repaired · 2018 Q4
Seats
Risk. If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
2011 Mazda MAZDA3Problems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 132 owner complaints about the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-082 the manufacturer reports only 36% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through July 16, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 has problems
132 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
29Air bags8 crash/fire/injury
20Seats3 crash/fire/injury
15Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
13Structure1 crash/fire/injury
13Steering1 crash/fire/injury
12Power train
10Exterior lighting
7Suspension
7Tires
3611 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 29 | 8 |
| Seats | 20 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 15 | 4 |
| Structure | 13 | 1 |
| Steering | 13 | 1 |
| Power train | 12 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 1 |
| Tires | 7 | 0 |
| 11 other systems | 36 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2 recalls
2011 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2018 Q3
Body: hatchback/liftgate
Risk. If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Mazda.
Best & worst years
2011 vs. every other MAZDA3 year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the MAZDA3 median. How we score
'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2011 Mazda MAZDA3 safety ratings
2011 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
- Rollover: 4 stars (10.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3, and the recalls they led to.
- Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
In owners' words
What MAZDA3 owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver’s side seat wobbled and was unsecured. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who determined that the front driver’s side seat lifter link was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The…
The airbag system failed to deploy during a major accident I was in, where my car rolled multiple times, and the collision that totaled my car. This includes the front airbags, impact sensors, and/or the airbag control module not activating. The vehicle is currently in the possession of the…
When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly.…
Own a 2011 MAZDA3?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.