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2012 Mazda Mazda3 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 1 NHTSA recall and 226 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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59/100

Use Caution — 2012 Mazda Mazda3

The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has elevated complaints or recalls that warrant careful consideration. Have any open recalls resolved before purchase and inspect the vehicle thoroughly.

1
NHTSA Recalls
1 recall on record
226
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
9
Crashes + Injuries
1 fire report

Own or buying a 2012 Mazda Mazda3?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2012 Mazda Mazda3 (1)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mazda dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #16V644000
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Most Common Problems — 2012 Mazda Mazda3

Based on 226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
39
Electrical System
20
Exterior Lighting
18
Air Bags
17
Structure
16
Steering
15
Seats
14
Unknown Or Other
14
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Mazda Mazda3 — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2012 model year is highlighted.

2010 686 complaints 2011 131 complaints 2012 226 complaints 2013 117 complaints 2014 135 complaints 2015 129 complaints 2016 102 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2010 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2016 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2012 Mazda Mazda3

Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has 1 recall and 226 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 have?
The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has 1 NHTSA recall. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mazda Mazda3?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 are: Power Train, Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 safe to buy?
The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 1 recallis completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Mazda Mazda3 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Mazda Mazda3 are: 2016. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2010.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.