The Lemon Index2012 Mazda3.
The 2012 Mazda3 is better than average by owner complaints: 83 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 62, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 1 recall, and it gets 23 to 32 mpg combined. The best Mazda3 year is 2011.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 226 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Mazda3 year. 2012 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 16K to 70K miles on the car (170 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 10K–54K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 8K–40K miles
- lights complaints mostly came at 39K–81K miles
Recalls 1
- body structure 2016
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.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Mazda3 told dealers about
Mazda3 sent dealers 446 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Due to high pressure fuel pump not generating target fuel pressure, caused by manufacturing error
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the…
- Rough idle with the check engine light on and dtc p0015 / p0524 stored
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda Mazda2 5 HB FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2000–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
Driving at approx 45mph, car lost acceleration, power steering, and multiple engine lights on. Car moved to site of the road and towed to dealer.
2012 Mazda3 owner · NHTSA complaint 10668640
More owner reports
Driving at 70mph, lost acceleration and multiple engine lights came on. Had to move over to emergency lane on interstate and driving to nearest exit at approx 40mph. Car towed to dealer for repair.
NHTSA complaint 10668639
Quick answers
Is the 2012 Mazda3 reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.6× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 62; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Mazda3 year by this measure is 2011.
What are the most common 2012 Mazda3 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (29%), engine (24%) and speed control (22%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda3 have?
1 safety recall (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Mazda3 get?
23 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2012 Mazda3 safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2012 Mazda3 problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,400 and 70,000 miles. The middle report was at 39,500 miles, from 170 complaints.
Does the 2012 Mazda3 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 29% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2012 Mazda3 cost in fuel a year?
About $2000 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2012 Mazda3 have?
2.0L 4-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl.
What Mazda3 year is better than the 2012?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2011, 2013 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works