Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 3 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda CX 3 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda CX 3 vs FORD F 150: The CX-3 has 111 complaints over 7 years (about 16 per year), while the F-150 has 11,311 over 10 years (about 1,131 per year). The F-150 also has 145 recalls versus 9 for the CX-3. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 3 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 3
The Mazda CX-3 is a subcompact SUV with a relatively low complaint volume: 111 complaints over 7 years, averaging about 16 per year. Owners report electrical quirks like the car refusing to shut off and draining the battery, plus fuel pump failures that can cause stalling at speed. There are also back-over prevention camera recalls and complaints about driver-assist systems rebooting in cold weather. Overall, it's a smaller pool of issues, but some—like stalling—are serious.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup with a much higher complaint count: 11,311 over 10 years, averaging over 1,100 per year. The dominant theme is transmission problems—hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power—along with electrical glitches and engine issues. With 145 recalls and 287 injuries reported, the F-150 has a far more active safety-defect history. For a used buyer, that means more potential for costly repairs and more frequent trips to the dealer.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 3 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 111 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.9 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda CX 3
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM25
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER17
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16
- 04BACK OVER PREVENTION10
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING10
Owners report the car won't shut off when they try to turn it off, making noises and beeps until the battery dies. Another complaint describes the throttle opening wide while parking, causing the car to jump a curb—a scary, hard-to-reproduce event.
Fuel pump failures are reported, with cars stalling at highway speed and then sometimes restarting after a few minutes. This is a serious safety concern because a stall in traffic can lead to a crash.
There are multiple recalls for the rearview camera system, and owners complain that parts aren't available to fix them. This means the backup camera may not work, increasing the risk of backing over something or someone.
Some owners report that in cold weather, the driver-assist system (including rear camera, navigation, and voice commands) continuously restarts for up to 15 minutes, making navigation and safety features unusable.
“I have had this happen multiple times. I try to turn off the car and it will not shut off. It makes noises and beeps, but you can do nothing to turn off the car. This makes the battery die. The first time I freaked out and called Mazda headquarters. They got…”
“WHILE I WAS PARKING MY CAR AND BRAKING THE THROTTLE OPENED WIDE AND I JUMPED THE CURB. I REAPPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND THE CAR CAME TO A STOP AFTER SKIDDING 4 FEET. (TIRE MARKS MEASURED). I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG.…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common complaint is transmission problems: hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and sometimes a sudden loss of power while driving. Owners describe scary moments where the truck shuts off and drifts in traffic.
Owners report loud bangs from the transmission and popping sounds from the rear suspension, as well as warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' appearing on the dash. These can affect safety features and indicate underlying electrical gremlins.
Engine-related complaints are also common, though the sample text focuses on transmission and electrical. Still, with 847 engine complaints, buyers should be aware of potential issues like rough running or stalling.
There are 1,164 complaints about exterior lighting, and a recall for headlights. This could mean lights that fail or don't illuminate properly, a safety issue especially at night.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda CX 3 — 9 recalls
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safe…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safe…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safe…
The defect: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
The risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safe…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 3 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-3 has far fewer complaints per year (about 16) compared to the Ford F-150 (over 1,100). In practice, that means a used CX-3 is likely to have fewer reported problems, but the issues it does have—like stalling—can be serious. The F-150's much higher complaint rate suggests a higher chance of encountering transmission or electrical troubles.
Key differences
- Complaint volume: Mazda CX-3 averages ~16 complaints/year; Ford F-150 averages ~1,131/year—a massive difference in reported issues.
- Transmission troubles: F-150 owners frequently report hard shifts, jerking, and sudden power loss; CX-3 complaints center more on electrical and fuel pump issues.
- Recall counts: F-150 has 145 recalls vs. 9 for the CX-3, meaning the Ford has a much longer history of safety fixes.
- Serious outcomes: F-150 data shows 287 injuries and 1 death; CX-3 shows 3 injuries and 0 deaths, though both have crash-related complaints.
- Check for fuel pump recall or replacement—ask for service records and test drive at highway speeds to feel for hesitation or stalling.
- Test the ignition shut-off and battery drain: ensure the car turns off completely and doesn't make noises after shutdown; check for parasitic drain.
- Test drive the transmission extensively: look for hard shifts, jerking, or delayed engagement, especially between 4-5, 5-6, and 7-8 gears.
- Check for electrical warnings: start the truck and look for messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' or 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available' on the dash.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for open recalls on the NHTSA website using the VIN.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic familiar with the model, focusing on the transmission (F-150) or fuel pump and electrical (CX-3).
- During the test drive, pay attention to how the transmission shifts (F-150) and whether the car shuts off properly (CX-3).
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially any transmission repairs or fuel pump replacements.
- Verify that all safety recalls have been completed, and if not, factor in the time and cost to get them done.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Mazda CX 3 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 4 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 1 | 33 |
| 2019 | 27 | 36 |
| 2018 | 10 | 56 |
| 2017 | 21 | 43 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda CX 3 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 3 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda CX 3 total complaints
- 111
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda CX 3 total recalls
- 9
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda CX 3 avg complaints/year
- 15.9
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 3
- Mazda CX 3 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN