The 2016 Mazda CX-3 Is One of the Most Likely Cars to Have A/C Problems
Whether in your home or in your car, air conditioners don’t last forever. As your car gets older, it might develop a problem with the blower motor or the condenser, or the refrigerant might start to leak. Having air conditioning does a lot to improve your comfort when driving around in hot weather, so it’s best to have a car with reliable A/C. Consumer Reports found 10 models that don’t have a great track record with their air conditioners. The 2016 Mazda CX-3 is one of the ones to watch out for.
Air conditioning issues in the 2016 Mazda CX-3
The 2016 Mazda CX-3 ranked as the vehicle with the most climate-system-related problems submitted by Consumer Reports members. Owners reported that their air conditioning problems occurred between 22,000 and 49,000 miles. In the member survey, owners mentioned to Consumer Reports that they had problems with refrigerant leaks and condenser issues. While some owners’ repairs were covered by the warranty, other owners expressed frustration about the time spent having the car repaired.
Air conditioning wasn’t the only reliability problem with the 2016 Mazda CX-3. The crossover earned just a one out of five for overall reliability from Consumer Reports. Other big trouble spots for this model year include paint/trim, body integrity, and in-car electronics. The poor reliability likely factored into the poor owner satisfaction as well.
Other cars with air conditioning problems
All 10 vehicles on the list had high rates of air conditioning failures during their first five years. They also had a high rate of having an A/C issue, with rates ranging from 10 percent to 20 percent. These 10 needed too many expensive repairs, and some needed to be fixed before 20,000 miles. Air conditioner repairs aren’t always expensive, but some do cost more than $1,000.
It’s more normal for today’s cars to have air conditioning systems that last for 100,000 miles or more. Whatever car you own, to help prevent air conditioning problems, make sure to get regular maintenance.
In addition to the 2016 Mazda CX-3, the other nine vehicles that are prone to air conditioning issues include the following:
- 2013 GMC Acadia
- 2015 Chevrolet Traverse
- 2012 Buick Enclave
- 2016 Ford Mustang
- 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- 2012 Volkswagen Jetta
- 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon
- 2016 Tesla Model X
All of these vehicles have a tendency to develop air conditioning problems at less than 127,000 miles. Half of them, though, have problems appearing at less than 55,000 miles.
The 2020 Mazda CX-3
The Mazda CX-3 was introduced for the 2016 model year, and reliability has improved since that first year. In the years since then, the reliability score from Consumer Reports has either been five out of five or unrated. The predicted reliability for 2020 is also expected to be five out of five.
The most recent model year with a specific rating for the reliability of the climate system was in 2018 when the climate system’s reliability had a top rating of five out of five. Buyers of new models of the Mazda CX-3 won’t have to worry as much about quickly getting a broken air conditioner. Consumer Reports found the 2020 CX-3 to be pretty small inside, but it also thought it “is a dapper, well-designed car” and “driving it puts a smile on your face.”
Consumer Reports rates vehicles across 17 reliability “trouble spots,” and climate system was just one of them. While a broken air conditioner won’t prevent you from driving your car and doesn’t impact your safety, it probably will have a big impact on your comfort and possibly your wallet as well. To avoid this situation, buyers should avoid the 2016 Mazda CX-3.
