What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda 3?

Owners file the most complaints about the electrical system, then brakes. See the problems section for what owners describe.

Does the 2016 Mazda 3 have recalls?

Yes. The recall count for this model year is in the by-year fact, and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints are there for the 2016 Mazda 3?

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file. The problems section breaks them into groups.

Is the 2016 Mazda 3 reliable?

The complaint groups give a picture of where owners ran into trouble. Complaints are not adjusted for sales, so compare years of the same model using the by-year section.

What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Mazda 3?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

2016 Mazda 3 Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Mazda 3^[1]. The page also lists recalls for this model year, and the section below shows how they are counted^[2].

104owner complaints^[1]

6recalls^[2]

29–33MPG combined (EPA)^[3]

5★NHTSA overall rating^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car, and here are the groups from biggest to smallest.

Electrical System. 22 complaints name this group^[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe warning messages that come and go, a central display that keeps restarting, and the car losing power while driving. One owner says rodents chewed the wiring.
Unknown Or Other. 21 complaints do not fit a clear part group^[6]. We do not describe them further.
Brakes. 18 complaints name this group^[7]. Owners describe getting a recall notice and then waiting a long time because the parts for the repair were not available.
Back Over Prevention. 12 complaints name this group^[8]. Owners describe a rear camera that flickers or cuts out while reversing, and a recall repair that has not happened yet.
Power Train. 9 complaints name this group^[9]. Owners describe a clutch that gave out early, a car that stalled or slipped out of gear, and weak grip on slick roads.
Visibility/Wiper. 7 complaints name this group^[10].
Engine. 7 complaints name this group^[11].
Air Bags. 6 complaints name this group^[12].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 3 is necessarily included.

Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera (23V487), July 2023. About 236,100 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer (19V272), April 2019. About 187,880 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced visibility. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Parking Brake (17V393), June 2017. About 227,814 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage (16V685), September 2016. About 3,849 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly (16V684), September 2016. About 17,484 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly (15V621), October 2015. About 14,411 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
3 4-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[3]	29 / 39 / 33	$2,050
3 4-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[19]	30 / 40 / 33	$2,050
3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[20]	25 / 36 / 29	$2,300
3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[21]	28 / 38 / 31	$2,150
3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[22]	29 / 38 / 32	$2,100
3 5-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[23]	29 / 39 / 32	$2,100
3 5-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[24]	29 / 39 / 33	$2,050
3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[25]	25 / 34 / 29	$2,300
3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[26]	27 / 36 / 30	$2,250
3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive^[27]	28 / 38 / 32	$2,100

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
5 HB FWD^[4]	5	5	5	4	10.5%
4 DR FWD^[28]	5	5	5	4	10.5%

Engine and size

Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles.

Engine	Horsepower
2016 Mazda 3 with 2.0L 4-cylinder^[29]	155 hp
2016 Mazda 3 with 2.5L 4-cylinder^[30]	184 hp

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each 3 model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[2].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2004	145	2
2005	97	2
2006	166	1
2007	222	2
2008	303	2
2009	115	3
2010	686	3
2011	132	2
2012	226	1
2013	117	1
2014	138	4
2015	130	4
2016	104	6
2017	84	2
2018	109	4
2019	74	6
2020	32	2
2021	54	1
2022	24	0
2023	12	0
2024	12	3
2025	8	1
2026	1	0

NHTSA's counts for the 3 show 104 complaints and 6 recalls for 2016^[2]. Among the 23 model years listed, 10 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 12 have more^[2]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (1) and the most are for 2010 (686)^[2]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2016 3?

Owners filed 104 complaints with NHTSA for this model year^[1]. The electrical system is the biggest named group, followed by brakes^[5]^[7]. Many of the brake and rear camera stories are about waiting for recall parts, not about a part failing on its own^[7]^[8]. Complaints are unverified reports and are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so read the counts as a guide and not a verdict^[1]. Check the recall section above and ask a dealer about open repairs before you buy^[2].

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Mazda 3?: Owners file the most complaints about the electrical system^[5], then brakes^[7]. See the problems section for what owners describe.
Does the 2016 Mazda 3 have recalls?: Yes. The recall count for this model year is in the by-year fact^[2], and each recall is listed in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints are there for the 2016 Mazda 3?: NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file^[1]. The problems section breaks them into groups.
Is the 2016 Mazda 3 reliable?: The complaint groups give a picture of where owners ran into trouble^[5]^[7]^[9]. Complaints are not adjusted for sales, so compare years of the same model using the by-year section.
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Mazda 3?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Mazda 3

2008 303 complaints, 2 recalls
2010 686 complaints, 3 recalls
2012 226 complaints, 1 recall
2014 138 complaints, 4 recalls
2015 130 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 this page

Compare all model years of the Mazda 3

Other Mazda models from 2016

2016 Mazda 6 77 complaints, 1 recall
2016 Mazda CX-9 107 complaints, 0 recalls

All Mazda models

Similar cars from 2016: compact cars

2016 Nissan Versa 110 complaints, 0 recalls
2016 Volkswagen Golf/GTI 237 complaints, 14 recalls
2016 Audi A3 121 complaints, 6 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Cruze 250 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Ford Fiesta 178 complaints, 0 recalls
2016 Ford Focus 1,194 complaints, 11 recalls

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Mazda 3 (7 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 5 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Mazda 3 model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for 3 4-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 39 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 5 HB FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
22 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 28,330). NHTSA vehicle records
21 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 56,500). NHTSA vehicle records
18 complaints name the brakes component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 31,735). NHTSA vehicle records
12 complaints name the back over prevention component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
9 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 39,900). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
7 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,750). NHTSA vehicle records
6 complaints name the air bags component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 23V487, filed July 14, 2023: Back Over Prevention › Sensing System › Camera. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V272, filed April 4, 2019: Visibility › Windshield Wiper / Washer. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V393, filed June 22, 2017: Parking Brake. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V685, filed September 23, 2016: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V684, filed September 22, 2016: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly. NHTSA recall database
Recall 15V621, filed October 2, 2015: Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for 3 4-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 30 city / 40 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 36 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 38 highway / 31 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,150. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 4-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 38 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 5-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 39 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 5-Door, 2.0L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 29 city / 39 highway / 33 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 25 city / 34 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 36 highway / 30 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,250. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for 3 5-Door, 2.5L 4-cyl, Automatic (S6), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 28 city / 38 highway / 32 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,100. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 10.5%. NHTSA vehicle records
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Mazda 3 with 2.0L 4-cylinder: rated 155 hp. www.epa.gov
EPA Test Car List, 2016 Mazda 3 with 2.5L 4-cylinder: rated 184 hp. www.epa.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Mazda 3: problems, recalls and fuel economy