YearToAvoid

2013 Mazda Mazda3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2013 Mazda Mazda3 has a complaint index of 45, ranking 12th of 21 model years, and earns a 'Good' verdict relative to other Mazda3 years. NHTSA logged 117 complaints, mostly electrical (47%), with 1 recall for lift gate supports.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
45/100
#12 of 21 Mazda3 years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
117
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
7
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
4
Top issue
Electrical System
Best nearby year
2020
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System55 (47%)
  2. Structure & Body20 (17%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain18 (15%)
  4. Brakes16 (14%)
  5. Engine12 (10%)
  6. Other10 (9%)
  7. Steering9 (8%)
  8. Airbags7 (6%)
  9. Seat Belts6 (5%)
  10. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Headlight assemblies reportedly melted, in one case with a fire, at low mileage such as 15,000 miles.
  • Owners describe brake pedals sinking to the floor with little or no stopping power, leading to rear-end collisions.
  • Seat belts failed to restrain occupants during low-speed crashes, allowing heads to strike the windshield.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in moderate-speed rear-end collisions.
  • Structure and body complaints include seat recline mechanisms failing on impact and body panels shifting after minor contact.
  • One owner reported repeated dead batteries within the first month of ownership on a new vehicle.
2013 Mazda Mazda3 complaints: complaints filed per quarter112013 Q22014 Q32015 Q42017 Q12018 Q22019 Q42021 Q42023 Q3
117 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2025 Q2; peak 2017 Q3 (11).

2013 Mazda Mazda3 recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. 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.

2013 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.

2013 compared with other Mazda3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid80132226
2012Avoid85226126
2013Good45117126
2014Caution60138432
2015Caution651304 !32

All Mazda Mazda3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2013 Mazda3 a complaint index of 45, ranking 12th out of 21 model years, with a 'Good' verdict relative to other Mazda3 years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Mazda Mazda3?
Electrical system complaints make up 47% of all complaints (55 of 117), most commonly involving components like headlight assemblies, with a median failure mileage of about 45,498 miles.
Does the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 16V644000) covers lift gate supports on 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles built between November 18, 2008 and June 8, 2013.
How does the 2013 Mazda3 compare to other bad Mazda3 years?
The 2013 model's complaint index of 45 is far lower than 2010's 100, 2008's 95, and 2012's 85, all of which carry 'Avoid' verdicts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Mazda Mazda3?
EPA rates it at 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.