Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,245,377 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA, including 140,173 crashes, 56,794 fires, and 8,580 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim, NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,245,377 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports, when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report, that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints, specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened, feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 29,895 complaints for MAZDA
Incident date: Aug 29, 2021
I was on the Queensboro Bridge headed from Queens, NY into Manhattan on the afternoon of August 29. Weather was partly cloudy and dry conditions. Traffic was bumper to bumper and moving anywhere from 0mph to maybe 5mph. I was in the middle of the bridge driving approximately 5mph and my 2020 Mazda 3 beeped (collision warning) and applied brakes. I was almost rear ended and my two passengers we... Read more
Incident date: Sep 15, 2020
The contact owns a 2020 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the brakes locked up and caused the vehicle to stall. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed however, the dealer was not able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repai... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2021
1) It happened last week on 8/30, when I drove back home after work at night. After I parked my vehicle at the driveway and I had noticed there's smoke going into the cabin through the vent. The smell was very bad, it smells like burning rubber/plastic type. Then I went underneath the car and checked, the oil dripping out from the plastic panels where the oil pan is. Next morning, I jacked the car... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2021
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, the instrument panel display was intermittently inoperable. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the instrument panel to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired but was pending repairs. The manufacturer ha... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2021
The infotainment system fails to work - it is where I can access information re: maintenance schedule, or any info that is associated with a lit engine light. In addition the charging system for my mobile phone has ceased working. This includes both the usb ports and the lighter port which can be adapted with a charger that works in that receptable. These are all safety issues as far as I am con... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2021
The infotainment system fails to work - it is where I can access information re: maintenance schedule, or any info that is associated with a lit engine light. In addition the charging system for my mobile phone has ceased working. This includes both the usb ports and the lighter port which can be adapted with a charger that works in that receptable. These are all safety issues as far as I am con... Read more
Incident date: Jul 16, 2021
Had a gas smell in our garage for months, thought our riding mower or snowblower was the cause but realized it was this car. Took to our mechanic and they said it was the fuel leak issue from NHTSA campaign 16V684000 however this car was manufactured in Dec 2013 and the official recall campaign began with cars manufactured the following month aka Jan 2014. We have been unable to get assistance f... Read more
Incident date: Sep 5, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the passenger front side tire was flat which caused the contact to veer to the shoulder. The contact towed the vehicle to the dealer where the tire was inspected as the technician informed the contact that the tire was on backorder and no replacement tire was available. The vehicle then was towed back to ... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Sep 2, 2021
The glue and seal around back windshield glass is separating. Glass is loose and rattles. This appears to be an ongoing issue with Mazda. The defects can cause window to separate while driving resulting in flying debris hitting another vehicle.
Incident date: Aug 1, 2021
We are having a consistent issue with our son kicking the harness release button located by his feet in the car seat. On numerous occasions we have gone to retrieve him from the seat and the harness is completely loose by kicking and releasing the trigger. This is very VERY unsafe. We have been in contact with the manufacturer via email and they have not responded to our request to remedy the sit... Read more
Incident date: Sep 2, 2021
Multiple paint chips on Ref Soul Mazda. Dealer did not want to address issue. I would have to pay out pocket. The hood and sides of car.
Incident date: Sep 1, 2021
My 2014 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring has recently started experiencing an issue widely reported online related to the battery. The issue is the electrical/ignition system fails to turn the battery off when the vehicle is turned off. In other words, the car engine shuts down, but the accessory power (battery) remains on. This can be identified by the clock and dashboard display remaining on. This i... Read more
Incident date: Aug 29, 2021
When trying to start the vehicle it is unable to start and the car chimes while the complete instrument cluster flashes off and on. The car will not start and the entire instrument panel blinks/flashes displaying all warning lights. I hear whirring and clicking noises. Just prior to it not starting I may experience the driver side vents pushing out hot air while the passenger side is pushing ou... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2021
We bought 4 of these tires 1/23/2018. The first failed within 3 months (passenger rear). The tire distributor no longer carried them, so we fit the next best ... a different Primewell. Now, the driver side front tire has developed a bulge where the tread and sidewall meet - similar to the first failure. We cannot drive it and - still - the distributor no longer carries THAT tire. We have - as of 9... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2021
We bought 4 of these tires 1/23/2018. The first failed within 3 months (passenger rear). The tire distributor no longer carried them, so we fit the next best ... a different Primewell. Now, the driver side front tire has developed a bulge where the tread and sidewall meet - similar to the first failure. We cannot drive it and - still - the distributor no longer carries THAT tire. We have - as of 9... Read more
Incident date: Aug 21, 2021
I was coming up on a car waiting to make a left turn. While attempting to move to the right-hand passing lane, five lights lit up and the power steering went out. The five lights were "Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light", "TSC/DSC Off Indicator Light", "Security Light", "ABS Warning Light", and "Seatbelt Warning Light" (even though my seat belt was on and buckled). Realizing I could not... Read more
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Aug 23, 2021
LED daytime running lights (DRLs) failing while driving. Recall don for similar vehicles (4320A recall). This could impact the ability for pedestrians or nearby vehicles to see the SUV, particularly in low-light conditions when the low- or high-beam headlights aren't in use.
Incident date: Aug 30, 2021
The vehicle infotainment system in this 2016 Mazda 6 no longer works and has what is called a rolling reboot. This seems a common problem with Mazda's based on a service alert SA-011/20 as well as a TSB 09-020/18. When broken I can't use the hands free to make or receive calls, nor can I modify preferences, service warnings, use the radio etc. The car is out of warranty and the part known as a ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 30, 2021
This vehicle has one unrepaired recall. When I tried to make an appointment with the Mazda dealer to correct it, no recall is found after giving my VIN number. Is there any other way to have them repair it?
Incident date: Aug 30, 2021
This vehicle has one unrepaired recall. When I tried to make an appointment with the Mazda dealer to correct it, no recall is found after giving my VIN number. Is there any other way to have them repair it?
Incident date: Aug 1, 2017
Vehicle has a several rust problem for last 3-4 years. It develops mostly on the body panel surrounding the rear wheel on the passenger side. I have come across several other Mazda 5 with similar issue. A mechanic also confirmed noticing this issue with Mazda 5s. The Mazda 5 models after 2010 does not seem to be impacted by this problem though. Additionally my other car, Suzuki Aerio which is much... Read more
MAZDA
B-SERIES TRUCK
(2006) - AIR BAGS
Aug 29, 2021
Incident date: Aug 28, 2021
Mazda keeps sending letters about my last chance to repair the airbag problem.I have responded multiple times, they have not contacted me except to send more PR letters. They have scared my wife to the point she will not ride with me. My daughter forbids my grandson from riding with me. There is no mazda dealer on the Big Island of Hawai'i. So, what is my recourse, since they are unwilling or unab... Read more
Incident date: Aug 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2009 Mazda Tribute. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to exit the highway and noticed that the steering wheel was becoming more difficult to turn. The contact was able to drive to his residence. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of t... Read more
Incident date: Aug 24, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated while driving at approximately 20mph the vehicle would brake suddenly. Which resulted in the contact sustaining whiplash and sought medical treatment. The contact stated Brake warning message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2020
LED daytime running lights. 1 is sporadic/ flickering, and the other one is now out/ inoperable, soon the flickering one will go also. Making the vehicle harder to see by other drivers. Mazda has a recall # 4320A but my vin# is excluded? I have the same parts/ model #s as the recall! An extension of the recall, out to include my vin# would be appropriate.
Incident date: Aug 25, 2021
The infotainment system is experiencing problems of operating by itself (ghost touch) similar to the hazard experienced on certain 2014-2016 Mazda 3s.
Incident date: Aug 28, 2020
I purchased this vehicle for my 16 yr old daughter 1 yr ago. The car has a clean carfax and has had no accidents. Upon purchasing the car the headlights continue to burn out. Taking it to a Mazda dealership i learned the headlight assembly unit was melting. I had to purchase 2 used headlight assembly because new from the dealership are 1,000 a piece. 2 used but perfectly working headlights we... Read more
Incident date: Aug 28, 2020
I purchased this vehicle for my 16 yr old daughter 1 yr ago. The car has a clean carfax and has had no accidents. Upon purchasing the car the headlights continue to burn out. Taking it to a Mazda dealership i learned the headlight assembly unit was melting. I had to purchase 2 used headlight assembly because new from the dealership are 1,000 a piece. 2 used but perfectly working headlights we... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2021
My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is already fully seated in the park position, but this finally causes the l... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2021
My vehicle does not want to turn off when placed in park. The car is fully in the park position, but the start push button is illuminated with a red light. The power is still on, and the car beeps when door is open. I can only get the power to turn off, after repeatedly tapping the gear shift left, towards the P symbol. It is already fully seated in the park position, but this finally causes the l... Read more
Incident date: Aug 20, 2021
We have a new 2021 CX5 and the two taillights (the ones that are on top of the backup lights) do not light up. The dealer, Napleton Mazda in Libertyville, IL, told us that that is normal and those lights are not meant to light up. The dealer said they have many customers bringing their car in for service for the same issue, but it is not something they can fix. At night the car is not as visib... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX3. The contact stated while turning off the vehicle, the engine did shut-off however, the interior electrical components of the vehicle such as the radio and the doors would not automatically lock intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and could not duplicate the failure. The key fob battery was replaced to fix the i... Read more
MAZDA
CX-3
(2019) - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:IMMOBILIZER/PROXIMITY:KEY/SENDER
Aug 23, 2021
Incident date: Mar 15, 2021
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX3. The contact stated while turning off the vehicle, the engine did shut-off however, the interior electrical components of the vehicle such as the radio and the doors would not automatically lock intermittently. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the vehicle and could not duplicate the failure. The key fob battery was replaced to fix the i... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2021
The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system performs poorly (it does not hold a set speed well up and down hill; compared to our 2006 Mazda3), but the safety concern is the forceful, sudden, and not-always-predictable braking the vehicle does even if there is not another vehicle in front of us. It brakes, sometimes, for a vehicle in the right lane (we, in the left), and continues to brake unless ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 4, 2021
The Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) system performs poorly (it does not hold a set speed well up and down hill; compared to our 2006 Mazda3), but the safety concern is the forceful, sudden, and not-always-predictable braking the vehicle does even if there is not another vehicle in front of us. It brakes, sometimes, for a vehicle in the right lane (we, in the left), and continues to brake unless ... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The center infotainment system operates by itself when driving at a low speed. The screen will automatically enter menus, place calls, and select items without any sort of input from the driver or passenger (ghost touch). The control knob, which is used to navigate the center screen, will not be functional whenever this happens. This ghost touch issue happens periodically, sometimes it goes away a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 1, 2021
The center infotainment system operates by itself when driving at a low speed. The screen will automatically enter menus, place calls, and select items without any sort of input from the driver or passenger (ghost touch). The control knob, which is used to navigate the center screen, will not be functional whenever this happens. This ghost touch issue happens periodically, sometimes it goes away a... Read more
Incident date: Jul 5, 2020
The Mazda Connect touch screen in the center display doesn't always accept touch commands properly and regularly operates by itself (ghost touch) while in drive.
Incident date: Aug 5, 2021
was driving on the highway when the check engine light came on. not 10 minutes later, I lost acceleration and steering. managed to get to the shoulder just in time before my car pretty much died. the water light and battery light came on when I came to a stop. mechanic discribes it as 'catastrophic engine failure'. other than the check engine light, there were no other warnings. the temperature ga... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2021
Drivers side emergency brake drags just enough to prematurely wear inner brake pad down to the metal. 60,000 miles on car. All other pads are at 50% wear.
Incident date: Aug 2, 2019
Oftentimes when driving at speeds of approximately 80mph or more, a loud whining/whistling noise appears. It appears to be coming from the area of driver side front door, passenger side front door, both front doors simultaneously. The issue has an earlier onset in the presence of crosswind, or headwind. I was able to record several videos where the noise can be heard very clearly. Some of these v... Read more
Incident date: Aug 2, 2019
Oftentimes when driving at speeds of approximately 80mph or more, a loud whining/whistling noise appears. It appears to be coming from the area of driver side front door, passenger side front door, both front doors simultaneously. The issue has an earlier onset in the presence of crosswind, or headwind. I was able to record several videos where the noise can be heard very clearly. Some of these v... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2021
Component - Rear subframe/crossmember. Yes it is available for inspection. I was driving and suddenly heard a loud crack and the rear drivers side of my vehicle dropped to the ground. I was getting ready to pull into a parking lot so I was luckily driving slowly. If I were traveling at the normal speed limit, I could have wrecked and possibly caused injury to myself or others on the road. Upon... Read more
Incident date: Aug 13, 2021
Component - Rear subframe/crossmember. Yes it is available for inspection. I was driving and suddenly heard a loud crack and the rear drivers side of my vehicle dropped to the ground. I was getting ready to pull into a parking lot so I was luckily driving slowly. If I were traveling at the normal speed limit, I could have wrecked and possibly caused injury to myself or others on the road. Upon... Read more
Incident date: Aug 15, 2021
The windshield wipers work but the washer does not squirt the windshield washing fluid out and it the reservoir is full of fluid but there are certain days in which I need that to work because my visibility is greatly reduced which has made the risk of accident that much greater. it says there is a recall pertaining to this problem and the fix was a relay However nothing comes up for my specific c... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2021
Driving on I-5, near Gold Hill, Oregon, when the traction control system light came on and the Vehicle slowed down. I had to push the gas pedal to the floor to get the car to move and I could not shift gears! It shuddered and the wheels seemed to lock up. I could smell burning rubber. I forced the car to the next exit, pulled off and shut it down. I sat there waiting for it to cool off. When I sta... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2021
Driving on I-5, near Gold Hill, Oregon, when the traction control system light came on and the Vehicle slowed down. I had to push the gas pedal to the floor to get the car to move and I could not shift gears! It shuddered and the wheels seemed to lock up. I could smell burning rubber. I forced the car to the next exit, pulled off and shut it down. I sat there waiting for it to cool off. When I sta... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2021
Driving on I-5, near Gold Hill, Oregon, when the traction control system light came on and the Vehicle slowed down. I had to push the gas pedal to the floor to get the car to move and I could not shift gears! It shuddered and the wheels seemed to lock up. I could smell burning rubber. I forced the car to the next exit, pulled off and shut it down. I sat there waiting for it to cool off. When I sta... Read more
Incident date: Aug 11, 2021
During July of 2021 brake pedal went all the way down with no braking. Pumping the pedal restored braking. After the 3rd incident, had the master cylinder replaced on July 30, 2021 by certified mechanics. Brakes seemed fine, but on Aug 11, 2021 brake pedal went all the way down producing no braking on 3 occasions. Pumping the pedal restored braking. Took vehicle back to garage. Mechanics have... Read more
Incident date: Aug 14, 2021
I was sitting in the car while the ignition was off. I hit the rearview mirror slightly and it fell off.