In short
At 11–12 years (mostly built 2013–2015) 15.7% of 470 inspected Mazda Mazda3 (BL)s had at least one A-problem at the APK, against 7.2% for all cars of the same age. Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 21% less often on this model than on average (rank 146 of 328 in the ranking). Most often it concerns control arms / ball joints and springs and shock absorbers — control arms / ball joints occurs 6.3× as often as on comparable cars.
Cite these figures
CarXray.nl (2026). Mazda Mazda3 (BL) — APK defects by age. Based on RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. https://carxray.nl/en/modellen/mazda/mazda3-bl/
A-problems
15.7%
n = 470 · 95% CI 12.7 – 19.3%
National, same age
7.2%
n = 782,549 · 95% CI 7.1 – 7.2%
Defects at the APK by age
- Mazda Mazda3 (BL)
- National, same age
- 95% confidence interval
| Age | Built (approx.) | n | A-problems | 95% CI | All defects | National A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | 2021–2023 | — | insufficient | 1.3% | ||
| 5 – 6 years | 2019–2021 | — | insufficient | 1.9% | ||
| 7 – 8 years | 2017–2019 | — | insufficient | 3.1% | ||
| 9 – 10 years | 2015–2017 | — | insufficient | 4.7% | ||
| 11 – 12 years | 2013–2015 | 470 | 15.7% | 12.7 – 19.3% | 43.4% | 7.2% |
| 13 – 15 years | 2010–2013 | 2,154 | 7.2% | 6.2 – 8.4% | 46.4% | 10.6% |
| 16+ years | 2010 or older | 1,319 | 10.4% | 8.9 – 12.1% | 51.1% | 15.3% |
Weak spots
What to check extra on this generation.
| Point to check | Share · sample · 95% CI | Vs. same class | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control arms / ball joints | 8.1% · n = 470 · 5.9 – 10.9% | 6.3× | |
| Springs and shock absorbers | 7.9% · n = 470 · 5.8 – 10.7% | 5.7× |
Open recalls
Check the status of this specific car.
About this generation
- Production years
- 2009 – 2013
- RDW type code(s)
- BL
- Trade name(s)
- 3
- Registered (type group)
- 5,019
- Generation boundary
- Draft, being checked
See other 3 generations Similar models
Same type of car and era, at 11–12 years. Mazda3 (BL): 15.7% A-problems.
Citroën C4 Picasso I2007–20147.7%Compare Mazda3 (BL) vs C4 Picasso I
Volkswagen Scirocco III2008–20187.4%Compare Mazda3 (BL) vs Scirocco III
Mercedes-Benz C-Klasse S2042007–20148.4%Compare Mazda3 (BL) vs C-Klasse S204
Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W212/S2122009–20249.4%Compare Mazda3 (BL) vs E-Klasse W212/S212
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mazda 3 reliable?
The APK tells you about defects, not breakdowns. At 11–12 years 15.7% of inspected Mazda Mazda3 (BL)s had at least one A-problem (structure, safety or costly mechanics), against 7.2% nationally at the same age. The maintenance of the specific car matters more than the model.
How does the Mazda Mazda3 (BL) compare with other cars?
Over all ages together an A-problem occurs 21% less often on the Mazda Mazda3 (BL) than on cars of the same age. That puts it at rank 146 of 328 models in the CarXray ranking.
Which model years do these figures cover?
The inspections run from 2025-10 to 2026-09. Cars aged 11–12 years were then mostly built in 2013–2015. The data table shows the build years per age class.
What are the most common problems?
The most common A-problems at the APK are control arms / ball joints, springs and shock absorbers. See the weak spots above and take them into your checklist.
Take these insights to the viewing
Use our checklist and focus on the key points for this Mazda Mazda3 (BL).