Question: My brother let me borrow his car to take a weekend skiing trip. I just pulled off the highway to get some gas, but I can’t figure out how to open the door to the gas tank. Can you tell me how to open a gas tank on a Mazda 3 2021?
Answer: Depending on what year your Mazda 3 is, getting access to the gas tank will be a bit different.
4th generation Mazda 3 (2019 – present)
Unlike some older versions of the Mazda 3, the newest models do not have a release lever inside the car.
Instead, all you need to do is turn off the engine, step out of the car and firmly press in the right-hand side of the gas tank door. Don’t worry; your fuel filler door is not accessible at all times. When you lock your car, the gas tank door also locks.
Therefore, if you find that your gas tank door can’t be opened, it’s because you haven’t unlocked the driver’s door. Once that’s unlocked, you will gain access to the gas tank.
Here are a few extra notes from the 2024 Mazda 3 manual:
- If the fuel-filler lid is closed after locking the doors, the fuel-filler lid will not be locked.
- If the doors are locked by any of the following functions, the fuel-filler lid is also locked at the same time.
- Vehicle speed sensing auto door lock function
- Auto re-lock function
- When locking the driver’s door, the fuel lid is locked after 90 seconds.
Once you unlock your gas tank door, turn the gas cap counterclockwise to open it. You can hang the gas cap on the holder located on the door.
Mazda 3 gas tank size for 4th generations
The Mazda 3 has a gas tank size of up to 13.2 gallons, while the AWD trim has a 12.7 gallon fuel tank capacity based on the 2022 model.
3rd generation Mazda 3 (2013-2018)
This generation of Mazda 3 has its fuel-filler door release on the floorboard, just in front of the driver’s seat, on the left hand side.
Pull the lever in order to release the fuel door, and turn the gas cap counterclockwise to release it. In this generation of Mazda 3, you can run the leash of the gas cap onto a hook on the door, which will allow you to hang the gas cap while refueling.
Mazda 3 gas tank size for 3rd generations
The gas tank capacity is larger than newer models with a tank size of 14.5 gallons.
2nd generation Mazda 3 (2008-2012)
You can find the fuel-filler door release on the floorboard, to the left of the driver’s seat. Once you release that, you will be able to open your gas tank door and access the fuel cap for refueling.
Mazda 3 gas tank size for 2nd generations
This generation of Mazda 3 has a fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons.
Opening the gas tank on Mazda 3
Since the fourth generation, Mazda 3 owners no longer have to pull a lever on the floorboard to open the gas tank door. As long as the driver’s door is unlocked, they can press onto the gas tank door to open it.
Models that are older than 2019 still have a fuel filler door lever that will allow you to unlock the gas tank door.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Ashley Eneriz is an editor and finance writer with over 15 years of experience in a wide range of financial topics, including car loans and insurance. In editing for Jerry, Ashley aims to make all car material reader-friendly for both the new driver and car enthusiast alike. Prior to joining Jerry, Ashley was the financial deputy editor for ConsumerAffairs. Her work is featured on Forbes, Yahoo, MSN, The Hartford and more.
