NHTSA ODI #11712753

2023 Mazda Mazda3 Complaint

Steering / Electrical System / Service Brakes

Filed January 22, 2026 · Incident date January 14, 2026

⚠ Crash reported

1 injury reported

Vehicle
2023 Mazda Mazda3
Component(s)
Steering / Electrical System / Service Brakes
Complaint filed
January 22, 2026
Date of incident
January 14, 2026
Reported VIN
3MZBPABM9PM

Owner's description

On 14th, 2026, while traveling at approximately 60 mph on the northbound 55 Freeway near the Katella exit, my vehicle suddenly began to shake violently without any prior warning. In response, I attempted to slow down by applying the brakes; however, the speedometer rapidly increased even as I maintained firm pressure on the brake pedal. Immediately afterward, the vehicle pulled sharply to the left, causing a complete loss of steering control and resulting in a collision with the center median barrier. Despite the force of the impact, the airbags did not deploy, raising additional concerns about potential safety system failures. At no point before the incident were there warning lights, alerts, or indications of mechanical or electronic issues. The vehicle had also undergone its regularly scheduled maintenance at the Tustin Mazda dealership on January 2nd, 2026, just prior to the accident. Given the sudden shaking, unintended acceleration, loss of braking effectiveness, steering failure, and non‑deployment of airbags, I believe this incident may involve one or more manufacturer defects affecting critical safety systems. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this matter. I also believe the vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (EDR) may contain information relevant to identifying the root cause of these failures.

Check a specific vehicle

Enter your VIN to see all NHTSA complaints, recalls, and safety ratings for that exact vehicle.

Related

Data sourced from the NHTSA Complaints database. Complaints are submitted by vehicle owners and have not been independently verified.

2023 Mazda Mazda3 Steering Complaint (#11712753) | VinDecoder