YearToAvoid

2011 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

87/100

#3 most-complained of 16 Mazda3 years

The 2011 Mazda3 has a complaint index of 87, ranked 3rd worst of 16 model years, with 132 complaints, 12 crashes, 2 fires, and 13 injuries. NHTSA lists 2 recalls, both for seat lifter and lift gate structural issues.

Complaints
132
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
12 / 2
Injuries / deaths
13 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy

Top 2011 Mazda Mazda3 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Structure & Body33 (25%)
  2. Airbags29 (22%)
  3. Electrical System22 (17%)
  4. Other18 (14%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (11%)
  6. Steering13 (10%)
  7. Transmission & Powertrain12 (9%)
  8. Brakes8 (6%)
  9. Engine8 (6%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers8 (6%)

What owners report

  • Driver's seat track moves or shifts backward abnormally during rear-end collisions, contributing to injuries.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in moderate to severe crashes, including broadside and high-speed rear-end impacts, at median mileage around 70,210.
  • Electrical shorts have caused under-hood or interior fires, in one case melting plastic clips near a shifting mechanism at low mileage.
  • Vehicles have experienced unintended acceleration during low-speed parking maneuvers even with the brake pedal depressed.
  • Loss of power steering and braking while idling on a downhill grade, forcing use of the handbrake to stop.
  • Bose amplifier failures produce a loud, unresponsive noise from the speakers that cannot be silenced.
2011 Mazda Mazda3 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152011 Q12013 Q12014 Q42016 Q42018 Q42020 Q42022 Q42026 Q3
173 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2017 Q3 (15).

2011 Mazda Mazda3 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 17V082000Feb 9, 2017Structure & Body173,859 vehicles

    Seats

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.

    Risk: If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.

  2. NHTSA 16V644000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body580,455 vehicles

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2011 Mazda Mazda3 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
30 MPG
Combined
26 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Mazda3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100683226
2011Avoid87132226
2012Avoid93226126
2013Caution60117126

All Mazda Mazda3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Should I avoid the 2011 Mazda3?
Compared to other Mazda3 model years, 2011 ranks 3rd worst out of 16 with a complaint index of 87, and NHTSA gives it an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mazda3?
Structure & Body complaints lead at 25% of all complaints (33 total), followed by Airbags at 22% (29 complaints) and Electrical System issues at 17% (22 complaints).
Does the 2011 Mazda3 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a seat lifter link needing a reinforcement bracket, and one for lift gate supports needing replacement. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2011 Mazda3 compare to the 2010 model?
The 2010 Mazda3 has a higher complaint index of 100 with 683 complaints, making it the worst year, while 2011 has an index of 87 with 132 complaints.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Mazda3?
The 2011 Mazda3 gets 26 mpg combined (23 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.