Accidentally activating valet mode is a common cause for a stuck trunk on many cars— it’s also the easiest to fix. However, it’s not the only thing that could be causing trunk trouble!

Before you lose your patience and reach for that crowbar, take a deep breath and read this quick guide to a stuck Mazda3 Hatchback trunk brought to you by

Jerry

, the

car insurance

comparison super app. In no time at all, you’ll have access to both the contents of your trunk and a fabulous deal on your

Mazda3 Hatchback insurance cost

Don't get ripped off!

Estimate repairs near you with GarageGuard™ for free so you KNOW the fair price.

Get GarageGuard™

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees

4.717k Ratings

5M+Drivers Joined

7M+Cars Garaged

What to do if your Mazda3 Hatchback trunk won’t open

If you find yourself unable to get the trunk of your Mazda3 Hatchback open, there are a few things that you can check before you take it into the dealership or mechanic.

Most common cause: valet mode accidentally activated

Some years of the Mazda3 Hatchback have a feature called valet mode that implements certain security features—like locking the trunk—when you leave your car with a valet or other driver.

Frequently, the switch for valet mode gets inadvertently hit and causes your trunk to lock shut. If your Mazda has this feature, the switch to deactivate the valet mode will likely be found under the steering wheel or inside the glove box on the upper left-hand side. Hit the switch, and you should be able to get in the trunk again.

One caveat—there seems to be some conflicting information as to what years of Mazda3 Hatchbacks have a valet mode feature, and where the release button is located. Check your manual or ask your Mazda dealer if you have questions about your specific model year. This is a good thing to look into on any car you own ahead of time—future you will thank you!

Other possible causes

If valet mode isn’t the problem, there are a few other reasons why the Mazda3 Hatchbuck trunk might not open:

Broken key fob: If the trunk release by the driver-side door is working, then the problem could be a malfunctioning key fob—see if a new battery in the fob will do the trick.

Broken door switch: Or it could be the opposite—if your key fob works but your door release doesn’t, the door switch is likely at fault.

Electrical issues: A dead car battery, a burnt-out fuse, or wiring problems can also be the cause of a stuck trunk.

Broken trunk hardware: The latch or hinge on the trunk could be broken, in which case it will probably need to be fixed by a mechanic.

If simple troubleshooting like changing your fob battery or jump-starting your Mazda3 Hatchback doesn’t do the trick, then you’ll want to have your Mazda looked at by a mechanic ASAP.

MORE:

How to build a custom Mazda3

How to manually open a Mazda3 Hatchback trunk

Making an appointment to address the stuck trunk on your Mazda3 Hatchback is all well and good, but what about in the interim? If you need to get into your trunk now, the good news is that there’s a way to do it without much fuss.

The Mazda3 Hatchback has been made for almost 20 years and is also available in a sedan form. To that end, there’s a lot of variation in how to manually open the trunk of one.

Here’s how you break into your own Mazda3 Hatchback trunk on a newer model (ski mask optional):

Grab a flathead screwdriver and a piece of cloth (an old t-shirt will do fine).

Lower the rear seats so you can access the trunk.

There should be a small panel near the latch mechanism on the trunk—cover the screwdriver with the cloth and use it to pop open the panel.

You should see a lever mechanism inside—use the screwdriver to turn it to the right, and the trunk should pop open.

Cost of repair for a Mazda3 Hatchback

If you need to take your Mazda3 Hatchback in to have the trunk repaired, the good news is that Mazdas generally have relatively low repair costs. Something like a

trunk latch adjustment

should generally only cost around $100, but it can vary depending on your model year.

A trunk lock actuator replacement, on the other hand, will run around $250 with parts and labor. If it’s just a blown fuse, however, then it could be much less than that.

MORE:

Are Mazdas good cars?

How to save on Mazda3 Hatchback insurance

Some insurance companies consider the Mazda3 Hatchback to be a sport model, which means that getting coverage with these providers will be quite a bit more expensive. But how do you figure out which companies categorize the Mazda3 Hatchback as a sports car? Good news! You don’t have to.

When you shop for your car insurance with

Jerry

, all the hard work of searching for the best provider is done for you. As a

licensed insurance broker

, Jerry compares quotes from more than 55 of the finest insurance companies out there and brings you a customized selection of the best ones to choose from.

Signing up for the app is fast and easy, and the typical Jerry shopper saves more than $800 a year on their car insurance! No phone calls or tedious searching online for quotes needed.