AI Damage2019 Mazda Mazda3: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 filed 74 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. The maker issued 698 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 74
- involving a crash
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 698
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 15% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 5 Forward collision avoidance 12% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 15 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 34.
- Electrical system: 11 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 283.
- Engine: 11 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 63.
- Powertrain: 11 complaints (15% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 39.
- Forward collision avoidance: 9 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 20.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 74 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 15 | 1 | 34 |
| Electrical system | 11 | 0 | 283 |
| Engine | 11 | 1 | 63 |
| Powertrain | 11 | 0 | 39 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 9 | 1 | 20 |
| Visibility | 8 | 0 | 29 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| Air bags | 6 | 0 | 9 |
| Structure | 5 | 0 | 73 |
| Steering | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 26 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 12 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
2- "adaptive cruise control" this feature many times almost caused an accident, rear end specially on highways. For some reason it doesn't detect the car in front of me when I have auto cruise enabled, no rain clear weather, this been reported more than 5 times to the dealership & its hard for them to tell what…
When the towing company turned the car on later it immediately started to spontaneously accelerate and surge forward again. The mazda dealer and insurance inspector explained to me that there is a sensor: when a wheel encounters what it perceives to be an obstacle, it 'tosses' all the power to that wheel and…
The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries sustained. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing or repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,000.
The driver-side sun visor has suffered an internal mechanical failure where the internal plastic tension components have cracked under normal use. As a direct result, the sun visor will not stay up and randomly drops down completely unprompted while the vehicle is in motion.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The airbag system, specifically the curtain airbags and related airbag control components, malfunctioned by deploying spontaneously without any collision or impact.
After breaking, a Brake System Malfunction warning message and i-ACTIVESENSE System Malfunction warning illuminated on my dashboard. I brought the car to a Mazda dealership the next morning.
The seat belt stopped retracting and no longer works, it was reported directly to the Mazda agency, but the warranty was not valid. The dealer said that the tensioners no longer work and the seat belt needs to be replaced.
For the seat belt it does not retract back and there was no issue before. It suddenly stopped working and all of the seatbelt is out. This is a safety issue for anyone sitting in the front passenger seat.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 708 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mazda3 has 46 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 74, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI General Informatio…
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- Some customers may complain about any of the following
1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App
- Customers having MAZDA CONNECT concerns should have their vehicle repaired using the following repair…
- Some customers may complain about any of the following
1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote functions inoperative. Engine Start / Stop Door Lock / Unlock Lights ON / OFF…
- Infotainment Reboot With Navigation Card Installed This Service Information is no longer valid
Refer to the following updated Technical Service Bulletins: CX-5 / CX-9: 16-002/23 - UPDATED SOFTWARE RELEASE FOR CONCERNS WITH MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM (7TH GEN TYPE) Mazda3 / CX-30 (Non-Turbo): 16-008/23…
- Some customers may complain about the infotainment system and/or the MyMazda App showing incorrect clock…
Some customers may complain about the infotainment system and/or the MyMazda App showing incorrect clock and/or tire pressures and/or tire pressure missing. This may be caused by: Incorrect calendar entry…
- Some customers may complain about SiriusXM Travel Link, Traffic Plus showing expired even though the…
Some customers may complain about SiriusXM Travel Link, Traffic Plus showing expired even though the customer purchased a paid subscription. SiriusXM audio packages do not include SiriusXM Travel Link, Traffic Plus. To…
- Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2)
This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high temperature environment and the seepage is…
- The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system can malfunction with the following symptoms if the rear side radar…
The Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system can malfunction with the following symptoms if the rear side radar sensors are installed facing the wrong direction.
- Some customers may complain that the seat warmer does not operate when turning the ignition on while the…
Some customers may complain that the seat warmer does not operate when turning the ignition on while the seat is warm but when turning the ignition off then on again, the seat warmer begins to operate appropriately…
- Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start…
Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start and DTC U2011:1C is stored. Zinc-plated whisker may form inside the EPS motor and trigger the DTC. However…
NHTSA lists 698 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Mazda Mazda3?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 74. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (14%), A/C or heater (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA lists 698 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Mazda Mazda3 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.