YearToAvoid

2013 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

45/100

#12 most-complained of 21 Mazda3 years

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

The 2013 Mazda Mazda3 has 117 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 45 out of 100 — #12 highest of 21 Mazda3 model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (55 complaints, 47% of the total). Complaints report 7 crashes, 2 fires, and 4 injuries.

Complaints
117
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
7 / 2
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
26
23 city / 30 hwy

Top 2013 Mazda Mazda3 problems

NHTSA owner 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%)
2013 Mazda Mazda3 complaints: complaints filed per quarter152013 Q22014 Q32015 Q42017 Q12018 Q22019 Q42021 Q42023 Q3
161 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2013 Q2 to 2025 Q2; peak 2017 Q3 (15).

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 a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 ranks #12 of 21 among Mazda3 model years (Complaint Index 45/100, verdict: Good). It has 117 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Mazda Mazda3?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (55 complaints), structure & body (20 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (18 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 41,000 miles.
Does the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2013 Mazda Mazda3, most recently reported 2016, covering structure & body.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Mazda Mazda3?
EPA rates the 2013 Mazda Mazda3 at 26 MPG combined (23 city / 30 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.