2016 Mazda Mazda3 Mazda Mazda3 2016

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 repairs by problem area

Engine (9%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (5%)

Brakes and Traction Control (16%)

Suspension and Steering (5%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (33%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (16%)

Other (14%)

Chart based on 43 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3.

2016 Mazda Mazda3 repair cost distribution

$2500+ (0%)

$1000 - $2499 (6%)

$500 - $999 (9%)

$100 - $499 (18%)

< $100 (68%)

Worried about potential repair costs? An extended warranty can provide peace of mind.

Chart based on 34 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in British Columbia, Canada
Nov 2015 - May 2018
May 2016

6200 mi
Driver's rear door power lock was noisy on lock/unlock; part replaced by dealership. 
Oct 2016

12400 mi
Car's been in the shop one week so far - needs an entirely new transmission! Part is 4 weeks minimum away - coming from Japan. Car still out of service. 
Nov 2016

13100 mi
Transmission replaced. Car wouldn't shift into reverse; returned to dealership for shift linkage adjustment. Car now gets 0.3L/100km poorer fuel economy on average since transmission replacement. Glad it's a lease, because I can't wait to get rid of it! 
Dec 2016

13640 mi
Unreliable Bluetooth connection. Also can't run the car's nav while streaming BT w/out the car's voice nav directions skipping. CMU software updated - problems remain, and now the backup camera display shows in forward gears from rest. 
Apr 2017

16740 mi
Rear right power door lock replaced due to noisy operation. Body Control Module replaced due to trunk light being stuck on 100% of the time, even when trunk lid and all doors are closed. Driver's door weatherstripping replaced due to rips / tears in two spots. Very poor Bluetooth connectivity and general system performance. Trouble ticket still open with Mazda corporate - ongoing. 
May 2017

18600 mi
Infotainment CMU (the "brain") replaced. Zero improvement to poor system performance and Bluetooth connectivity. Total garbage - this is my first and my last Mazda. Another power door lock actuator replaced, but they're ALL noisy at random intervals. Crap design maybe? Squeaky and noisy and sound like utter trash. 
Sep 2017

23560 mi
Infotainment still demonstrates laggy, glitchy, and overall poor performance. I've given up on trying to get the system to perform as it should and have just accepted that it's garbage. All four power door locks squeak and groan intermittently when locking. I've given up on trying to fix this problem and am just waiting for the lease to be over so I can give this heap back to Mazda. 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in Queretaro, Mexico
Jul 2017 - Sep 2018
Oct 2017

27900 mi
Car didn't pass emissions test. Recalibration in dealer was necessary. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Ohio, United States
Jul 2016 - Sep 2017
Jun 2017

15000 mi
Tire Blowout. 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Sedan

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in New Jersey, United States
Sep 2015 - Jan 2018
Aug 2016

10000 mi
The cable for folding down the rear seat, on the right side, failed. Pulling cable no longer releases seat. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Missouri, United States
Sep 2016 - Jun 2018
Jan 2018

22000 mi
Tire deflated due to bead leak. Probably with the wheel. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Quebec, Canada
Jun 2017 - Apr 2021
Mar 2018

24180 mi
Rust forming on the trunk lid on each corner where the license plate is located. Seam where the trunk meets the top part close to the license plate lights. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Georgia, United States
Oct 2016 - Feb 2021
Oct 2017

9500 mi
Experiencing rough idling when stopped. Dealer says issue was related to AC and they adjusted, but still feeling a light rough idling. 
Mazda Mazda3 in California, United States
May 2017 - Jun 2018
Mar 2018

71000 mi

US $1600
Wheel bearings, rims, brake parts. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Minnesota, United States
Jul 2016 - Mar 2017
Sep 2016

1000 mi
The Bose infotainment system kept glitching and would not work properly since I took delivery. The dealer ordered a new central control module. 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

184-horsepower 2.5L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in Texas, United States
Jul 2016 - May 2021
Sep 2018

25500 mi
never had that problem 
Mazda Mazda3 in California, United States
May 2016 - May 2017
Dec 2016

12600 mi
Spoiler was loose, dealer tightened it. 
Mazda Mazda3 in California, United States
Apr 2016 - Jun 2018
Feb 2017

5000 mi
Updated software for nav and entertainment 
Mazda Mazda3 in Oregon, United States
Jan 2016 - Feb 2017
Sep 2016

7000 mi
One rear cover plastic connectors was poorly cast causing a rattle on freeway. 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in Texas, United States
Mar 2016 - Jul 2019
Nov 2018

35 mi

US $120
OEM battery died in under 3 years. Replaced with an aftermarket battery due to previous experience with Mazda batteries not lasting 3 years. 
Mazda Mazda3 in British Columbia, Canada
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Oct 2021

16120 mi

C $180
Original battery died. Installed a new one myself. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Texas, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022

57000 mi

US $1500
condenser was leaking 
Mazda Mazda3 in Tennessee, United States
Jul 2021 - Jun 2022
Jun 2022

58000 mi

US $110
Battery failed, was apparently the original battery. Temporarily replaced with one from project car, until a replacement was purchased. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Texas, United States
Mar 2018 - Dec 2019
Apr 2018

40000 mi
About a week after I bought my car as a certified pre owned I noticed that I was able to lift the front driver and passenger seats up with my pinkie. Doing so exposed the subframe of the seats below. I brought the car to another dealership besides the one I purchased the car from and they replaced the seat cushions for both the driver and passenger side free of charge. I was able to see a copy of what they were to bill Mazda corporate and it came out to around $400 covered by the warranty. 
Dec 2019

63000 mi
I randomly checked my coolant level on a cold Christmas Eve and discovered my coolant level was extremely low below the low fill line on my coolant reservoir. This car has been dealer maintained as its a CPO, and according to my paperwork the coolant level had been checked by the dealer 2 months prior. Fearing a coolant leak I had the dealership perform a leak test and none was found. Additional coolant was used to top off the level and according to the service dept the temperature drop caused the coolant to contract. This inspection was completed free of charge. 
Mazda Mazda3 in California, United States
Apr 2016 - May 2019
Jun 2017

11000 mi

US $6
Replace tire 

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2016 Mazda Mazda3 4dr Hatch

155-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

Mazda Mazda3 in Vermont, United States
Jun 2017 - Jul 2022
Jul 2017

34000 mi

US $60
Friday afternoon developed sudden rear brake grinding noise, intermittent. Removed tire for inspection. One brake pad was completely worn away, the other pad was fine. Auto store gave us the wrong pads, need to go back today. Will be calling auto dealer on Monday concerning brake issues. Had the same issue with my 2014 Mazda 3. 8.10.17 update: My dealer replaced the pads and rotors and did an 'upgrade' in the middle of July. Today I received a call from a customer service rep from the Mazda Corp. He informed me that there was now a new TSB on the brake issue and a new redesigned caliper support. My dealer had been informed and all I have to do is bring the car in for the new fix. I am happy with the response from Mazda. 
Jul 2018

64000 mi

US $40
On going issue. 'Fix' that was applied to my rear brakes last July 2017 was either bs or failed. Started to hear a noise from the rear brakes Sunday morning. 30,000 miles since the repair paid for by Mazda. BF checked them out. Same problem as July 2017 and on my 2014. The outer pads were worn down to metal and the inside pads didn't even show wear on the indicators. I am pissed. I specifically asked the head of the maintenance department at Autex Mazda in Keene, NH to have the technician check out the wear on my brakes when they replaced my tires on my visit on 6/19/18. I was told that I had a little life left in the brakes but the wear was even, that I did not have the issue that I did last time. They out right lied to me. I have the pics to prove it. Mazda made changes to the brakes with the 2014 model and never fixed it. I contacted the Mazda Corporation again. Not sure if they will respond, but I am done with Mazda. 
Jun 2021

141000 mi

US $100
Every year the brakes need a either the rear pads replaced or the entire brakes need to be redone. The rear pads always, always have uneven wear. Inside pad is down to metal, outside is like new. Every year, with ~ 25-30,000 highway miles, very little stop and go. Whatever Mazda did to their brakes back in 2014 really messed things up. This car is now a back up car. 
Jul 2022

165000 mi

US $105
Replaced brake pads and frozen calipers. 
Mazda Mazda3 in Washington, United States
Jun 2016 - Jun 2018
Jun 2017

10000 mi
Hands free unlocking not working. Replaced driver door handle sensor 
Mazda Mazda3 in Alabama, United States
Apr 2016 - Jun 2022
Mar 2021

60000 mi

US $700
new brake pads & rotors on front & back 
Dec 2021

72000 mi

US $500
new front brake pads, rotors  rear struts 
Mazda Mazda3 in South Carolina, United States
Aug 2016 - Jun 2022
Sep 2020

37000 mi

US $500
New pads and rotors 
Mazda Mazda3 in New York, United States
Apr 2016 - Jun 2022
Jun 2016

2000 mi
Headlights were aimed too low. Dealer raised them. 
Mar 2018

56000 mi

US $38
12V outlet stopped working, but think was blown by 3rd party plug-in heated seat cushion. Purchased and replaced with OEM outlet, plug and play. 
Nov 2020

114000 mi

US $485
Began to hear grinding/rattling noise at idle that increased with engine RPMs. Gradually got louder over several thousand miles and it was eventually diagnosed as a bearing starting to fail on the water pump. Mazda dealer told me I could wait until it got louder so I did. It never leaked, was just noisy. Upon replacement, dealer told me the bearing was "definitely bad" and I had been right to replace the pump. 

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See TrueDelta's information for all Mazda models.

2016 Mazda Mazda3 Repair Histories

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently 2016 Mazda Mazda3 problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.