Mazda CX-30 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 6 model years (2020–2025), NHTSA has logged 243 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls for the Mazda CX-30. That averages 10.3 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.25 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 24.6.
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
Across six model years from 2020 to 2025, the Mazda CX-30 has logged 243 owner complaints and 7 safety recalls, averaging 10.3 complaints per year which is far fewer than typical vehicles with an index of 0.25. While the 2021 model year shows the highest rate at 17.6 complaints per year and runs at least 50% above the model's average, the 2020 model year sits well below average with only 4.8 complaints per year. The most common problem area is Engine accounting for 27.2% of complaints, followed by Electrical at 14.4%, with recurring terms including "low engine" and "oil". Owners report 21 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is rising with 66 filed in the last 12 months versus 47 previously.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.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 (17.6 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (4.8). The 2021 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2020 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (27.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.4%) and Body & structure (11.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “low engine”, “oil”, “quart”, “malfunction” and “partially disabled”. 25 complaints (10.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 21 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 66 complaints versus 47 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. 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 defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Subcompact SUVs, including Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Fewest complaints | 32 | 4.8 | 0.11 | 10 | 0.18 | 4 | 3 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 Years to research carefully | 100 | 17.6 | 0.42 | 45 | 0.74 | 10 | 2 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 33 | 7.1 | 0.17 | 13 | 0.18 | 8 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 23 | 6.3 | 0.15 | 11 | 0.13 | 7 | 1 | Brakes | View › |
| 2024 | 30 | 11.2 | 0.27 | 20 | 0.28 | 14 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 25 | 14.9 | 0.35 | — | — | 23 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
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: 66 · Previous 12 months: 47 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
66 · 27.2% · 1.22 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- oil52
- low engine21
- quart15
- level15
Electrical
35 · 14.4% · 0.91 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- autolock3
- doors6
- battery10
- key6
Body & structure
27 · 11.1% · 1.21 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- windshield13
- distorted6
- wavy4
- headaches4
Brakes
26 · 10.7% · 1.76 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brake16
- front14
- system malfunction5
- emergency8
Interior & equipment
20 · 8.2% · 0.92 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- receiving3
- send3
- causing6
- leave3
Driver-assist systems
18 · 7.4% · 1.29 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- cruise10
- lane10
- control10
- adaptive5
Airbags & seat belts
14 · 5.8% · 1.51 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- deployed6
- airbag5
- involved4
- deployment3
Wheels, tires & suspension
10 · 4.1% · 1.65 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- tires4
- pressure3
- noise3
- inspected3
Transmission / powertrain
8 · 3.3% · 0.28 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- failures3
- shifting3
- dashboard3
- noise3
Other
6 · 2.5% · 1.36 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
5 · 2.1% · 0.48 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
5 · 2.1% · 0.32 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
3 · 1.2% · 0.79 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- low engine22
- oil61
- quart16
- malfunction28
- partially disabled5
- level18
- mazda's6
- turbo10
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 21 months
What owners report
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…
I don't know, is 4:20 in the morning. Oh, is it work? I was sitting in my car and all of a sudden pop and I had ringing in my ear. According to Mazda, connect, I got some weird network. Error the network failure error some kind of engine failure.
What is happening with my car are the exact symptoms of the known Mazda Recall 6824H - where the Smart Brake Support suddenly engages for no reason and when it does not need to - which has almost caused me to be rear-ended a few times.
1.5 years after purchasing new my passenger side front door would not open from the inside. Mazda states car is out of warranty at 36837 miles indicating a cable had come disconnected.
Reporting Product Defect in Mazda Vehicles I am writing to bring to your attention a recurring design flaw affecting current Mazda vehicles, including models such as CX30, MX30, and potentially the Mazda3 series.
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 | 243 | 10.3 | 0.25 | Improving | Rising | 7 | Engine |
| 2 | Subaru Crosstrek | 881 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Improving | Rising | 13 | Body & structure |
| 3 | Toyota Corolla Cross | 288 | 21.7 | 0.52 | Worsening | Steady | 7 | Engine |
| 4 | Hyundai Kona | 928 | 22.4 | 0.53 | Worsening | Steady | 12 | Engine |
| 5 | Kia Seltos | 534 | 22.9 | 0.54 | Improving | Steady | 4 | Engine |
| 6 | Honda HR-V | 1,452 | 42.7 | 1.01 | Worsening | Steady | 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)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda CX-30 model year has the most complaints?
The 2021 model year has the highest rate (17.6 complaints per year) and the 2020 model year the lowest (4.8).
Is the Mazda CX-30 getting better or worse?
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). In the last 12 months owners filed 66 complaints versus 47 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Mazda CX-30 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (27.2% of complaints), followed by Electrical (14.4%) and Body & structure (11.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “low engine”, “oil”, “quart”, “malfunction” and “partially disabled”.
How does the Mazda CX-30 compare with other Subcompact SUVs?
Within the Subcompact SUVs segment it ranks #1 of 6 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 24.6. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Subcompact SUVs, including Subaru Crosstrek, Toyota Corolla Cross, Hyundai Kona and Kia Seltos.
Does the Mazda CX-30 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 7 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (2). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.