2023 Mazda Mazda3 problems, complaints & recalls
NHTSA has received 12 owner complaints about the 2023 Mazda Mazda3, or 3.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.08, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #6 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 73% lower; against other Compact cars it is 86% lower.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Limited data: fewer than 30 complaints, so shares and indexes are unstable.
Complaints filed between 2023-03-22 and 2026-03-13. Median delay from incident to filing: 20 days.
Analysis
The previous model year (2022) drew 5.1 complaints per year, more than this one. The following model year (2024) drew 4.5 per year, more than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2023 model collected 9 complaints, 89% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (25.0% of complaints), followed by Engine (16.7%) and Electrical (16.7%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 2.1 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 4 reports (33.3%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 1 injury and 1 death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 11 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was the first year (58% of incidents). 2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Complaint index
- vs. all tracked vehicles0.08
- vs. other Mazda models0.27
- vs. other 2023 models0.08
- vs. other Compact cars0.14
- Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (9)0.11
- #6 of 92 · 2023Rankings ›
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.
What owners complain about
vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average
Problem areas: Electrical · Engine
When complaints were filed
- Crashes reported: 3
- Fires reported: 2
- Injuries: 1
- Deaths: 1
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 11 months
What owners report
On 14th, 2026, while traveling at approximately 60 mph on the northbound 55 Freeway near the Katella exit, my vehicle suddenly began to shake violently without any prior warning.
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…
Transmission failure when driving. Car was towed to dealership and diagnosed. Transmission and torque converter replacement required under factory warranty. Very long lead time for dealer to acquire replacement parts, about 4 months.
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.
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.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · 2023 · Compact cars
| Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Subaru Impreza | 4 | 1.1 | 0.03 |
| 2023 Mazda Mazda3 | 12 | 3.3 | 0.08 |
| 2023 Nissan Sentra | 19 | 5.2 | 0.12 |
| 2023 Toyota Prius | 24 | 6.5 | 0.15 |
| 2023 Volkswagen Jetta | 42 | 11.4 | 0.27 |
| 2023 Kia Forte | 60 | 16.3 | 0.39 |
| 2023 Toyota Corolla | 83 | 22.6 | 0.54 |
| 2023 Hyundai Elantra | 165 | 44.9 | 1.07 |
| 2023 Honda Civic | 326 | 88.7 | 2.11 |
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year.
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
How many complaints were filed for the 2023 Mazda Mazda3?
12 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Mazda Mazda3, or about 3.3 per year on the road.
What is the most common problem reported for the 2023 Mazda Mazda3?
The most common category is Transmission / powertrain, accounting for 25.0% of complaints.
Does the 2023 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for this model year.
Is the 2023 Mazda Mazda3 still generating complaints?
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months.
How does the 2023 Mazda Mazda3 compare with similar vehicles?
NHTSA has received 12 owner complaints about the 2023 Mazda Mazda3, or 3.3 per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 0.08, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 92 model-year 2023 vehicles we track, it ranks #6 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Mazda models its rate is 73% lower; against other Compact cars it is 86% lower.