- The problem
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter links may break or detach from the seat frame and the seat angle may incline causing the driver to not be able to maintain an appropriate driving position.
- The risk
- If the driver cannot maintain an appropriate driving position, there is an increased risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 0917B.
Vehicle safety record
2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (2) and the lights (2). It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in February 2017 for the seats. For comparison, the 2010 has 32 and the 2012 has 6.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical MAZDASPEED3 year, for its age
#229 most complained-about 2011 vehicle
- Complaints
- 5
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 problems
Share of all 5 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
- The fix
- 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.
What owners say
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5 complaints about the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The passenger headlight has accumulated a lot of moisture (1/2 cup or more) which resulted in the headlight malfunctioning while driving. This is extremely dangerous, especially had this happened at night. The dealership acknowledge its a common problem, said it was a seal problem that burned out the ballast, but that it wasn't covered by a warranty or recall. This is a very common problem (google mazda 3 headlight moisture and there are hundreds of examples) and needs to be recalled/fixed. The dealership will...
Read the full complaint
quote over $1000 to repair this problem. Vehicle was in motion in city driving. Additionally in a memo they acknowledge heavy amounts of water should be replaced but because its not a recall anything over 3 years will not be warrantied (see attached). Lastly you can see that the headlight bulb seal has an accumulated rust line about half way up from standing water in the light that rusted out and eventually burned out the ballast (attached).
Excessive abnormal amount of moisture/water getting in headlight (passengers side) causing headlight not to work. Problem first began 7/1/2016. Water getting into headlight and effecting the afs sensor also. Afs sensor not working now. Afs sensor quit working on or about 6/1/2017. Headlight quit working 2/1/2017. Non working headlight and non working afs sensor is causing problems with visibility at night.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda m3s. While driving 30 mph, the power steering warning light illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the electric power steering pump failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000. ...Updated 09/12/16 *bf *tr
2011 Mazda 3 rear tire wear issues: car has uneven tire wear, (inside edges) even when tires get rotated, car is also aligned correctly, no front end issues. After normal driving, the tires get a bad feathering wear issue, creating uneven (inside edge) wear and premature tire usage. This should be reviewed and recalled or class action lawsuit should occur. It's a manufacture defect in engineering, and very common, costing owners thousand of dollars over ownership life. *Tr
The front dash separates and the manufacture won't stand by it. *Tr
Mazda MAZDASPEED3: every year compared
All MAZDASPEED3 years2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 | 5 | 2 | C | |
| 2011 Mazda CX-9 | 171 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda CX-7 | 154 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda MAZDA6 | 136 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda MAZDA3 | 132 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda Mazda 2 | 16 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda Tribute | 14 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda Tribute Hev | 7 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2011 Mazda RX-8 | 4 | 3 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Does the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3: seats (February 2017); hatchback / liftgate (September 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (2), lights (2), electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 had?
5 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 24, 2014 and the latest on March 29, 2018. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Mazda MAZDASPEED3 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mazda MAZDASPEED3 years have the most complaints?
2007 (38), 2008 (33), 2010 (32). See every Mazda MAZDASPEED3 year compared.
What should I do if my 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data