Reliable Auto DB

2015 Mazda Mazda3 reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 over 12 years — 15 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Mazda3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Parking brake, and Tank.

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

129

Per year

15

Recalls

4

Years on the road

12

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (26 of 129), then Electrical system (24) and Back-over prevention (12). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Next to 2014 and 2016

The 2014 Mazda3 has 138 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2016 has 103 complaints, 9 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

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 2015 Mazda Mazda3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (4)

Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2023-07-14 · NHTSA campaign 23V487000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall Parking brake 2017-06-22 · NHTSA campaign 17V393000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank 2016-09-22 · NHTSA campaign 16V684000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall gasoline fuel system, storage, tank 2015-10-02 · NHTSA campaign 15V621000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (129 total)

Service brakes
26
Electrical system
24
Back-over prevention
12
Fuel and propulsion system
12
Engine
6
Seats
6
Structure
6
Exterior lighting
5
Powertrain
5
Visibility and wipers
5
Air bags
4
Parking brake
3
Steering
3
Fuel system, gasoline
2
Wheels
2
Equipment
1
Lane departure
1
Seat belts
1
Speed control
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Show 13 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

8

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220141420151020161920171420181320191020204202142022720232020248202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "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…"
    Back-over prevention · filed 2026-04-15
  • "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…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-03-24
  • "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…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-01-27
  • "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…"
    Service brakes · filed 2026-01-15
  • "Catalytic converter keeps giving me check engine"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-12-24

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2015 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2015 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 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

4th generation (BM/BN), 2014–2018
Body styles Sedan, Hatchback
Oil SAE 0W-20 (gasoline SKYACTIV-G 2.5; 5W-30 where manual specifies) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 215/45R18, 205/60R16 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 19V272000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that 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. Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash. Remedy: 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.

Compare

Previous year 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Next year 2016 Mazda Mazda3 See every Mazda Mazda3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?

Owners have filed 129 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 over 12 years — 15 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Mazda3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 4 recalls on file, including Camera, Parking brake, and Tank.

What are common problems with a 2015 Mazda Mazda3?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (26 of 129), then Electrical system (24) and Back-over prevention (12). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Is the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2014 Mazda3 has 138 complaints, 10 per year, and the 2016 has 103 complaints, 9 per year. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2014. The 2015 has more complaints per year than the 2016.

Has the 2015 Mazda Mazda3 been recalled?

The 2015 Mazda Mazda3 has 4 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2015 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 129 complaints about the 2015 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.