2012 Mazda 3: common problems and reliability
· 2011-2013One of the weaker 3 years.
226 owner complaints, most about power train. 1 recall.
Should I buy a 2012 3?The 2012 Mazda 3 has 226 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 1 recall on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag transmission control module (tcm) failure in automatic models.
Safety record for the 2012 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2012 Mazda 3 vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other 3 years only. How we score it
Is 2012 a good year for the 3?
Across the 21 3 model years we track, complaint volume runs from 12 (2023) to 686 (2010). With 226 complaints, the 2012 3 sits above the model's median of 117.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2012 3
structure:body:hatchback/liftgate
Campaign 16V644000Mazda 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.
What owners report on the 2011-2013 3
Owners regard the 2011-2013 Mazda 3 as a highly reliable, durable economy car that regularly exceeds 200,000 miles with routine maintenance.
- Very frequentTransmission control module (TCM) failure in automatic models
- Very frequentShocks and struts wearing out, typically around 100k-160k miles
- RecurrentMotor mounts failing, requiring replacement
- RecurrentRust, particularly in northern/snow-belt regions
- IsolatedCarbon buildup causing misfires and excessive oil consumption on Skyactiv engines
Owner insights for the 2011-2013 3. Read the full 2011-2013 owner report.
Other 3 model years
Compare every 3 year side by side to see how 2012 ranks against the rest.
Compare the 3 against its rivals
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