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Your vehicleHome›Mazda›Mazda3› 2016
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Mazda · Midsize Sedan

2016 Mazda Mazda3

Gas
Compact Cars
10 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints7 crash · 1 fire · 5 injured reported 104
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 33 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016

The 2016 Mazda Mazda3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 3 4-Door, is EPA-rated at 33 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 104 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2016 Mazda Mazda3

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
3 4-DoorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293933$2,050
3 4-DoorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl304033$2,050
3 5-DoorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293933$2,050
3 4-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl293832$2,100
3 5-DoorGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl293932$2,100
3 5-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283832$2,100
3 4-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl283831$2,150
3 5-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl273630$2,250
3 4-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl253629$2,300
3 5-DoorGasFWD2.5L 4-cyl253429$2,300

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36520, 36521, 36535, 36524, 36534, 36538, 36523, 36537, 36522, 36536.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door5–9 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV / Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door5–9 / 10California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV / Bin 5All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door5–9 / 10Bin 5 / California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door5–6 / 10Bin 5 / LEV-II ULEV125All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleHatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L
Engine configurationIn-Line

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Grand Touring/GT, SE, SV/Base, Sport/GX). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length175.6–180.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.9 in
Height57.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Track, front61.4 in
Track, rear61.4 in
Curb weight2,926–3,051 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear59/41 to 60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: GT 4-door Sedan, Gx/Gs 4-door Sedan, Sport GT 4-door Hatchback, Sport Gx/Gs 4-door Hatchback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2016 Mazda3
Other years The 2026 Mazda3 Recalls Mazda recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Mazda Mazda3 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
●moderate

Back Over Prevention

6023G
236,100 vehicles 42% reported repaired
Problem 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. Fix 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, anticipa
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDFChronology PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V487000 reported Jul 14, 2023 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Visibility

3219D
187,880 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Jul 20, 2015 – Jul 18, 2017
Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility. Risk Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 19V272000 reported Apr 4, 2019 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Parking Brake

1217F
227,814 vehicles 73% reported repaired built Jan 6, 2014 – Sep 2, 2016
Problem 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. Fix 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.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 17V393000 reported Jun 22, 2017 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

0216I
3,849 vehicles 87% reported repaired built Sep 24, 2015 – Oct 16, 2015
Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 Mazda3 vehicles manufactured September 24, 2015, to October 16, 2015. During manufacturing, the fuel tanks for the affected vehicles may have deformed, resulting in a fuel leak from the recirculation pipe welded connection. Risk A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and depending on the tank lot number, dealers will inspect the recirculation pipe 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 0216I.
NHTSA campaign 16V685000 reported Sep 23, 2016 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

0116I
17,484 vehicles 80% reported repaired built Jan 4, 2014 – Sep 18, 2015
Problem 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. Fix 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.
NHTSA campaign 16V684000 reported Sep 22, 2016 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Fuel System, Gasoline

8615J
Do not drive 14,411 vehicles 94% reported repaired built May 21, 2015 – Aug 25, 2015
Problem 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. Fix 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 re
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 15V621000 reported Oct 2, 2015 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Mazda3

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mazda publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Mazda’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Mazda3 →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
104complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 5 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 5 · 2017: 12 · 2018: 10 · 2019: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 8 · 2024: 23 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 3

Most-cited components

Electrical System 22
Unspecified 21
Service Brakes 14
Back Over Prevention 13
Power Train 9
Visibility/Wiper 7

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda 3. While driving 75 MPH with the cruise control engaged, the contact depressed the brake pedal, but the vehicle accelerated. Upon depressing the brake pedal for the third time, the vehicle stalled and completely shut off. When the vehicle restarted, the check engine indicator flashed.
Vehicle Speed Control at 54,000 miles Dec 17, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11161973
Front control module whch apparently controls my wipers stopped working and I cannot drive in certain weather conditions. I was driving home after work I work nights it was around 3 AM and it was pouring ran outside when my wipers stopped working and I was stuck on the side of the road for over 2 hours .
Visibility/Wiper at 36,112 miles Nov 13, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11151344
My passenger rear caliper froze causing the pad on the outboard side to wear down to metal while the inboard pad still had half of its life left. This is behavior similar to NHTSA recall 17v393000 but my VIN does not fall within the parameters of the recall. The vehicle has 58,000 miles on it and is driven mainly on the highway
Service Brakes at 58,000 miles Nov 6, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11149591
The contact owns a 2016 Mazda 3. While the vehicle was stationary and unoccupied, the emergency brake disengaged and the contact's vehicle rolled back and struck another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed. There were no injuries. A dealer was not made aware of the failure.
Parking Brake at 31,735 miles Jun 22, 2018 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11103438
All seats separate from the base of the seat, meaning there is nothing holding the cushion that you sit on to the wire frame attached to the floor. The dealership informed me that the warranty solution after 7 attempts of fixing was to put zip ties through the nylon seat material and connect it to the base.
Seats at 30,000 miles Dec 20, 2017 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11055702
Air bags and bad tires - I hydroplaned on an interstate and totaled my car and another vehicle. I lost control and hit the other vehicle with the front of my car and continued to go up a 30ft embankment. On the way back down I took out a very large metal light pole with the front of my car and the air bags never deployed.
Air Bags at 18,000 miles Sep 7, 2016 NHTSA owner report · ODI 10904570

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Mazda itself: 29 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 29 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Mazda3 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 36k

miles, typically

Half the 46 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 19,000 and 60,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 7
10k–20k 5
20k–30k 6
30k–40k 7
40k–50k 4
50k–60k 4
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 0
80k–90k 2
90k–100k 1
100k–150k 6
150k + 1

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Mazda warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 667
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-11
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 654 service bulletins, 9 warranty extensions, 4 others

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Structure, Power Train.

  • SA-041-26a Service bulletin
    2026-09-11 · Electrical System
  • DESCRIPTION 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 installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Example
  • PF-26-02 Other
    2026-07-28 · Suspension
  • Supersession between B60S-34-300G/350G and B60S-34- 300H/350H. Please be advised that the G-level and H-level control arms are not interchangeable. The G-level part cannot be used to repair a vehicle built with the H-level. The H-level part can be used to repair a vehicle built with the G-level, but the ball joint retainer (d- Code 34-552) has been eliminated.
  • SA-041-26 Service bulletin
    2026-06-19 · Engine
  • This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION 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 installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the elec
  • 01-008-26 Service bulletin
    2026-05-01 · Power Train
  • This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto tensioner fully operates under both high ambient temperat
  • SA-031-26 Service bulletin
    2026-04-30 · Unknown Or Other
  • DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a replacement vehicle certification label (located on the B􀀀pillar or front do
  • SA-029-26 Service bulletin
    2026-04-21 · Engine
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Servic
  • SA-026-26 Service bulletin
    2026-04-16 · Engine
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly, the replacement engine may f
  • SA-021-26 Service bulletin
    2026-04-04 · Structure — Body
  • This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair. A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground poi

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0780
P0780 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train15 bulletins
P0842
P0842 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train15 bulletins
P0847
P0847 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train15 bulletins
P0872
P0872 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train15 bulletins
P0877
P0877 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train15 bulletins
P0015
P0015 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine12 bulletins
P0302
P0302 on Mazda →		Cylinder 2 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →12 bulletins
P0524
P0524 on Mazda →		Engine oil pressure has been measured below the safe limit.Engine12 bulletins
P0301
P0301 on Mazda →		Cylinder 1 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →11 bulletins
P0300
P0300 on Mazda →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →10 bulletins
C1001
C1001 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →9 bulletins
P1738
P1738 on Mazda →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train9 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 failed the emissions check on 1.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 4.6% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%).

New York inspections 1.7%

failed emissions

2,127 initial inspections of 2,085 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2016 Mazda3Every 2016 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check1.7%4.2%2,124
Failed the safety inspection4.6%2.2%2,127
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.14%0.27%2,127
Miles driven a year9,70910,028odometer at inspection
Average odometer99,763103,109odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Mazda3 by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2026 A 0 1 30 mpg2025 A 1 8 31 mpg2024 B 3 12 31 mpg2023 A 0 12 31 mpg2022 A 0 24 31 mpg2021 A 1 54 31 mpg2020 C 2 32 30 mpg2019 D 6 74 30 mpg2018 C 4 110 32 mpg2017 B 2 84 32 mpg2016 this page D 6 104 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2016 Mazda3

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 15V621000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. 2 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. There is an active do not drive advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (61/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

Across the 10 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, the best EPA combined figure is 33 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

Transport Canada measured it at 175.6–180.3 in long, 70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,926–3,051 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 104 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, most often about electrical system, unspecified, service brakes. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 runs 5 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 5, California LEV-III SULEV30/PZEV, LEV-II ULEV125 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3?

The manufacturer has filed 667 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Mazda Mazda3, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-11. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Mazda Mazda3 failed the emissions check on 1.7% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 4.6% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations10 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates10 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints104NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins667NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
InvestigationsnoneNHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationNo defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reportsnoneNHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA7 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2026 Mazda3 The Mazda3 model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Mazda recall on file All campaigns filed against Mazda vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Mazda3 by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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