2nd generation (BL) · BL · 1,605 complaints, 1,160 with mileage
Owners filed 1,605 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010–2013 Mazda Mazda3, and 1,160 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 28,000 and 82,000 miles. The median is 50,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are body structure (13.1% of complaints, typically around 49,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (11.2% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles), seats (9.4% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles).
2 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 211 | 13.1% | 49,000 | 34,500–65,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 179 | 11.2% | 77,000 | 50,000–100,000 |
| Seats | 151 | 9.4% | 70,000 | 50,013–100,000 |
| Electrical System | 123 | 7.7% | 62,764 | 38,000–101,000 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 112 | 7.0% | 58,500 | 40,000–80,000 |
| Power Train | 112 | 7.0% | 29,750 | 16,000–60,000 |
| Exterior Lighting | 100 | 6.2% | 50,000 | 36,000–80,000 |
| Air Bags | 81 | 5.0% | 60,500 | 38,000–91,220 |
| Wheels | 71 | 4.4% | 48,707 | 35,000–69,500 |
| Steering | 69 | 4.3% | 51,000 | 27,000–88,800 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 920 | 654 |
| 2011 | 181 | 126 |
| 2012 | 328 | 260 |
| 2013 | 176 | 120 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 50,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
Body structure accounts for 13.1% of complaints (211 reports, 121 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 49,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 34,500 and 65,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 11.2% of complaints (179 reports, 91 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails late — a median of 77,000 miles, considerably beyond the vehicle's overall median. That pattern is consistent with normal service life rather than a defect, though it matters for anyone buying an example already near that mileage. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.
Seats account for 9.4% of complaints (151 reports, 113 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,013 and 100,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.7% of complaints (123 reports, 89 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,764 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 38,000 and 101,000 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 7.0% of complaints (112 reports, 64 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 58,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 80,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 7.0% of complaints (112 reports, 98 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 29,750 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 16,000 and 60,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2010 model year drew the most — 920 complaints — while 2013 drew the fewest at 176. The median year sits at 254.
That makes 2010 an outlier: roughly 3.6 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 1,605 complaints filed against this generation, 63 reported a crash; 11 reported a fire; 40 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 3.9% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 28,000 and 82,000 miles, with a median of 50,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, body structure and problems owners could not categorise are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Body structure in particular shows a median failure mileage of 49,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Major mid-generation powertrain change: MY2012-2013 replaced the 2.0L MZR and its 5-speed transmissions with the SkyActiv-G 2.0 and SkyActiv 6-speed manual/automatic. Complaint patterns for 2010-2011 and 2012-2013 should not be pooled.
Clock spring and traction control module faults; door lock actuator failures.
Continued rear arch and subframe corrosion complaints in salt-belt states, though reduced versus the BK.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 17V082000 | 2017-04-07 | Seats |
| 16V644000 | 2017-03-08 | Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate |