YearToAvoid

2014 Mazda Mazda3 Brakes Problems

NHTSA lists 28 brake complaints for the 2014 Mazda3, 20% of all complaints that year, with 3 crashes and no fires or injuries reported. A related recall (17V393000) covers water intrusion causing parking brake actuator corrosion. Median mileage at failure was 57,000.

Brakes complaints
28
20% of 138
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
57,000 mi
Related recalls
1

Typical brake symptoms owners report

  • Owners report the parking/emergency brake engaging unexpectedly while driving and refusing to release, sometimes on both city streets and highways.
  • Several complaints describe the parking brake failing to hold on hills or in park, letting the car roll and, in one case, strike another vehicle.
  • Multiple owners report grinding or rubbing noises from the rear brakes traced to a severely corroded rear brake caliper mounting support or caliper.
  • One driver reported complete brake pedal failure in stop-and-go traffic, with the pedal going to the floor and no braking response, resulting in a crash.
  • Owners tied to recall 17V393000 report waiting extended periods for replacement parts to fix corroded parking brake actuator shafts.
  • One complaint describes an ABS module failure after a car wash, triggering traction control and tire pressure warnings and disabling ABS braking.

When 2014 Mazda Mazda3 brake complaints were filed

First complaint Jun 12, 2014, latest Jul 9, 2026.

2014 Mazda Mazda3 brakes complaints: complaints filed per month3Jun 2014Sep 2017Feb 2018Mar 2019Aug 2019Mar 2020Mar 2023Jul 2026
28 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2014 to Jul 2026; peak Sep 2017 (3).

Brakes recalls for the 2014 Mazda Mazda3

  1. NHTSA 17V393000Jun 22, 2017Brakes227,814 vehicles

    Parking brake

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles. Water could possibly enter the brake caliper causing the parking brake actuator shaft to corrode and possibly bind.

    Risk: If the parking brake actuator shaft binds, the parking brake may not engage or disengage fully. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may move unexpectedly if it is parked on a slope, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will check the parking brake actuator shafts, replacing any that are corroded, free of charge. Remedy parts are currently unavailable. Interim notices informing owners of the safety risk were mailed August 24, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1217F.

Brakes complaints by Mazda3 model year

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

  1. 201043 (6%)
  2. 20118 (6%)
  3. 201232 (14%)
  4. 201316 (14%)
  5. 201428 (20%)
  6. 201528 (22%)
  7. 201619 (18%)
  8. 20178 (10%)
  9. 20186 (6%)
  10. 201916 (22%)
  11. 20203 (9%)
  12. 20214 (8%)
  13. 20220 (0%)
  14. 20232 (17%)
  15. 20241 (8%)
  16. 20250 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How many brake complaints does the 2014 Mazda3 have?
NHTSA lists 28 brake-related complaints for the 2014 Mazda3, which is 20% of all 138 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a brake recall for the 2014 Mazda3?
Yes. Recall 17V393000, reported June 22, 2017, covers 2014-2015 Mazda6 and 2014-2016 Mazda3 vehicles where water could enter the brake caliper and corrode the parking brake actuator shaft.
Did the 2014 Mazda3 brake problems cause crashes?
NHTSA data shows 3 crashes linked to brake complaints for the 2014 Mazda3, with no fires and no injuries reported.
At what mileage do 2014 Mazda3 brake problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for brake complaints on the 2014 Mazda3 is 57,000 miles.
How does the 2014 Mazda3 compare to other years for brake complaints?
The 2014 model year's brake complaints made up 20% of its total complaints, higher than most other Mazda3 years, though 2015 (22%) and 2019 (22%) show similar or slightly higher shares.

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.