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2017 Mazda Mazda3 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
14%
11 of 83 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2017 Mazda Mazda3. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 14% of relevant complaints.

Better than 95% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). For comparison, the 2016 scores 20% and the 2018 scores 19%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
11
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
83
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
6 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER27 · 33%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20 · 24%
BACK OVER PREVENTION11 · 13%
SERVICE BRAKES7 · 8%
VISIBILITY/WIPER5 · 6%
ENGINE5 · 6%

The years either side

2010
11%
68 of 686
2011
20%
18 of 132
2012
42%
75 of 226
2013
40%
28 of 117
2014
29%
38 of 138
2015
17%
20 of 129
2016
20%
19 of 103
2017
14%
11 of 83
2018
19%
20 of 108
2019
41%
26 of 74
2020
13%
4 of 32
2021
51%
24 of 52
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2017 Mazda Mazda3

What one owner reported

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/11/2025
Anytime the tank was filled with gas there was a strong smell of gasoline vapors that persisted for several days. The car was a few months past its warranty on emissions issues and so I was charged about $1500 to replace a cracked fuel pump and fuel vent that was stuck open. The mechanic also said that the check engine…

One of 11 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Mazda Mazda3?

No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Mazda Mazda3, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
back over prevention: sensing system: camera23V487000 · Jul 2023
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted…
visibility: windshield wiper/washer19V272000 · Apr 2019
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.

Checking one particular 2017 Mazda Mazda3? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2017 Mazda Mazda3

Does the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 11 of 83 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Mazda Mazda3 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2017 Mazda Mazda3?

No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2017 Mazda Mazda3, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.

Which Mazda Mazda3 years are better?

Among the Mazda Mazda3 years we track, the 2010 (11%) and the 2020 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2017 (14%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2017 Mazda Mazda3?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2017 Mazda Mazda3 shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.