2021 Mazda Mazda3 problems and complaints
Owners have filed 54 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda Mazda3. The most-reported areas: Engine (19), Electrical System (7), Forward Collision Avoidance (7).
Key takeaways
- 54 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 2 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 1 reported injury.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 19 | 35% |
| Electrical System | 7 | 13% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 13% |
| Unknown Or Other | 7 | 13% |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 9% |
| Power Train | 4 | 7% |
| Air Bags | 4 | 7% |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 6% |
| Suspension | 2 | 4% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 4% |
| Wheels | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 2 | 4% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 2021 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 2021 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| 2021 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Electrical System - filed 2026-10-13
While driving to work, the dashboard displayed “Charging system malfunction, pull over.” The driver pulled over safely. The vehicle has electric power steering, so a loss of charging power while driving could reduce steering assist and cause the vehicle to stall in traffic. This happened three days after a Mazda deale...
Suspension - filed 2026-10-08
Vehicle: 2021 Mazda Mazda3 VIN: [XXX] Mileage at failure: 111,777 Date the problem started: [date you first heard the clunk] Location: [town], [XXX] Crash / fire / injury / death: No Was the vehicle moving? Yes Component: Suspension: Front (Lower Control Arm) Description: The front passenger-side lower control arm on...
Service Brakes - filed 2026-09-28
Car made grinding sound with notable vibration when starting to move after shifting into drive. Felt like brakes weren't releasing. Had car towed to dealership where they diagnosed that the front left brake shim was damaged and making contact with the rotor, had to pay to fix it out of pocket.
Diagnose it yourself
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.
More for the 2021 Mazda Mazda3
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.