The Mazda 3 is a compact sedan. The main characteristic feature of the Mazda 3 is its fluid design. The car is available in9 trims with the base trim starting at a price of $16,595 and going all the way up to $24,105 for the top trim. It has an overall safety rating of 4 stars but the side impact crash test rating is a bit alarming as it is only rated at 2 stars. Despite the crash test rating, the overall reliability is decent with a total of 120 complaints and 2 recalls have been made so far against the 2011 Mazda 3. Most of the complaints reported comprise issues with airbags, electricals, and the interior. It competes against the likes of the Hyundai Elantra, the Honda Civic, and the Chevrolet Cruze.
2011 Mazda 3 User Complaints and Problems
Engine and Mechanical Complaints
- Transmission failure: Few users have complained that the transmission on the automatic variant fails. This could lead to erratic acceleration and engine knocking sounds.
- Premature clutch failure: Few users have also reported premature clutch failure. This can be a result of the quality of the clutch not being up to the mark.
Safety Complaints
- Airbags: Many users have complained about the non-deployment of airbags in the event of a crash that has resulted in injuries.
Exterior
- Headlight condensation: Most of the users have complained about condensation happening in headlights leading to reduced brightness. We figured out that the issue is due to the headlight assembly not having proper sealing which could result in reduced nighttime visibility.
Interior
- Dashboard lifting up: Few users have complained about dashboard lifting. Over the years, the glue can melt due to high temperature which could result in the dashboard breaking from the body. The reasons behind it can be multiple, ranging from temperature to failed A/C unit.
Electrical Complaints
- Issues with TCM: Many users have also reported issues with the transmission control module.
- Other electrical issues: Few users have also complained about additional electrical issues with the horn not working.
2011 Mazda 3 Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
9th February 2017 |
17V082000 |
Seat lifter link may crack or separate. |
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 to cause the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position. |
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. |
|
2. |
6th September 2016 |
16V644000 |
Rear liftgate failure. |
On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly. |
Dealers will replace both lift gate supports, free of charge, |
Should you buy the 2011 Mazda 3?
Overall, we find the 2011 Mazda 3 to be an affordable compact sedan with fewer problems and issues compared to its competitors, most of which are minor. The car offers decent performance and average build quality. So, if you are looking for an average compact sedan you can definitely choose a 2011 Mazda 3 and even a used one can be purchased at a reasonable price. In terms of performance and ride quality, however, we feel that the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is much superior to the Mazda 3 and scores well on the long-term reliability aspect.
