2024 Mazda Mazda3 problems
The Mazda3 (known as the Mazda Axela in Japan (first three generations), a combination of "accelerate" and "excellent") is a compact car manufactured by Mazda. It was first introduced in 2003 as a 2004 model, replacing the Familia/323/Protegé in the C-segment.
The second-generation Mazda3 for the 2009 model year was unveiled in late 2008, with the sedan premiering at the Los Angeles Auto Show and the hatchback at the Bologna Motor Show. For the 2012 model year, Mazda began offering the Mazda3 with their newly developed Skyactiv technology, including a more rigid body, a new direct-injection engine, and a new 6-speed transmission.
The third generation was introduced in mid-2013 as a 2014 model year. The third-generation model is the first Mazda3 to adopt the "Kodo" design language and a more complete Skyactiv range of technologies.
The fourth-generation Mazda3 for the 2019 model year was unveiled in November 2018 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the 2019 model, the all-new Mazda3 is equipped with the updated Skyactiv technologies, including a spark-controlled compression ignition engine marketed as the Skyactiv-X.
A performance-oriented version of the Mazda3 was marketed until 2013 as the Mazdaspeed3 in North America, Mazdaspeed Axela in Japan, and the Mazda3 MPS in Europe and Australia.
The Mazda3 became one of Mazda's fastest-selling vehicles, with cumulative sales in January 2019 of over 6 million units.
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Common 2024 Mazda Mazda3 problems
The 2024 Mazda3 has several common problems based on complaints from owners, which can be categorized into design, safety, and engine issues.
Design Issues:
- C-Pillars Visibility: Some owners have reported problems with visibility due to the thick C-pillars, which can make changing lanes and backing up challenging . This issue is particularly noticeable in the hatchback version of the 2024 Mazda3.
- Infotainment System: Although the 2024 Mazda3 has a new touchscreen and updated infotainment system, some owners have reported issues with the clunky outgoing tech and quirks in the system .
Safety Issues:
- Rearward Visibility: The 2024 Mazda3 has poor rearward visibility, making changing lanes and backing up a challenge. This issue is due to the ultra-wide C-pillar, which puts a big hunk of metal behind the rear seats.
- Blind Spot Monitoring: While the 2024 Mazda3 comes standard with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, some owners have reported issues with visibility, making these features feel like a requirement.
Engine Issues:
- SkyActiv-X Engine: The SkyActiv-X engine, which promises petrol-like refinement with diesel-like economy, has been reported to be complex and quirky by some owners. While the tech is interesting, many owners have found that the standard 122hp engine is a better choice for day-to-day driving.
- Cylinder Deactivation: All Mazda3 models now come with cylinder deactivation, which can cause issues for some owners. This feature, along with engine idle stop-start, can affect the engine's performance and fuel efficiency.
In summary, the 2024 Mazda3 has several common problems, including limited rear seat space and cargo area, C-pillars visibility, infotainment system quirks, poor rearward visibility, and engine issues. While the car has received positive reviews for its design and driving experience, these issues are worth considering for potential buyers.
How reliable is Mazda 3 2024?
We expect the 2024 3 will be more reliable than the average new car. This prediction is based on data from 2021, 2022, and 2023 models, plus the Mazda brand scores.
What is the most common problem with Mazda 3?
Mazda 3 Reliability and Common Problems
- The Mazda 3 is one of the most reliable compact sedans, with a high reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 from RepairPal.
- Common problems with the Mazda 3 include lightning issues, infotainment problems, faulty brakes, and sway bar links that need to be replaced.
What is the Mazda 3 update for 2024?
2024 Mazda 3 Sedan: What's New
Changes are minor for the new model year, but the improvements are notable. Base models now receive blind-spot monitoring, rear cros-straffic alert, and rear door alert. On higher trims, there's now a 10.3-inch infotainment touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
What is the difference between 2024 and 2023 Mazda 3?
Apart from the price, cutting back a trim, and rearranging the standard body types, there isn't much difference between the 2024 and 2023 model year Mazda 3.
2024 Mazda Mazda3 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Mazda Mazda3 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Electrical system problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Structure problems
- Visibility/wiper problems
- Lane departure problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2024 Mazda Mazda3 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2024 Mazda Mazda3 complaints
The NHTSA has received 4 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2024 Mazda Mazda3.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-16
- VIN: 3MZBPBCM4RM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My Mazda3, odometer reading about 3000 miles, would not start. I have been driving normally daily, do not leave lights on or any other equipment connected when the car is off. I have not had any warning lights displayed other than startup. Monday I drove to my local CT. golf course, 20 miles from home, arrived at 9am. 5 hours later I after golf, I can’t open trunk. Fortunately I left the car unlocked. The car would not start. Road Service tried to jump battery unsuccessfully. Dragged the car onto truck-bed and transports to dealer. Service tech contacts me next day … charged battery, checked electric system and found no malfunctions. This is a scary situation when one never knows when this will happen again. Is there a solution??
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-16
- VIN: JM1BPAMM4R1
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: Moon roof exploded when not struck with anything
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-04-16
- VIN: JM1BPBLM6R1
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Interior Rattles from passenger side and also infotainment screen is rattling. Should not be happening on a 2024 with only a couple thousand miles on it. Scratches on the interior from basically nothing, everything on this car is very easy to scratch. There was no accident just wanted to file a complaint.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,LANE DEPARTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-07
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JM1BPBLM8R1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER,LANE DEPARTURE
- Summary: The contact leased a 2024 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at 55–60 mph, the windshield wipers continued to stay in the on position and failed to turn off. The parking brake engaged without application and turned on and off. All the electrical systems malfunctioned and failed to turn off. The lane assist engaged and forced the vehicle to crash into the side wall. All the instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. There was no air bag deployment or fire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the mechanic reset the codes. The mechanic informed the contact that the malfunction may continue while traveling over a bump. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 1,900.
2024 Mazda Mazda3 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2024 Mazda Mazda3.
- Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations
- Components: LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning. In addition, the headlights will not automatically adjust from high beams to low beams as intended.
- Consequence: Automatic braking, steering assist, and headlight control systems that do not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the forward sensing camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6824H.
- Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations
- Components: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
- Summary: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and MAZDA3 vehicles. Due to a software error, the rearview, front, and/or side camera images may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
- Consequence: A camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
- Remedy: Dealers will update the view monitor control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6223J.
Negative 2024 Mazda Mazda3 car reviews
Positive 2024 Mazda Mazda3 car reviews
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I test drove two different Mazda 3 Premium hatches before buying the second. The first one was the 'soul red' color with black leather interior which was a beautiful paint job. The one that I purchased is 'polymetal gray' and I ended up liking this color better. It looks sort of blue-gray on cloudy days and more gray-gray on sunny days. The interior is red leather which looks much more like an 'ox-blood' color in person than it does in pictures - absolutely gorgeous and has a very premium look and feel. This car drives very well overall and has a sporty feel to it without really being a sports car. The 18' wheels look very nice especially in the gloss black color and I find it's contrast to both the Polymetal and Red colors to be pleasing to the eyes. However, this does translate to some roughness on rougher roads, but it's not a deal breaker for me. I did not initially intend to get such a high trim level, but buying a car with a manual transmission was an important factor to me so I ended up with the premium trim. The MT is VERY smooth in my opinion and took very little time to get adjusted to since I have previous experience with manuals. The clutch is light and easy to push and the shifter is smooth. This is a very forgiving car for someone to learn to drive MT, especially with the hill-hold button. The features and tech in this car are fantastic and way more than I had ever intended to get. I find the heated seats and heads up display to be particularly useful. The infotainment system is a little cumbersome to get used to in regards to using the different menus but after getting the hang of it, it's not so bad. The hand controls for the infotainment are really nice to use once getting accustomed to them and I find the location to be perfect for my hand in its resting place. You can tell that these cars really are designed around the DRIVER as everything is pretty intuitively placed.The backseat is a bit cramped, but since my wife and I don't have kids, it wasn't a big concern for us. I haven't had to load anything massive into the cargo area yet, but I'm looking forward to testing out the space with the seats folded down. The appearance of this car is just stellar to me. It looks much sleeker and sexier than most small hatchbacks on the road. I don't see many of these updated 3's on the road, especially in hatch form, so it's nice to have something unique. Before purchasing this car, I was considering the Honda Civic Hatch and the Subaru Impreza Hatch. The Civic looks like a transformer to me, very angular, and the Subaru just didn't float my boat, kind of dull. As much as I'd like to say it doesn't matter to me, the aesthetics of what I was going to spend my money on were pretty important to me. I want to smile and be excited when I look at my vehicle, and this is definitely a much better-looking vehicle than my aging 06' Ford Ranger. I bought my new car on January 16th, 2021, at Flow Mazda of Greensboro NC, which was a good experience overall. I only have about 600 miles on the car, but my first impressions are good, and I'm happy that I purchased this car. This is my first Mazda, but it looks like it won't be my last as long as I continue to be happy with this purchase. My wife may end up in a CX-5 when she's ready to upgrade. -Rhyno (happy new Mazda Owner) Update 08/10/2021: The Mazda 3 Premium Hatchback with MT is still a joyous car to drive, and I don't have any complaints about the vehicle. I only have about 4,800 miles on it after 8 months as I'm babying it to preserve its glory lol. It's very fun with the MT, takes off and shoots through traffic when I need it to, runs smooth as butter around town. I'm glad I purchased this car and hope that it has much longevity over the course of my ownership. Thanks Mazda, keep up the good work! Update 02/11/2022:I am so glad to hear that you are still enjoying your car after a year of purchase! It's great to hear that you have received countless compliments on its sexy appearance, which definitely makes it stand out on the road. The manual transmission sounds like it's still a lot of fun, and it's great that you're getting better fuel mileage over time. It's wonderful to hear that you're such a fan of Mazda and their cars. I hope they continue to make great cars like this one, and maybe even bring back the
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I'm so glad to hear that you're enjoying your new car! It sounds like you made a great choice with the Mazda3 hatchback. The manual transmission and great handling really make it a joy to drive. The larger spoiler you added from the Turbo model looks really cool, especially in black on black. It's great to have a weekend car to enjoy driving in the country, and it's even better that you find yourself driving it everywhere more often than your other vehicle. While it may be a little small on passenger room, it's perfect for a single person like yourself. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
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This car is absolutely fabulous in the premium plus trim! It has great power, comfort, and convenience. It's definitely worth the money and still awesome even after 5000 miles.
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I had a tough time saying goodbye to my 2011 Mazda 6, which I had for 11 years and loved dearly. Naturally, I went straight to Mazda for my next car and didn't even consider another dealership. The Mazda 3 is a fantastic car, even though I wish they still made the 6 model. It has a 2.5L inline 4 engine, Bose speakers, 18-inch wheels, lumbar support for the seats, and a lovely leather interior. The ride is incredibly smooth, and it accelerates beautifully (I don't think the turbo is necessary, to be honest). The premium trim level even has a heads-up display that shows the speed limit and directions on the windshield. It's a great choice, and you can't go wrong with it. I initially wanted the carbon edition because it looks amazing, but after sitting in both the carbon edition and the premium trim level, I could tell that the seat comfort level was different, which is crucial for me because I have a bad back. Once you download the Mazda app, you can even remote start the car, which is fantastic. I could go on and on, but I suggest you visit your nearest Mazda dealership and see for yourself!
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I'm so glad I chose the Mazda 3! It's just as good as any high-end brand in terms of quality, and the design is unbeatable. Plus, it has a quick and solid attitude that really sets it apart. It reminds me of the 3 series from 20 years ago, before they lost their way. I've been recommending this car to all my friends who are in the market for a new sedan - it's definitely the best value out there!
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2024 Mazda Mazda3 problems:
2023-2024 Mazda 3 What They Are Not Telling You - YouTube
Aug 10, 2023 ... 18:50. Go to channel · 2019-2023 Mazda3 80k Mile Owner Review & Common Problems (Feat. Shooting Cars). Realistick•309K views · 29:00. Go to ...
2018 Mazda3 common issues to look out for? : r/mazda3
Feb 17, 2022 ... Rust is a common issue with all Mazdas. General consensus is that Mazda has ironed this issue out as they've moved to Skyactiv architecture, but ...
2019-2023 Mazda3 80k Mile Owner Review & Common Problems ...
May 4, 2023 ... 2019 Mazda 6 2.5 turbo owner here. Just about to hit 60k miles. No engine issues, no issues at all actually! Very reliable car.
How is the current Mazda 3's reliability? : r/mazda3
Oct 5, 2023 ... I've had a number of issues with the 10th gen Civic, had a 2018 and 2019 hatch EX. No longer part of the Honda faithful. Just picked up a 2024 ...
2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback Review | One MAJOR Change! - YouTube
Dec 27, 2023 ... In this video I'll go for a test drive & completely review the NEW 2024 Mazda 3 Hatchback! I'll test out acceleration, braking, ...
Other years of Mazda Mazda3
Are you having problems with your 2024 Mazda Mazda3?
Luigi Gerhold 2025-02-13
I hope you're doing well! I noticed that you test drove a Mazda 3 hatchback turbo recently. I'm glad to hear that you found the interior to be wonderful and that the AWD is a great addition. I understand that you didn't find anything outstanding about its drivability, but it's still a competent car. It's possible that your current car, a Subaru WRX, has set a high standard for you with its impressive acceleration and turning capabilities. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with me!
Mathew Wyman 2024-11-29
The car's suspension was disappointing and not independent, which made me feel far too many bumps. Additionally, the front seat was tight with no elbow room. However, I was fortunate enough to sell it and get my money back as they hold their value.
Jeffery Heaney 2024-10-23
This car has several areas that require improvement, such as the distracting features, inadequate air conditioning and heater, poor visibility, poor defroster function, and unintuitive electronics. However, with some adjustments, this car has the potential to be a success. It is important to note that these issues do not define the car as a whole, and I would not rate it as a failure.
Jacey Hermann 2024-10-23
Performance, interior quality, handling, fuel consumption, and power accessories are all great! However, I noticed that the car has less than 3500kms on it and the oil light is on. Sure enough, the oil level is down by that much. This is not what I would expect for a car that costs 48000 taxes in. Can you please explain this issue?
Elmore Towne 2024-08-11
As an owner of both a 2015s GT and a 2018 Mazda 3 GT hatchback, I have a unique perspective to compare my current 2021 Mazda 3 AWD turbo hatchback to the previous models. Over the past six years, there have been some noticeable changes, most of which are improvements and greatly appreciated. The turbo in the 2021 model is a perfect example of that, giving the car a much-needed boost in performance and driving enjoyment. Although it's not a Mazdaspeed, it still makes a significant difference. However, the switch to a fixed rear axle suspension in the AWD model can be positively brutal on pavement bumps and potholes, compromising the driving experience improvement brought about by the addition of the turbo. Additionally, the reduction in rear cargo space in the AWD model is noticeable and not a welcome change. Despite these issues, I still enjoy my 2021 Mazda 3 hatchback, and it makes for a mostly enjoyable driving experience. I hope this review helps you make an informed decision about your next car purchase!