The Mazda Mazda 3 sedan was almost an instant hit during its launch, and the car still ranks among the top, most preferred options in the compact car segment. Mazda vehicles do have a reputation for being more reliable than most of their peers in their segments, and the Mazda 3 isn’t any different either. The sedan’s reliability score has been on the higher side when its number of complaints is compared to the impressive sales numbers of the car. The 2014 Mazda 3 sees a similar scenario with three recalls and 91 complaints as compared to 104,985 units sold. The current model has faced issues with its airbags, brakes, and infotainment system according to the number of complaints received against these areas. The recalls cover the charging system shutdown causing engine stall issues, possible fuel leakage issues, and possible corrosion of the parking brake actuators issue. In its class, the Mazda 3 competes against the Subaru Impreza, the Honda Civic, and the Chevrolet Cruze.
Mazda 3 user complaints and problems
Engine problems
- Sudden accelerations: A couple of complaints against the 2014 Mazda 3 mention the sudden acceleration issue. The reports state that while the vehicles were at idle with the engines running, a sudden surge of acceleration caused the vehicles to lunge forward.
- Engine stalling: One owner complains about engine stalling on his 2014 Mazda 3 sedan. The owner faced the engine stalling issue multiple times but the dealership was unable to offer any resolution.
- Harsh vibrations: One owner reports an incident of harsh vibrations from the vehicle’s powertrain. While idling, the owner faced harsh vibrations from the powertrain and it seemed that the engine was misfiring.
- Loss of power: ignition coil fault, needed replacement One owner reports this issue and it occurred while driving. The owner took the vehicle to the concerned dealership where the vehicle was diagnosed with a faulty ignition coil. After replacement of the ignition coil, the issue recurred and the ignition coil of a different cylinder required replacement.
- Unresponsive throttle input: A single owner faced this issue several times while driving. The owner describes the issue by stating that the throttle inputs would be unresponsive intermittently and in those scenarios, the vehicle would coast for some time before responding to the throttle inputs.
Safety problems
- Brake failures and emergency brake malfunction: A few owners have faced complete brake failures while driving. In one instance, the brake pedal went all the way to the floor and the owner was unable to stop the vehicle. In some other cases, the emergency brakes of the vehicles malfunctioned. Due to the malfunction, the emergency brakes engaged accidentally while driving and refused to disengage while the emergency brakes failed sometime after engaging, causing the vehicles to roll away.
Electrical problems
- Infotainment system issues: Several owners have faced issues with the infotainment systems in their Mazda 3 sedans. The most common issue is the poor radio connection even in proper urban areas where the signals are the strongest. In other cases, the navigation system or the overall infotainment system display malfunctioned several times such as the Mazda logo appearing slowly and staying in that way until the vehicle was restarted.
2014 Mazda 3 recalls
|
S.No. |
Recall Date |
NHTSA Campaign ID |
Issues noticed |
Additional remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 3, 2014 |
14V173000 |
Charging System Shutdown may cause Engine Stall |
Once the PCM assumes that the charging system has failed, the vehicle will stop charging and could result in poor acceleration, loss of steering assist and windshield wiper operation, and a possible engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on May 19, 2014. |
|
2 |
September 22, 2016 |
16V684000 |
Possible Fuel Leak from Deformed Fuel Tank |
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. |
Mazda will notify owners and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the ICV weld, replacing the fuel tank, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 1, 2016. |
|
3 |
June 22, 2017 |
17V393000 |
Parking Brake Actuators may Corrode |
If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. |
Should you buy a used Mazda 3?
The Mazda 3 is an appealing and value-for-money product in its class and the car promises an engaging drive while keeping the fuel economy intact. The sedan is also a dependable one and a majority of the issues reported online affected a specific batch of the Mazda 3 since the numbers aren’t that high for the current model year. Going ahead with a used example would make sense but do carry out a thorough inspection to be absolutely sure. Also, you can check out a used Subaru Impreza which would keep you hooked with its standard AWD layout and impressive practicality irrespective of scenarios.
