2021 Mazda Mazda3 Engine Problems
Engine complaints make up 20 of 49 total complaints for the 2021 Mazda3, or 41% of all issues that year — the highest share of any model year. Most reports describe excessive oil consumption triggering low oil warnings. No related recalls are listed.
- Engine complaints
- 20
- 41% of 49
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- —
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical engine symptoms owners report
- Owners report the low engine oil warning light turning on repeatedly between oil changes, sometimes within a few thousand miles of service.
- Multiple owners describe the engine burning through several quarts of oil between scheduled oil changes.
- Some owners say dealerships confirmed no oil leaks but could only top off the oil rather than fix the underlying cause.
- One owner described an audible squeak when shifting around 30 to 40 mph along with the car surging and the tachometer dropping before recovering.
- One report describes a sudden loss of steering and braking control paired with sharp acceleration, ending in a crash.
When 2021 Mazda Mazda3 engine complaints were filed
First complaint Jan 22, 2022, latest Apr 23, 2025.
Engine recalls for the 2021 Mazda Mazda3
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Engine complaints by Mazda3 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- Is engine oil consumption a common complaint on the 2021 Mazda Mazda3?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 20 engine-related complaints for the 2021 Mazda3, accounting for 41% of all 49 complaints filed for that model year, and many describe the low oil light coming on between services.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Mazda Mazda3 engine?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the 2021 Mazda3 engine complaints.
- Did the engine issues cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data shows 1 crash and 0 fires associated with the 2021 Mazda3 engine complaints, with 0 reported injuries.
- How does the 2021 Mazda3's engine complaint rate compare to other years?
- The 2021 model year shows the highest share of engine complaints among the years listed, at 41%, compared to shares ranging from 0% to 19% in other years.
- What specific engine problem do owners describe most?
- Most owners describe excessive oil consumption that triggers the low oil warning light, often requiring repeated topping off between scheduled oil changes.