Reliable Auto DB

2017 Mazda Mazda3 reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2017 Mazda Mazda3 has 83 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Mazda3 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Windshield wiper.

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

83

Per year

6

Recalls

2

Years on the road

10

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (20 of 83), then Back-over prevention (11) and Service brakes (7). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2016 and 2018

The 2016 Mazda3 has 103 complaints, 9 per year, and the 2018 has 108 complaints, 6 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2018.

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 2017 Mazda Mazda3. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

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 visibility, windshield wiper 2019-04-04 · NHTSA campaign 19V272000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (83 total)

Electrical system
20
Back-over prevention
11
Service brakes
7
Engine
5
Visibility and wipers
5
Structure
4
Forward collision avoidance
3
Fuel and propulsion system
3
Powertrain
3
Suspension
3
Wheels
3
Air bags
2
Speed control
2
Steering
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Equipment
1
Exterior lighting
1
Lane departure
1
Seats
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

6

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

220171020186201910202042021520226202327202412202512026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Many modern trucks, SUVs, and cars use LED headlights that are excessively bright and create dangerous glare. When approaching these vehicles from the opposite direction, the headlights can be blinding — similar to…"
    Exterior lighting · filed 2026-04-16
  • "Anytime the tank was filled with gas there was a strong smell of gasoline vapors that persisted for several days. The car was a few months past its warranty on emissions issues and so I was charged about $1500 to…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2025-09-11
  • "Repeated instances of the Mazda Infotainment system making changes randomly without any user input while driving. Repeated instances of the navigation system freezing, going black, rebooting while driving."
    Electrical system · filed 2025-07-28
  • "The original OEM radio in my Mazda has been experiencing persistent ghost touch issues, making it incredibly frustrating to use. The screen often registers inputs without me touching it, leading to random changes in…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-07-25
  • "1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? -> Infotainment display has "ghost touch" issue. Infotainment starts acting up on its own without driver input. It…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2025-07-18

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2017 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2017 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 2016 Mazda Mazda3 Next year 2018 Mazda Mazda3 See every Mazda Mazda3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?

The 2017 Mazda Mazda3 has 83 complaints with NHTSA after 10 years, or 6 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Mazda3 years here — under the median of the other years, which is 9. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Camera and Windshield wiper.

What are common problems with a 2017 Mazda Mazda3?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (20 of 83), then Back-over prevention (11) and Service brakes (7). Those filings include 6 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2016 Mazda3 has 103 complaints, 9 per year, and the 2018 has 108 complaints, 6 per year. The 2017 has fewer complaints per year than the 2016. The 2017 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2018.

Has the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 been recalled?

The 2017 Mazda Mazda3 has 2 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 2017 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 83 complaints about the 2017 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.