Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 17% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2021 | 19 | 35% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2019 | 11 | 15% | 13,000 miles |
| 2018 | 14 | 13% | 100,000 miles |
| 2017 | 5 | 6% | 45,000 miles |
| 2016 | 7 | 7% | 38,000 miles |
| 2015 | 6 | 5% | 12,000 miles |
| 2014 | 14 | 10% | 17,000 miles |
| 2013 | 11 | 9% | 26,000 miles |
| 2012 | 36 | 16% | 19,000 miles |
| 2011 | 5 | 4% | 34,000 miles |
| 2010 | 31 | 5% | 76,000 miles |
| 2009 | 3 | 3% | 31,000 miles |
| 2008 | 26 | 9% | 67,000 miles |
| 2007 | 30 | 14% | 77,000 miles |
| 2006 | 34 | 20% | 85,000 miles |
| 2005 | 23 | 24% | 52,000 miles |
| 2004 | 21 | 14% | 56,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The thermostat malfunctioned on this vehicle, resulting in the thermostat remaining open and providing excess coolant to the engine, which in turn damaged internal components of the engine (compromises safety), decreased fuel economy, increased emissions (compromised safety), and decreased the life of the engine within the vehicle. It is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic and will be inspected by the Mazda dealership in 7 days. There were no prior warnings until the engine malfunction notice appeared, the vehicle began to make jolts and stuttering sounds, and the temperature gauge within the vehicle failed to rise to optimal range. …
Experiencing a known excessive oil consumption issue. Low engine oil warning light came on and upon checking, oil was low. This occured at 4000 to 4200 miles. It occured again about 4000 miles later and again at a similar interval. I notified the dealer and scheduled a repair date but I am concerned of other possible damage that may have already occured due to this issue. An oxygen sensor needs to be replaced and is most likely due to the engine malfunction. The cause of the consumption is said to be damage to the valve seals on the exhaust side.
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that after pulling over to the shoulder the vehicle would not immediately restart. The contact stated that approximately five minutes later, the vehicle restarted without pressing the start button. The contact stated that the message "Network Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that several electrical malfunctions had previously occurred with the vehicle including the front windshield wipers independently activating, with the headlights and instrument cluster lights flickering. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.
Cracked cylinder head causing oil leak. Confirmed by Mazda Dealership. Vehicle has always had routine maintenance and remote start used to warm engine prior to driving. No warning lights appeared to alert driver prior to noticing issue- took it in because driver could smell burning oil which is a fire risk to safety of occupants while using vehicle. This type of issue is a manufacturer flaw and should be covered with recall since there are a lot of people online experiencing the exact same issue.
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 45 MPH, the vehicle sputtered, hesitated to accelerate, and the check engine warning light illuminated. When the contact firmly depressed the accelerator pedal, the engine made a knocking noise, and the vehicle stalled. Diagnostic testing at AutoZone retrieved DTC related to the knock sensor. The vehicle underwent a tune-up, and the knock sensors and ignition coils were replaced; however, the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle hesitated and failed to exceed 40 MPH. The contact pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and drove to the residence with the hazard lights activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) was completed. …
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The contact was unaware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's husband added fuel to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted 15 minutes later. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated because there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred upon shifting from reverse(R) to drive (D). The power train warning light and several unknown waring lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. …
I have a 2017 Mazda 3 with exactly 59,454 miles. I was driving my car into work and a warning came on saying coolant temperatures high pull over immediately. I feel my safety was at risk since I was on a highway and my car lost power and would not allow me to accelerate. Loaded the car on a flatbed to bring into a Mazda dealership. I had oil leaking into my coolant. They diagnosed it as a cracked cylinder head or engine block. Only solution I was given was to replace the engine with a factory new engine. I spoke to Mazda customer service and they admitted it is a known issue.
The engine began revving high as I took my foot off the accelerator and apply the brakes as I approached a traffic red light. I put the car in neutral to see if by tapping the gas pedal it would stop revving. It did not. With my foot on the brake pedal to the floor, I put the car in drive and the car sped forward despite my foot on the brake pedal. I went through a red light trying to make a left turn on to a major highway, crossed a median strip, clipped a vehicle in the rear, turned the car trying to avoid collisions with other cars, went off the road hitting utility pole and transformer box on the opposite side of the highway, finally coming to rest with air bags deployed on the driver side. This happened on July 8, 2018, a Sunday afternoon. …
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3 vehicles, equipped with an incorrect exhaust valve spring. The incorrect exhaust valve spring may fail while driving, potentially causing an engine stall.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace any incorrect exhaust valve springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Mazda3 years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2012 (36), 2006 (34), 2010 (31), 2007 (30) and 2008 (26) model years. Engine complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2012.
Is there a recall for Mazda Mazda3 engine problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 17V-745 (exhaust system, Nov 21, 2017). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda Mazda3 engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 49% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the engine (18 mentions), followed by the cooling system (7).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.