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2016 Mazda Cx 3

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
5
of 5 stars
Recalls
3
on record
MPG
combined

Open recalls on record

3 safety recalls. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer — check the VIN before you buy.

Vehicle Summary

2016 Mazda Cx 3

3 recalls
48 complaints
5/5 safety rating

Before You Buy

Confirm all 3 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
Read the 4 complaints reporting a crash
Review the 48 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
3
Owner complaints
48
Complaints citing a crash
4

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

3 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 16V644000high

    Body/structure issue

    STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 16V203000high

    Steering issue

    STEERING

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.

    Consequence

    If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they will be replaced and then correctly tightened, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 20, 2016. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9316D.

    Full campaign record
  • 23V487000high

    Rear-visibility system issue

    BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

    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.

    Consequence

    A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

    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.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NCAP star ratings and the underlying test breakdown for the 2016 Mazda Cx 3.

  • Frontal crash

  • Side crash

  • Rollover

What the ratings mean

NHTSA gives the 2016 Mazda Cx 3 5 out of 5 stars overall. NHTSA does not publish enough comparable results for this class and year to rank it against peers.

NHTSA published frontal crash, side crash and rollover resistance for this vehicle but not side pole. An untested area is not a poor result — it means no published data exists, and the overall star rating is calculated without it.

Fuel economy & emissions

The EPA holds no fuel-economy record for this model year.

The EPA does not publish a record for every model year.

Consumer complaints

48 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

48
Total
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries

Most reported components

  • OTHER13
  • ELECTRICAL10
  • LIGHTING6
  • ENGINE4
  • SEAT BELTS3

Notable Issues

48 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA. 2 reports involve injuries. 4 reports involve a crash.

Most reported problems

miscellaneous issues13
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)10
lighting problems (headlights, taillights)6

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2016 Mazda Cx 3, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 23V487000

    A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

  2. Recall

    Recall 16V644000

    If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

  3. Recall

    Recall 16V203000

    If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Unknown
Drive type
Unknown
Engine
0L 0-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Unknown
Seats
0

NHTSA crash ratings

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Explore related

Adjacent model years

All Mazda Cx 3 years

Common problems

Mazda Cx 3 problems

110 owner complaints analyzed

Systems recalled

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 23V487000

    A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

  2. Recall

    Recall 16V644000

    If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.

  3. Recall

    Recall 16V203000

    If the steering knuckle separates from the strut assembly, it can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.