Reliable Auto DB

2012 Mazda Mazda3 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 over 15 years — 23 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Mazda3 years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Liftgate.

2012 Mazda Mazda3
Photo by Ethan Llamas, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

226

Per year

23

Recalls

1

Years on the road

15

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (40 of 226), then Engine (32) and Exterior lighting (31). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2013

The 2013 Mazda3 has 117 complaints, 8 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2012 Mazda Mazda3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall structure, body, liftgate 2016-09-06 · NHTSA campaign 16V644000
Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Remedy Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

Complaints by component (226 total)

Powertrain
40
Engine
32
Exterior lighting
31
Electrical system
25
Speed control
20
Fuel and propulsion system
18
Air bags
17
Structure
17
Electronic stability control (ESC)
16
Seats
16
Steering
15
Service brakes
14
Wheels
12
Suspension
9
Visibility and wipers
5
Engine and engine cooling
4
Fuel system, gasoline
4
Tires
4
Visibility
4
Seat belts
2
Traction control
2
Adaptive and mobility equipment
1
Lane departure
1
Show 15 more Show less
Crash-flagged

9

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

22011162012202013302014152015112016302017182018222019132020172021920221020236202472025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The vehicle was transported from the east to Texas, and the vehicle was bought used. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky and that a gap was between the instrument panel…"
    Structure · filed 2025-12-10
  • "The car leaks gas when the tank is full and if the car is inclined slightly. I've noticed the problem several month ago with an occasional odor but finally saw the gas leaking recently when it was parked on a sloped…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-09-26
  • "The brake pedal is soft and sometimes unresponsive unless it is pumped repeatedly. There have been several times where I have been concerned if I would come to a complete stop. I have had both sets of brake pads…"
    Service brakes · filed 2025-06-16
  • "The Seat Lifter on the driver's side seat frame broke, the metal has a clear stress fracture right near the bracket where the frame connects to the rail. This is the same part that was recalled in the 2010 and 2011…"
    Seats · filed 2025-05-07
  • "Our fuel tank is leaking for no reason. Brought it in last year (2024) for state inspections and let them know we smell gas when we park sometimes. They poke around and find nothing, but note there is a faint gas smell…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-04-02

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2012 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars 4 stars
2012 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD 4 stars 5 stars 3 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

3rd generation (late US), 2012–2013
Body styles Sedan, Hatchback
Oil SAE 0W-20 (gasoline SKYACTIV-G 2.5; 5W-30 where manual specifies) , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 205/55R16, 205/50R17 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 16V644000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly. If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury. Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.

Compare

Next year 2013 Mazda Mazda3 See every Mazda Mazda3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?

Owners have filed 226 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 over 15 years — 23 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 13 Mazda3 years on this site. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Liftgate.

What are common problems with a 2012 Mazda Mazda3?

The complaints owners file most often name Powertrain (40 of 226), then Engine (32) and Exterior lighting (31). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2013 Mazda3 has 117 complaints, 8 per year. The 2012 has more complaints per year than the 2013.

Has the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 been recalled?

The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 226 complaints about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a Mazda Mazda3 use?

US Mazda3 manuals specify SAE 0W-20 for SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines unless the manual lists another grade for your engine.

What generation is the 2020 Mazda3?

5th generation / BP (2019-on).

What body styles does the Mazda3 offer?

US Mazda3 generations on this site include sedan and hatchback body styles.