Mazda CX-30 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 7 model years (2020–2026), NHTSA has logged 254 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls for the Mazda CX-30. That averages 9.4 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.23 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 6 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 22.7.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 55% below the 2020 and 2021 models (15 early complaints per model year versus 27).
The 2021 model year has the highest rate (17.5 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (5.0). The 2021 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 9.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2020 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 9.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (27.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.6%) and Body & structure (10.6%). 26 complaints (10.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 21 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 72 complaints versus 44 in the previous 12 months — up 64%. The 2025 model year generated the most recent reports (23). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 21 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 7 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (2). No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Subcompact SUVs, including Kia Seltos, Subaru Crosstrek, Hyundai Kona and Toyota Corolla Cross.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fewest complaints | 34 | 5.0 | 0.12 | 6 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 ▲50%+ | 101 | 17.5 | 0.43 | 10 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 33 | 6.9 | 0.17 | 7 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 25 | 6.6 | 0.16 | 9 | 1 | Brakes | View › |
| 2024 | 31 | 11.1 | 0.28 | 13 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 26 | 14.5 | 0.36 | 23 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
| 2026 Too new to rank | 4 | 4.0 | 0.1 | 4 | 0 | Engine | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 72 · Previous 12 months: 44 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
69 · 27.2% · 1.22 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Electrical
37 · 14.6% · 0.93 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Body & structure
27 · 10.6% · 1.17 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
26 · 10.2% · 1.7 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other
22 · 8.7% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
18 · 7.1% · 1.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
14 · 5.5% · 1.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain
11 · 4.3% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
10 · 3.9% · 1.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
6 · 2.4% · 1.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
5 · 2.0% · 0.45 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
5 · 2.0% · 0.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
4 · 1.6% · 1.01 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 21 months
What owners report
I was driving my 2026 Mazda CX-30 in a parking lot and was pulling into a parking space at a very low speed. I lightly pressed the accelerator to move the car forward, but the car suddenly surged forward much faster than I intended or expected based on how…
On June 3rd, 2026, about 1:15 PM, I braked in the rain because there was a stopped car in front of me. The brakes did not work; the Automatic Emergency brakes did not work; the Forward Collision Warning did not work and I hit the car in front of me causing a…
Multiple fixes and repairs on a P0421 code. Repaired by Mazda with a new catalytic converter but then refused to replace it when the code came back saying it was not covered by the warranty.
The rearview mirror fell off when I lightly knocked with my sunshade. The Mazda dealership reattached the mirror when the car was in for an oil change. But then a year later, the same thing happened.
For the past 2 years there has been a severe parasitic battery drain issue that drains that battery partially or in some cases completely ruins new batteries. Car has spent a cumulative total of 3 months with a dealer trying to find the source.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Subcompact SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda CX-30 | 254 | 9.4 | 0.23 | Improving | Rising | 7 | Engine |
| 2 | Kia Seltos | 559 | 20.1 | 0.5 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 4 | Engine |
| 3 | Subaru Crosstrek | 903 | 20.1 | 0.5 | Improving | Rising | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona | 966 | 21.1 | 0.52 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Engine |
| 5 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 295 | 21.6 | 0.53 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 7 | Engine |
| 6 | Honda HR-V | 1,490 | 39.4 | 0.98 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 12 | Body & structure |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 7
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2020 (3) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (1) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (1) · 2026 (0)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.