MazdaMazda3/Mazdaspeed32011Overview/mazda/mazda3-mazdaspeed3/2011/base/

2011 Mazda Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2011 Mazda Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3, a compact passenger car, sits on Mazda’s well‑regarded sedan platform and is powered by a twin‑turbocharged inline‑four that delivers a punch of performance; however, the model year was marred by a relatively high concentration of owner complaints—131 in total—with the most frequent issue flagged in the air‑bag system, and it attracted two separate recall notices. This combination of safety‑related concerns and recall activity places the 2011 iteration toward the lower end of the Mazda3’s reliability trajectory, signalling to researchers that while the vehicle offers spirited handling, its early‑year reliability record warrants careful scrutiny.

Model year201220112010200920082007

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter LF0514302B. 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 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-55R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterLF0514302B
Engine air filterLF5013Z40A9U
Fuel filterL3AX13ZE0
Spark plugL3YD18110
Battery000080026RWB alt F22118520E
Front wiper bladesDF9567330A alt BBM567330
Serpentine beltLF5115908B alt LF5115909C
ThermostatLF0315165A alt LF7015170
Cabin air filterBBM461J6X

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.6
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity5.0-5.5
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs11-12 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) BearingsSOHC: 30-36 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 80-86 ft-lbs,; MT: 71-76 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsSOHC: 14-22 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13-16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub175-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 Turbo rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition TimingTurbo: 10, Non-Turbo: 8 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.01-1.11 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35 Canada and Cold Climate
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number35 Canada and Cold Climate

Service checks

Pressure Test22.5 - MAXIMUM PRESSURE psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test22.5 - MAXIMUM PRESSURE psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)30.5 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)30.5 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket19-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle45-56 ft-lbs
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket19-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61-74 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.39 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
144-71 inch lbs., Step 2: 10-1344–71 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9020–23 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-77 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–77 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-76 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–76 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 3.7 ft. lbs.

210.0-12.0 ft. lbs.10–12 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134-39 ft. lbs., Step 2: 57-61, Step 3: 80-8534–39 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
16-9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 906–9 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep DOHC

171-88 inch lbs. in crisscross pattern.71–88 in
215-18

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 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 60,000 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 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering System (inspect)
Every 37,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace)

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 2011 Mazda Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 top in one area — the air bags, 16 of 131 reports (12%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 2 recall campaigns target the air bags, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 12 of the reports describe a crash and 2 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the air bags 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.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
281
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
131
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 131 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags16
Seats15
Unknown Or Other13
Structure9
Power Train8
Steering8
Electrical System5
Suspension4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V082000SeatsReported 09/02/2017

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2011 Mazda2 and 2010-2011 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles equipped with a manual seat lifter. In the affected vehicles, the seat height adjustment lifter… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat lifter links and install a reinforcement bracket to the lifter links, or replace the entire seat adjuster unit, free of…

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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 281 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…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-039/252025-08-21StructureSome vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.)…

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 Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3. 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 2011 Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.