MazdaCX32016Overview/mazda/cx3/2016/base/

2016 Mazda CX3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 CX3.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S6)

The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is a subcompact SUV that achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 31 mpg combined when paired with its 6-speed automatic transmission, figures that positioned it competitively within the entry-level utility segment. As the smallest utility vehicle in Mazda's lineup at the time, the CX-3 occupied the urban-focused end of the brand's SUV range. Regarding its reliability record, the 2016 model year accumulated 48 total owner complaints with no dominant failure pattern, alongside three total recalls—a complaint distribution and recall count that placed it within typical industry norms for the model cycle and suggested the reported issues were not concentrated in any single system.

Model year20202019201820172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy29/35/31 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI NS · NS CCA battery, OE oil filter 1WPE14302. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI NS · NS CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/60R16, P215/50R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5-J inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1WPE14302 alt PE0114342
Engine air filterPEHH133A0
Fuel filterP31H13ZE0 alt P31L13ZE0
Spark plugPE5R18110A
Battery0000800035WB
Front wiper bladesD11B67330 alt DB4G67330
Serpentine beltPEDD15908 alt PE0815909C
ThermostatP50215171
Cabin air filterD09W61J6X

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined29 / 35 / 31 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine Mazda Long Life Hypoid gear Oil SG1 in the differential, SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 21.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Brake FluidSAE J1703
Differential Gear OilMazda Long Life Hypoid gear Oil SG1
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0.75 qt
Engine CoolantMazda FL-22 Coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity6.1 qt
Engine CoolantUse genuine Mazda FL-22 coolant/antifreeze

Engine torques

Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs15.0-19.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts35.0-43.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700-800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)660-760 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)720-870 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)670-770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)700-800 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerMazda
Spark Plug Typew/ Plug #PE5R, PE5S

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity0.85-1.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type100
Oil Capacity3.75 oz

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20-; Rear: 17-
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront 68-81; Rear: 38-48
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .300
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: .937; Rear; .330
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .004

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0-110.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 180 degrees, Step 3: 175.0-202.074–110 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
127.0-53.0 inch lbs., Step 2: 71.0-97.0 inch lbs.27–53 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 80.0-100.020–23 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Tire Pressure Monitoring System (reset)
Every 10,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miBrake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 37,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 75,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2016 Mazda CX3 top in one area — the unknown or other, 6 of 48 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 3 recall campaigns target the unknown or other, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 4 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the unknown or other pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
656
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
48
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 48 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Unknown Or Other6
Exterior Lighting6
Electrical System6
Back Over Prevention5
Visibility/Wiper3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other2
Seats2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V644000Structure:Body:Hatchback/LiftgateReported 06/09/2016

Mazda 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… Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer…

16V203000SteeringReported 11/04/2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the lower mounting nuts and bolts that secure the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle. If the bolts are loose, they…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 656 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
01-008-262026-05-01Power TrainThis bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are…
SA-031-262026-04-30StructureDESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-026-262026-04-16EngineThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CX3. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 CX3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the CX3 get?

EPA figures are 29 city / 35 highway / 31 combined mpg.