2023 MAZDA Mazda3

Recalls, Specs & Safety Report

Expert Verdict
โœ“Good Reliability

This 2023 model shows good reliability, primarily driven by a below-average recall rate for the MAZDA brand.

Key Factor:below-average recall rate

๐Ÿ“‹Why This Matters

A clean recall record is a positive signal for both safety and ownership costs. Vehicles with no known defects typically qualify for lower insurance premiums and face fewer unexpected repair expenses.

When negotiating insurance rates, a documented history of zero manufacturer recalls can support your case for preferred pricing.

Focus Area:clean safety record
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Expert Analysis

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ
    Recall Trend:No Change in recalls
  • โš ๏ธ
    Primary Risk Area:Acceleration Issues
  • โš–๏ธ
    Vs Brand: Better than avg (1.1)
    ๐Ÿ“
    Summary:

Safety & Reliability Score

100/100

Score Breakdown

Recall Impact-0
Complaint Impact-0.5
Investigation Impact-0

Technical Specifications

Key specifications for the 2023 MAZDA Mazda3

Model Year2023
MakeMAZDA
ModelMazda3
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle

Safety History Timeline

Jan23
NEWProduction
Mar23
ISSUEFirst Report

Consumer Complaint Analysis

โš ๏ธ

Most Reported Issue

3 complaints (30% of total)
โžก๏ธ

Complaint Trend

Stable
No trend data
โœ…

Safety Incidents

No critical incidents

Complaint Severity Distribution

Breakdown of 10 consumer complaints by severity level.

๐ŸŸ High
2(20%)
๐ŸŸกMedium
2(20%)
๐ŸŸขLow
6(60%)

Mileage Failure Analysis

โš™๏ธEngineering Insight

Based on consumer reports, issues for this vehicle tend to peak around the 0-20k mileage range. The average reported failure mileage is 2,750 miles.

๐Ÿ“Š Mileage data extracted from 2 of 10 complaints (20% coverage)
0-20k
2 reports (100%)
20k-40k
0 reports (0%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
0 reports (0%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.

๐Ÿ› ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center

Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).

No Recalls Found

๐Ÿ†

Clean Safety Record Verified

2023 MAZDA Mazda3

Safety Milestone: The 2023 MAZDA Mazda3 maintains a perfect record. As of January 2026, there are 0 official recalls.

Compared to other 2023 models which average multiple safety campaigns, this vehicle's clean sheet is a testament to its engineering integrity.

๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Proactive Safety Maintenance Guide

Even with a perfect recall record, regular maintenance safeguards your vehicle's reliability. Our experts recommend monitoring these systems:

๐Ÿ”ง
Brake System HealthInspect pads and fluid levels every 12,000 miles to ensure stopping power.
๐Ÿ”‹
Electrical & BatteryTest battery load annually; modern electronics are sensitive to voltage drops.
๐Ÿ‘๏ธ
Visibility ComponentsReplace wiper blades every 6-12 months and polish clouded headlights.
๐Ÿ›ž
Tire & Wheel CheckRotate tires every 5,000 miles and check TPMS sensors for accuracy.

NHTSA Investigations

0 investigations
โœ“

No active investigations for this vehicle.

Consumer Complaints

10 total complaints

Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2023 Mazda3.

Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis

Acceleration Issues30%
Warning30%
Fire20%
Noise10%
Rattle10%
Accident10%
Crash/Accident10%
Dead Battery/Car10%
Smoke10%
Jerk10%
Safety Systems๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

The active braking support feature of this vehicle falsely warns me of an imminent collision. It happens pretty often, the system is obviously not quite smart enough. Last week, while accelerating away from a stop light in moderately heavy traffic, the active braking system APPLIED THE BRAKES in a panic manner, causing the vehicle to almost come to a complete stop, and I missed being rear-ended by the car behind me by inches. There appears to be no method to permanently deactivate this "safety" feature. I can turn it off through a series of menus in the infotainment system, but each time I start the car the system turns itself back on again.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

My 2023 Mazda 3 started to have a more terrible and annoying rattle after 3000 miles. The engine will resonate and knock when it reaches a certain speed. The slow speed light throttle acceleration rattles. The most annoying thing is the multiple rattles inside, dash, door panels, and roof. It is like a can in the summer. Whatโ€™s more terrible is that in the winter, its internal door panels, windows, and dash make a knocking sound like a screw is loose. I went to multiple Mazda dealers and it was obvious that they could not find and fix the issue. They either said they didnโ€™t hear it or said it was a "normal noise". This is disappointing and unacceptable.

Other๐Ÿ”ต Low
TIRES

The contact owns a 2023 Mazda Mazda3 equipped with Bridgestone Tires, Tire Line: Turanza EL440, Tire Size: 215/45/R18, DOT Number: [XXX] . The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the front passengerโ€™s side tire had developed a sidewall bubble and the tire was replaced. Later the front driver's side tire had developed a sidewall bubble and was replaced. The contact later discovered the same failure had occurred on the replacement tire located on the front passengerโ€™s side. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,500. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Safety Systemsโš ๏ธ High
AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The contact's daughter had rented a 2023 Mazda Mazda 3. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle veered off to the left side of the highway and side-swiped a cable system; the vehicle then crashed into the end cap of a guardrail. The vehicle then hydroplaned and hit a bridge pillar. The vehicle flipped as the contact's daughter was ejected from the vehicle and the vehicle landed on the roof in the grass next to the guardrail. The cause of the crash was unknown. The vehicle caught fire and was incinerated by the time authorities arrived on the scene. The contact's daughter was pronounced dead at the scene. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. The guardrail, cable system, and a wooden road post were damaged due to the accident. Due to the extent of the fire, it was unknown if the air bags deployed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact stated that the investigators could not determine the exact cause of the crash but believed that it was likely that the contact's daughter fell asleep; the contact contests the investigator's findings. Upon his investigation, the contact discovered that owners of previous year model vehicles had reported that the air bag and seat belt pretensioners had failed to operate in the event of a crash. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.

Engine/Powertrainโš ๏ธ High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE,ENGINE

I was driving on the highway and decided to switch int the left lane so I sped up and heard a big bang and what sounded like my bumper being dragged against the ground. I see on my dashboard that thereโ€™s an electrical and engine malfunction so I pullover and pop the hood. A bunch of smoke comes out and i see a little fire so me and my friends run and call the police. The police and firefighters arrived just as the fire was getting large and it had engulfed the front right side of my car. If the notification that there was a malfunction didnโ€™t come on, I feel as if we couldโ€™ve been hurt much worse or even have died. Iโ€™m not much of a person that knows about cars and it sounded like my bumper was scraping and by the amount of times iโ€™ve scraped my bumper, i believed it until I saw my notification. The vehicle is still being inspected for cause of fire and this vehicle has never had this problem before.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ต Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING

While driving in snow storm I had to pull over and I noticed lights were covered with snow . LED lights will not produce heat to melt snow The lip above and the ledge below traps the snow and with the way the headlights are set up the snow sticks on the lights which affects visibility creating a safety issue. Same thing happens in rain. I have been to a parts store and a mechanic shop Both shops said this is a poor design. The lip and lower ledge trap the snow and LED lights will not melt the snow. This vehicle would be unsafe to drive in a snowstorm because of poor vision. Thank you

Other๐Ÿ”ต Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER

It is the infotainment system but please, hear me out. The manual states that one is able to change channels by using the controls on the steering wheel. That is not the case. It actually is another feature NOT described in the manual. So now in order to change the channel, one must take their hand off the wheel and fidget with a selector and look at a screen (and also hope they are in the right menu section). This is not how most cars with this capability act. This is something that even the manual doesn't describe. This is a hazard, albeit not spontaneous because it leads to distracted driving. I've been to the dealership twice about the issue. I've contacted Mazda corporate. There are anecdotes of others having the same complaint and how this is a hazard. My complaint to Mazda Corporate and the dealership requests to Mazda Corporate have been met with a "Oh well, it is what it is and we can't help you." sort of reply. -The component at this time can be inspected. -The feature leads to distracted driving. -Yes, two local dealerships have observed the issue and were puzzled as to why it says one thing in the manual about the feature and the system acts a different way. -No inspection by the manufacturer, but I have contacted Mazda USA corporate via chat and email. -No warning lamps or messages because apparently this is how it operates.

Electrical๐Ÿ”ถ Medium
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

Automatic emergency braking suddenly engaged while driving on the highway. The car decelerated abruptly to a complete stop, causing the driver behind to rear-end me. There were no vehicles or obstacles in front of the car when the brakes engaged - the closest car was at least 100 feet in front of me. This collision was clearly the result of a faulty automatic emergency braking system. I do not feel safe driving the car knowing this malfunction could happen again, especially at highway speeds. Sudden unexplained braking presents a huge safety hazard to all drivers, increasing the likelihood for collisions and injuries. There were no warnings or symptoms prior to the unexpected brake system activation. After the brakes activated mistakenly, warning beeps and โ€œBRAKE!โ€ message appeared. Car has collision damage and has not yet been inspected by dealer. Police report filed.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
POWER TRAIN

Cars lurches/jerks at low speeds when shifting 1-2 gears and sometimes rpm bounces up and down when downshifting.

Engine/Powertrain๐Ÿ”ต Low
POWER TRAIN

On three occasions thus far when the vehicle was started and placed in drive the transmission slipped terribly, the engine rpms would race when pressing the accelerator and the vehicle would move at no more than a few MPH. The problem is intermittent but can be inspected. The problem has occurred on public roads when stopped at a light or stop sign and I was unable to move forward again after stopping. The problem was reproduced by the dealer. The dealer had the vehicle for 29 days for repair attempts and returned it to me one day before my states lemon law would have been triggered. There were several vehicle malfunction warnings displayed on the dash 10 to 15 minutes after the vehicle failed to move under its own power. I also purchased an OBDII code reader after the initial vehicle failure and was able to read transmission error codes on subsequent failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any recalls for the 2023 MAZDA Mazda3?

No, the 2023 MAZDA Mazda3 currently has no recorded recalls from NHTSA.

Is the 2023 MAZDA Mazda3 safe to drive?

The 2023 MAZDA Mazda3 has no active recalls, which is a positive safety indicator. Always maintain regular service intervals for optimal safety.

Where can I check if my 2023 MAZDA Mazda3 has open recalls?

You can check for open recalls by visiting NHTSA.gov and entering your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), or by contacting your local MAZDA dealer.

๐Ÿ“ŠYear-over-Year Context

โžก๏ธStable Pattern

Compared to earlier years, the 2023 model shows stable reliability patterns. No meaningful structural change detected in recall frequency between adjacent model years.

๐ŸงญWhat This Means for You

Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.

If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.

๐Ÿ”‘

If You Own This Vehicle

  • No active recalls are recorded, but maintain regular service intervals and report any unusual symptoms to NHTSA.
  • Consider setting up VIN-specific alerts to receive notification of future recalls.
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If You're Buying Used

  • Request the VIN before purchase and verify recall status at NHTSA.gov.
  • This model year shows favorable reliability metrics compared to alternatives.

This page is designed to help you decide, not alarm you.

Compare with Similar Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Last updated: January 10, 2026.