YearToAvoid

2011 Mazda Mazda3 Airbags Problems

NHTSA lists 29 airbag complaints for the 2011 Mazda3, 22% of all complaints for the year, tied to 8 crashes and 10 injuries. No airbag-related recall is listed for this model year, though several complaints reference the separate Takata recall program.

Airbags complaints
29
22% of 132
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
10
Median mileage
70,211 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical airbag symptoms owners report

  • Front, side, or overhead airbags fail to deploy during moderate-to-severe collisions, including broadside hits, rear-end impacts, and animal strikes.
  • Airbags deploy late, after the initial impact, in some crash accounts, resulting in injuries from the steering wheel.
  • Passenger-side airbag warning light stays on or indicates the airbag is off even when a person of normal adult weight is seated, a problem dealers reportedly could not resolve.
  • Driver's seat fails to lock securely in its track, shifting position and potentially affecting occupant positioning relative to the airbag.

When 2011 Mazda Mazda3 airbag complaints were filed

First complaint May 25, 2011, latest Jul 16, 2026.

2011 Mazda Mazda3 airbags complaints: complaints filed per month4May 2011Nov 2015Jun 2016Nov 2017May 2018Jul 2019Oct 2020Apr 2022
29 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2017 (4).

Airbags recalls for the 2011 Mazda Mazda3

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Airbags complaints by Mazda3 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201026 (4%)
  2. 201129 (22%)
  3. 201217 (8%)
  4. 20137 (6%)
  5. 20144 (3%)
  6. 20154 (3%)
  7. 20166 (6%)
  8. 20172 (2%)
  9. 20180 (0%)
  10. 20196 (8%)
  11. 20200 (0%)
  12. 20214 (8%)
  13. 202212 (50%)
  14. 20231 (8%)
  15. 20241 (8%)
  16. 20251 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many airbag complaints does NHTSA have for the 2011 Mazda3?
NHTSA lists 29 airbag complaints for the 2011 Mazda3, which is 22% of all 132 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there an airbag recall for the 2011 Mazda3?
The JSON data lists no related recalls for airbags on the 2011 Mazda3, even though some owner complaints mention the broader Takata airbag recall program.
Did the 2011 Mazda3 airbag problems cause injuries or crashes?
NHTSA data tied the reported airbag issues to 8 crashes and 10 injuries, with a median mileage at failure of 70,210.
What is the most common airbag complaint for the 2011 Mazda3?
The most frequent pattern in sample complaints is airbags failing to deploy in a crash, followed by a passenger-side airbag warning light that stays on incorrectly.

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.