Mazda Mazda3 problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 318 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Mazda Mazda3. That averages 6.6 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.16 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #1 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0.
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 eight model years from 2018 to 2025, NHTSA logged 318 owner complaints and 15 safety recalls for the Mazda Mazda3, averaging 6.6 complaints per year which is far fewer than the typical index of 0.16 against all tracked vehicles. The 2018 model year has the highest rate at 12.5 complaints per year and should be researched most carefully as it runs at least 50% above the model's own average, while the 2023 model year sits well below with only 3.3 complaints per year. The most common problem area is Electrical accounting for 21.1% of complaints, followed by Engine at 14.8% and Body & structure at 10.4%, with recurring terms including "malfunction" and "accident." Owners report 12 injuries and 2 deaths across all model years, though the complaint pace is falling with 32 filed in the last 12 months versus 51 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 65% below the 2018 and 2019 models (9 early complaints per model year versus 28).
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (12.5 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (3.3). The 2018 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2023 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (21.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (14.8%) and Body & structure (10.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “malfunction”, “ghost”, “notification prevention”, “accident” and “mazda's”. 22 complaints (6.9%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 12 injuries and 2 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 32 complaints versus 51 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (9). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 30 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (7). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Compact cars, including Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza, Kia Forte and Volkswagen Jetta.
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Years to research carefully | 108 | 12.5 | 0.3 | 16 | 0.18 | 9 | 4 | Electrical | View › |
| 2019 | 74 | 9.6 | 0.23 | 41 | 0.51 | 4 | 6 | Brakes | View › |
| 2020 | 32 | 4.8 | 0.11 | 12 | 0.21 | 5 | 2 | Driver-assist systems | View › |
| 2021 | 49 | 8.6 | 0.2 | 25 | 0.41 | 2 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 | 24 | 5.1 | 0.12 | 15 | 0.2 | 4 | 0 | Airbags & seat belts | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 12 | 3.3 | 0.08 | 9 | 0.11 | 2 | 0 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2024 | 12 | 4.5 | 0.11 | 9 | 0.13 | 3 | 3 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 7 | 4.2 | 0.1 | — | — | 3 | 1 | Airbags & seat belts | 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: 32 · Previous 12 months: 51 Falling
Problem areas
Electrical ›
67 · 21.1% · 1.34 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- notification prevention12
- ghost11
- prevention recall10
- camera20
Engine ›
47 · 14.8% · 0.67 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- oil20
- engine30
- low16
- light23
Body & structure
33 · 10.4% · 1.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- wipers12
- rain7
- windshield10
- working8
Interior & equipment
31 · 9.7% · 1.09 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- screen9
- infotainment6
- ghost3
- camera6
Airbags & seat belts
30 · 9.4% · 2.47 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- airbag16
- malfunction14
- air bag10
- seat13
Driver-assist systems
28 · 8.8% · 1.54 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- behind11
- sbs3
- braking11
- collision imminent3
Brakes
24 · 7.5% · 1.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- brakes11
- emergency9
- automatic6
- behind7
Transmission / powertrain
22 · 6.9% · 0.59 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- mazda's4
- transmission8
- gear5
- low5
Fuel system
14 · 4.4% · 1.02 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel pump9
- low pressure3
- faulty fuel3
- pressure fuel3
Wheels, tires & suspension
10 · 3.1% · 1.26 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- turanza3
- tires6
- sidewall3
- points3
Steering
6 · 1.9% · 0.29 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
4 · 1.3% · 0.7 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
2 · 0.6% · 0.4 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
- malfunction48
- ghost14
- notification prevention12
- accident42
- mazda's7
- prevention recall10
- wipers17
- camera31
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 30 months
What owners report
The vehicle was involved in a rear and side impact collision and the car was totaled on 5/14/2026. The air bags did not deploy.
On 14th, 2026, while traveling at approximately 60 mph on the northbound 55 Freeway near the Katella exit, my vehicle suddenly began to shake violently without any prior warning.
The sunroof spontaneously shattered while I was driving. It sounded like a small explosion. I am positive that no object struck the vehicle.
The vehicle's Connectivity Master Unit (CMU) / infotainment system has experienced a complete, permanent internal electronic failure, logged by Diagnostic Trouble Code DTC U3000:49 (Control Module Internal Electronic Failure).
Low pressure fuel pump failure with 75,575 miles on odometer. Fuel pump completely seized. Car was parked at a retail location and would not start. Upon troubleshooting, mechanic was able to determine the low pressure pump was not delivering fuel.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Compact cars
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mazda Mazda3 | 318 | 6.6 | 0.16 | Improving | Falling | 15 | Electrical |
| 2 | Toyota Prius | 250 | 7.0 | 0.17 | Stable | Rising | 11 | Electrical |
| 3 | Subaru Impreza | 494 | 9.5 | 0.23 | Improving | Steady | 13 | Body & structure |
| 4 | Kia Forte | 534 | 12.7 | 0.3 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 5 | Volkswagen Jetta | 843 | 18.0 | 0.43 | Improving | Steady | 22 | Engine |
| 6 | Nissan Sentra | 904 | 19.5 | 0.46 | Improving | Steady | 14 | Electrical |
| 7 | Toyota Corolla | 1,128 | 27.0 | 0.64 | Stable | Steady | 15 | Engine |
| 8 | Hyundai Elantra | 1,404 | 32.0 | 0.76 | Worsening | Steady | 19 | Engine |
| 9 | Honda Civic | 2,937 | 73.3 | 1.74 | Worsening | Falling | 14 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 15
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (4) · 2019 (6) · 2020 (2) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (0) · 2023 (0) · 2024 (3) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
No NHTSA investigation covers the tracked model years.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Mazda3 model year has the most complaints?
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (12.5 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (3.3).
Is the Mazda Mazda3 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 65% below the 2018 and 2019 models (9 early complaints per model year versus 28). In the last 12 months owners filed 32 complaints versus 51 in the previous 12 months — the pace is falling.
What are the most common Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (21.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (14.8%) and Body & structure (10.4%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “malfunction”, “ghost”, “notification prevention”, “accident” and “mazda's”.
How does the Mazda Mazda3 compare with other Compact cars?
Within the Compact cars segment it ranks #1 of 9 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 23.0. It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Compact cars, including Toyota Prius, Subaru Impreza, Kia Forte and Volkswagen Jetta.
Does the Mazda Mazda3 have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 15 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2019 (7). No NHTSA defect investigation covers the tracked model years.