains all the updates of the previous versions. NOTE: If current version is not 7230C**-NA10_*****, this TSB is not applicable. Version 10034 for 7230C1A-NA10 or 7230C5B-NA10 enables termination of connected services at customer request Termination of Connected Services by customers at their initiative has been enabled. Accordingly, the following items have been updated. Add a "Data Communication Information" item under Settings > System Settings>Online Connectivity. ○ Updated the text displayed on the confirmation screen for disabling Connected Services. REPAIR PROCEDURE 1. Verify the customer concern. 2. Update MAZDA CONNECT with software version 10034 / 10026 or later with a USB memory stick using the 7TH GEN MAZDA CONNECT Update Instructions.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 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 Example 1: Some electrical devices connected to the DLC-2 connector by insurance or mobile phone companies may cause: Battery discharge. The device may disrupt the CAN system battery saver mode. • IDS/MMDS will not communicate with the vehicle due to poor DLC-2 connection. The aftermarket device may cause DLC-2 female terminals to spread open.
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026Viewing | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 56.9 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 38.4 |
| 2021 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 42.1 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 47.6 |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 50.3 |
| 2018 | 107 | 4 | 0 | 52.8 |
| 2017 | 83 | 2 | 0 | 47.7 |
| 2016 | 103 | 6 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 56.9 |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 43.6 |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 | 1 | 41.7 |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 57.2 |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 | 1 | 51.4 |
| 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.