The 2011 Mazda 3 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 754,314 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 179 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the air bags. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SEATS17V0820002017-02-09173,859 affected
Defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not…
Consequence
If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is…
STRUCTURE16V6440002016-09-06580,455 affected
Defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and…
Consequence
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Complaints by component
AIR BAGS
27
8crashes10injuries
SEATS
19
1crashes3injuries
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15
2crashes2fires
STEERING
13
1crashes
STRUCTURE:BODY
12
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN
11
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
10
TIRES
7
SUSPENSION
6
1crashes1injuries
Total complaints179
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the…”
“I was driving it and randomly the at and tc , and check engine light came on and the car went into limp mode, after doing some research it appears to happen to all 2009-2011 mazda3's and it's a safety hazard. It's a safety hazard because of when it's stuck in limp mode sometimes if your at a light…”
“The car is jerking and check engine light is on. Also when you are stopped and press on the gar it takes a bit to get speed. The transmission control module needs to be replaced. There seems to be this issue on many mazda's just not sure why a recall hasn't been done for this case.”
“Transmission control module failed while driving. Do to this there was a loss in ability to properly shift which made driving dangerous. There has been several online reports and accounts about this specific car signaling a check engine light coming on, at light coming on and when other indirect…”
“The baffle in my tank has broken loose for uncertain reasons. This seems to be a common problem with mazda and has had a recall in the 2015 models even.”
“Defective driver's seat construction made by mazda mfg corp. I was the first person to report this cheaply made driver's seat failure to mazda corp in irvine, ca in early 2015 or 2016. Recall was finally issued a year afterwards because mazda dragged their feet, and only after I threatened to sue…”
“Defective driver's seat construction made by mazda mfg corp. I was the first person to report this cheaply made driver's seat failure to mazda corp in irvine, ca in early 2015 or 2016. Recall was finally issued a year afterwards because mazda dragged their feet, and only after I threatened to sue…”
“Unknown. Electric power steering just suddenly stopped working for no apparent reason. Very hard to steer. Dangerous!”
Defect investigations
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
InvestigationEA21002 Opened 2021-09-17 · open
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2011 Mazda 3 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.