2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Owners have filed 176 complaints about the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 with NHTSA. Exterior lighting accounts for 20.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 18.2%.
Complaints176
Crashes7
Fires2
Injuries4
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Exterior lighting 20.5% · 36
Electrical system 18.2% · 32
Power train 10.2% · 18
Service brakes 8.5% · 15
Structure 6.3% · 11
Engine 6.3% · 11
Unknown or other 5.7% · 10
Seats 5.1% · 9
Severity
Of those complaints, 7 describe a crash, 2 describe a fire and 4 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 16 model years of the Mazda Mazda3 in this data, 2013 sits 9th by complaint volume. 2010 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 12 in the last three years against 27 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 40,660 miles.
In owners' own words
When driving at highway speeds and applying brakes, the headlights will pulse bright to dim for the duration of braking. I have seen this problem reported online by several dealers and it has a known software update to fix the problem, but it is not listed under the recalls for this vehicle. A similar problem exists on the 2014 Mazda's and a recall does exist for that vehicle. Exterior lighting
While braking the front lights are pulsing from regular to dim and back and forth. They return to normal after releasing the brake pedal. This was first noticed while exiting from highway speeds to a down ramp.There is a service bulletin from Mazda on this, #13-21. It has already been done to my vehicle to no avail. The problem is electrical in nature in my opinion. Exterior lighting · reported at 40,000 miles
Headlight assembly keeps collecting water which shorts out the headlights and ballast. I keep finding this to be a common problem when researching it online. I can't find any obvious worn seals or cracks. I've changed my lightbulb 3 times so far in six months. I find water every time. My light will magically just go out while I'm driving usually at night. Exterior lighting · reported at 55,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…