Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2012 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 ↗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 (226)
226 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The power train is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 226 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 40 | 17.7% |
| Engine | 32 | 14.2% |
| Exterior lighting | 31 | 13.7% |
| Electrical system | 25 | 11.1% |
| Vehicle speed control | 20 | 8.8% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 18 | 8% |
| Air bags | 17 | 7.5% |
| Structure | 17 | 7.5% |
| Electronic stability control | 16 | 7.1% |
How 2012 compares with other Mazda3 years
Best and worst Mazda3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 2017 | 83 | 2 |
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), 2012 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2012 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
2012 Mazda Mazda3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 16V644000 (structure). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Owners filed 226 complaints with NHTSA. Power train (40), Engine (32), Exterior lighting (31) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What safety rating did the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd 4 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 3 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.9% rollover risk).
How does the 2012 Mazda3 compare with other years?
Among the 2008–2017 Mazda Mazda3 model years at least five years old, the 2017 drew the fewest complaints (83) and the 2010 the most (686). The 2012 drew 226. 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.