Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Seat Lifter Links may Crack or Separate
- Summary
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
- Consequence
- If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.
Rear Lift Gate may Fall if Lift Gate Stays Corrode
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (132)
132 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 132 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 29 | 22% |
| Seats | 20 | 15.2% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 13.6% |
| Electrical system | 15 | 11.4% |
| Steering | 13 | 9.8% |
| Structure | 13 | 9.8% |
| Power train | 12 | 9.1% |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 7.6% |
| Suspension | 7 | 5.3% |
| Tires | 7 | 5.3% |
How 2011 compares with other Mazda3 years
Best and worst Mazda3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 222 | 2 |
| 2008 | 303 | 2 |
| 2009 | 115 | 3 |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 |
| 2016 | 104 | 6 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 4 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2011 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2011 Mazda3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2011 Mazda Mazda3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 17V082000 (seat), 16V644000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2011 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Owners filed 132 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (29), Seats (20), Unknown or other (18) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What safety rating did the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 2 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2011 Mazda3 compare with other years?
Among the 2007–2016 Mazda Mazda3 model years at least five years old, the 2016 drew the fewest complaints (104) and the 2010 the most (686). The 2011 drew 132. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.