Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 3 vs Honda Accord
How the Mazda CX 3 and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The CX-3 has 111 complaints over 7 years (15.9/yr) versus the Accord's 4,438 over 10 years (443.8/yr). The CX-3's fuel pump stalls and electrical shutdown issues are serious, while the Accord's engine and forward collision problems are more frequent. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 3 or Honda Accord 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 crossover that, in ownership terms, has a moderate complaint rate of about 16 per year. The pattern shows a mix of electrical gremlins, fuel system stalls, and rear camera issues, suggesting that while it's not a high-volume problem vehicle, the issues that do occur can be serious and intermittent, potentially leaving owners stranded or facing hard-to-diagnose faults.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord, a midsize sedan, has a much higher complaint volume at over 440 per year, reflecting its popularity and longer production run. The complaints cluster around engine problems, electrical system failures, and forward collision avoidance glitches, indicating that while the Accord is generally reliable, there are notable trouble spots that could affect safety and drivability, especially in newer models.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 3 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 111 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.9 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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 sometimes won't shut off when they press the stop button, leading to battery drain. Others describe sudden unintended acceleration while parking, where the throttle opened wide and the car jumped a curb, though dealers couldn't find a fault.
There are reports of the fuel pump failing, causing the car to stall at highway speeds, which is dangerous. One owner had the faulty part in hand, and another experienced a stall on the interstate and had to pull over.
The rearview camera system has been recalled (NHTSA 23V487) but parts were not available for months, leaving owners without a functioning backup camera. This is a safety concern for reversing.
“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.…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
Owners report unusual noises and loss of power, with warning lights for brake, hill descent, and ABS appearing. Some experienced sudden speed loss on the highway, which is alarming.
There are reports of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) warnings leading to tire failures, and rodent damage to wiring harnesses, which can cause electrical malfunctions.
The system can trigger false alerts or warnings for adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, and automatic high beams, often intermittently. One owner reported the system failed to avoid a collision at 35 mph.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 3 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-3 has far fewer complaints per year (about 16) compared to the Honda Accord (about 444), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the CX-3's problems, such as fuel pump stalls and electrical glitches, can be serious. The Accord's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but it also shows more frequent issues with engine and driver-assist systems.
Key differences
- The CX-3 has a notable fuel pump issue that can cause stalling, while the Accord has more engine-related complaints including power loss and warning lights.
- The CX-3's rear camera recall (23V487) left owners waiting for parts, whereas the Accord has recalls for hybrid power control unit software and airbag sensors.
- Electrical system complaints are common in both, but the CX-3's issues include failure to shut off, while the Accord's include TPMS and wiring damage.
- The Accord has a much higher number of forward collision avoidance complaints, with false alerts and system failures, while the CX-3 has fewer such issues.
- Check for any signs of fuel pump issues, such as stalling or difficulty starting, and ask if the fuel pump recall has been performed.
- Test the ignition shut-off function multiple times to ensure the car turns off properly, and check the battery condition for drain issues.
- Listen for unusual engine noises and test the brakes and acceleration for any loss of power or warning lights.
- Verify that the forward collision avoidance system works correctly by driving at moderate speeds and checking for false alerts.
Before you buy
- For the CX-3, ask for service records showing the fuel pump recall (if applicable) and any electrical system repairs.
- For the Accord, check if all recalls have been performed, especially the hybrid power control unit and airbag sensor recalls.
- Test drive both vehicles at highway speeds to feel for any stalling or power loss.
- Inspect the rear camera on the CX-3 to ensure it is clear and functional, and check for any pending recall parts.
- For the Accord, check the tire pressure monitoring system and look for any warning lights on the dashboard.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 238 |
| 2021 | 4 | 226 |
| 2020 | 1 | 355 |
| 2019 | 27 | 677 |
| 2018 | 10 | 1864 |
| 2017 | 21 | 534 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 3 vs Honda Accord
- Mazda CX 3 total complaints
- 111
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Mazda CX 3 total recalls
- 9
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Mazda CX 3 avg complaints/year
- 15.9
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 3
- Mazda CX 3 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE