2015 Mazda MAZDA3 problems, complaints & recalls
Updated from NHTSA data · How we count
Owners have filed 58 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Mazda MAZDA3, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 4 recalls for this model year.
- Complaints
- 58
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 2
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Median mileage
- 77,500 mi at time of problem
Safety warning: at least one recall for this vehicle tells owners not to drive it until it is repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Key facts
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 14 of 58 complaints (24%).
- Electrical System (13) and fuel, hybrid & EV propulsion (8) follow.
- Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 77,500 mi.
- Owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries.
- The 2015 Mazda MAZDA3 has 4 recalls on file, including at least one “do not drive” warning.
- It ranks 5th of 22 Mazda MAZDA3 model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
- That is 5% fewer complaints than the 2014 model year (61).
2015 Mazda MAZDA3 problems by category
- Driver Assistance & Safety Tech14 complaints
- Electrical System13 complaints
- Other / Unknown10 complaints
- Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion8 complaints
- Brakes · 1 crash6 complaints
- Visibility & Wipers3 complaints
- Engine3 complaints
- Lighting2 complaints
- Body & Structure1 complaints
- Seats & Seat Belts1 complaints
- Transmission & Drivetrain1 complaints
- Airbags · 1 crash1 complaints
A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.
Most-reported components
| Component (as filed with NHTSA) | Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical system | 13 |
| Unknown or other | 10 |
| Back over prevention | 9 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 |
| Service brakes | 5 |
| Back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
When problems happen (mileage)
2015 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls (4)
- BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.
- PARKING BRAKE
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.
Risk: 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.
Remedy: 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 August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Mazda Motors North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured January 4, 2014, to September 18, 2015. The fuel tank of the affected vehicles may have been improperly handled during manufacturing and, as a result, the welded attachment of the Inlet Check Valve (ICV) may fail and allow fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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 November 1, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0116I.
- FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured May 21, 2015, to August 25, 2015. The affected vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank with a shut-off valve that can allow fuel to enter into the fuel tank emissions systems. If enough fuel enters the emission system it may leak out onto the ground or result in an engine stall.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. An engine that stalls increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicle's fuel shut-off valve. As needed, the fuel shut-off valve and the affected fuel tank emissions system components will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2015. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the repairs have been completed. Mazda will provide rental cars until that time. Owners may contact the Mazda Customer Experience Center at 1-800- 222-5500, option #6. Mazda's number for this recall is 8615J.
Recent 2015 Mazda MAZDA3 complaints
Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
- Filed Apr 15, 2026180,000 miNJDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, or while attempting to reverse, the rear camera flashed on and off for approximately five minutes and then started working as intended. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was repaired under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) by the owner of the vehicle; however, the fix failed to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had…
NHTSA complaint #11731350 · source - Filed Mar 24, 2026OHFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
While parked on a slight downhill grade, gasoline started leaking and created a significant puddle on the ground. No warning lamps, messages or other symptoms. An independent service center ran numerous tests over two days, including a smoke test. Diagnosis: There is a hole in top section of fuel tank and the fuel tank needs replaced. Recommendation was to not drive vehicle with fuel tank over half full. Due to the potential of leaking fuel in the presence of a hot ignition…
NHTSA complaint #11726838 · source - Filed Jan 27, 2026WVFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
Fuel leaking out of top of tank. Took car to two different shops. They both told me about a recall on the gas tank. They did every test possible and replaced O ring. Even did smoke evap system test. Tank still leaks from the top when full. They said the tank needs replaced. There is a recall for the year make and model but not my VIN?
NHTSA complaint #11713563 · source - Filed Jan 15, 2026GACrashTowedBrakes
Description On 12-15-2025, in 18°F weather, the vehicle was parked on a residential sloped driveway with the manual parking brake fully engaged. While the driver was outside the vehicle, the parking brake system failed to hold the car’s weight. The vehicle rolled backward, crashed through a wooden railing, teetering on a 4-foot retaining wall, and came to rest over a culvert. Two young children were inside the vehicle at the time of the failure. Component Failure &…
NHTSA complaint #11711269 · source - Filed Dec 21, 2025CAOther / Unknown
I had purchased a car through Facebook Marketplace after talking to the seller and seeing a CarFax report on the car we decided to purchase it. After coming home the following day I look closer at the documents and realized the CarFax did not match the VIN of the car I purchased. After looking up the CarFax with the VIN on the car I purchased I saw that the person who sold me the car had rolled back the odometer.
NHTSA complaint #11706401 · source - Filed Oct 29, 202586,000 miCADriver Assistance & Safety Tech
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the dealer refused to complete the recall repairs due to the vehicle having a Salvage Title. The contact stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The…
NHTSA complaint #11696444 · source - Filed Oct 3, 2025OHBrakes
The contact owns a 2015 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V393000 (Parking Brake); and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.
NHTSA complaint #11691201 · source - Filed Sep 30, 2025CAOther / Unknown
The vehicle automator mileage was changed. The original mileage reading is over 200,000 mi. While the dashboard mileage only reads 90,780 mi. I was unaware of this until I went to the DMV to do a title transfer. The private seller is now nowhere to be found from Facebook marketplace and has blocked me but I do have receipts of everything
NHTSA complaint #11690684 · source
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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology