The Mazda 3 Sedan is an all-rounder in its class and brings in the best craftsmanship from Japan into an affordable package. It is fuel-efficient, powerful, comfortable, and laden with the latest technology. The sedan rivals the likes of the Ford Focus, the Dodge Dart, the Subaru Impreza, and the Hyundai Elantra. The sedan sold more than 107,000 units for the previous model year and the sales are supposed to be similar this year as well. The darker side of the ownership is dictated by five recalls and 61 complaints where the infotainment system has gathered a lot of negative attention. Apart from that, the parking brake issues are rather rampant and have caused a lot of inconvenience to the owners. There are many other issues and niggles that further raise criticism for the sedan. The NHTSA also has an active warning stating the Mazda 3 should NOT be driven. Let’s see what all the owners had to go through and why the recalls tally counts five.
2016 Mazda 3 Sedan Problems
Electrical issues:
- Infotainment issues: The Mazda Connect system in the Mazda 3 Sedan malfunctions and freezes, causing a distraction while driving. The system acts up and shuts down while the vehicle is moving. In some cases, the Bluetooth module fails to connect to any smartphone while also rendering the backup camera useless. Many people have also complained about the system getting stuck in a boot loop while the car is moving. Upon investigation, the Connectivity Master Unit (CMU) is deemed faulty and a reprogram/replacement is suggested.
- Wiring harness issues: The wiring harness of the Mazda 3 has a soy-based outer layer that is prone to rodent attacks. The issue is more prominent in some areas of the States where there are more rodents. These attacks leave the internal wiring exposed and cause various electrical hassles.
Mechanical issues:
- Fuel leakage: The Mazda 3 fuel leakage is one of the main reasons for the sedan to come under scrutiny. Myriads of complainants report that they smell fuel when the car is standing and not in use. People have had other motorists inform them of leaking fuel while the car is moving. The issue has been reported to the manufacturer as well and two recalls have been made already to provide a remedy.
- Clutch failure: The manual transmission of the Mazda 3 is prone to premature clutch wear. People complain that the engine revs but the car doesn't move forward. This slippage is followed by smoke from the tailpipes. The dealerships quote a $1,600 bill to replace the whole unit with a new one.
- Parking brake issues: The Mazda 3 parking brake does the car no favors and has several complaints of its own. It disengages on its own and causes the car to move unintentionally. The dealerships blame the parking brake shaft and say that a corroded shaft is responsible for this unintentional movement. The Japanese carmaker has issued a recall for this issue (NHTSA Campaign Number 17V393000) and included the Mazda 6 as well.
Visibility issues:
- Wiper issues: The wiper of the Mazda 3 is reported to malfunction randomly. People say that the wipers just fail while in use and affect the overall visibility of the driver. To mitigate the issue, the dealership replaced and reprogrammed the Front Control Module (FCM) but the Japanese carmaker issued a recall addressing this issue. The details for the recall can be found in NHTSA Campaign Number 19V272000.
2016 Mazda 3 Sedan Recalls
|
S. No |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
October 2, 2015 |
15V621000 |
Fuel System, Gasoline |
A malfunctioning fuel shut-off valve may allow excess fuel to enter the fuel tank emissions systems and overflow, increasing the risk of a fire. This may stall the engine, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Mazda will notify the owners and initiated the recall on October 20, 2015. The dealerships will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve and replace it if needed. Mazda’s internal code for the recall is 8615J. |
|
2. |
September 22, 2016 |
16V684000 |
Fuel System, Gasoline |
Failure of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) attachment may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Mazda will notify the owners and initiate the recall on November 1, 2016. The dealerships will inspect the ICV weld and replace the fuel tank if needed. Mazda’s internal code for the recall is 0116I. |
|
3. |
September 23, 2016 |
16V685000 |
Fuel System, Gasoline |
A deformed tank may leak fuel from the welded connection of the recirculation pipe, increasing the risk of a fire. |
Mazda will notify the owners and initiate the recall on November 1, 2016. The dealerships will inspect the recirculation pipe weld and replace the fuel tank if needed. Mazda’s internal code for the recall is 0216I. |
|
4 |
June 22, 2017 |
17V393000 |
Parking Brake |
Corrosion of the parking brake actuator shaft due to water entering the brake caliper affects proper functioning, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Mazda will notify the owners and initiated the recall on August 24, 2017. The dealerships will inspect the parking brake actuator shaft and replace it if corroded. Mazda’s internal code for the recall is 1217F. |
|
5. |
April 4, 2019 |
19V272000 |
Visibility |
A defective windshield wiper relay may hinder wiper operation and affect visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. |
Mazda will notify the owners and initiate the recall on May 7, 2019. The dealerships will replace the front body control module with a better relay design. Mazda’s internal code for the recall is 3219D. |
Should you buy the 2016 Mazda 3 Sedan?
The 2016 Mazda 3 Sedan is a good offering but lacks the finesse of its elder siblings. The sedan is in limelight for the recurring electrical issues faced by the majority of its owners. Apart from that, the wipers also add to the woes and make driving difficult in a rainy environment. The fuel leakage issue is a rampant one as well but the three recalls have made sure that the remedy is available. Apart from this, the parking brake issue is also solved under a recall. That said, the Mazda 3 Sedan does have most of its issues sorted out by the manufacturer, and the new batches have nothing to fear about. If you want to go for a used Mazda 3 sedan, check the maintenance records thoroughly and see for the recalls the car might be a part of.
