Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 3 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda CX 3 and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The CX-3 has 111 complaints over 7 years (about 16 per year), while the Camry has 2,056 over 10 years (about 206 per year). The CX-3 reports sudden acceleration and stalling; the Camry reports transmission hesitation and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 3 or Toyota Camry 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 serious but sporadic issues, including sudden throttle opening while braking, instrument cluster failures, and engine stalling at speed. These problems can be frightening, but the low overall count suggests they are not universal. Buyers should be aware that electrical and fuel system complaints are the most common.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a midsize sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over 10 years, averaging about 206 per year. This is partly because Camry sales are far higher, but owners report a wide range of issues, from transmission hesitation to brake problems and electrical glitches. The higher number of crash-related complaints (171) and injuries (158) is notable, though not necessarily indicative of a defect rate. Buyers should expect more frequent but often less severe complaints compared to the CX-3.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 3 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 111 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 9 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 9 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 15.9 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 3 Better | 158 |
| 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
- 04ENGINE10
- 05BACK OVER PREVENTION10
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration while parking, with the throttle opening wide and causing the car to jump curbs. Another common issue is instrument cluster failure around 50,000 miles, triggering multiple warning lights and disabling driver aids.
Several owners describe the engine stalling and dying while driving at highway speeds, often just before the low fuel light would normally come on. The car may restart after a few minutes, but the sudden loss of power is a serious safety concern.
Engine stalling is also reported under this category, with one owner experiencing a stall on the interstate at 70 mph. Another complaint mentions abnormal engine noise and brake scraping sounds, though the exact cause is unclear.
The rearview camera and driver assistance systems can fail or continuously restart in cold weather, rendering the backup camera and navigation unavailable for up to 15 minutes. This makes parking and reversing less safe, especially in winter.
“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.…”
“The instrument cluster in my 2021 Mazda CX-3 failed at approximately 50,000 miles. While driving, the vehicle displayed multiple warning lights, including Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), Smart City Brake Support (SCBS), traction control, and front camera/saf…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report intermittent issues where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even when the car is in Park, requiring battery disconnection. Others experience hesitation and shuddering while driving, often accompanied by a check engine light.
A common complaint is delayed throttle response, where pressing the accelerator results in a several-second lag before the car moves. This can be dangerous when merging or pulling out into traffic, and some owners report it happening multiple times.
The electronic parking brake may fail to disengage, requiring a tow to the dealer. Owners also report a clicking or vibrating sound from the brake pedal area, which dealers attribute to the ABS system and claim is normal, but owners find it concerning.
Multiple safety systems, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist, can malfunction simultaneously. This leaves the driver without key aids and can be alarming, especially at night.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
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 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
The risk: Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 3 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-3 has far fewer complaints per year (about 16) compared to the Toyota Camry (about 206), but the CX-3's issues tend to be more severe, such as sudden acceleration and engine stalling. The Camry's higher volume is partly due to its popularity, but it also has more crash-related complaints and injuries reported. In practice, a CX-3 buyer faces a lower chance of any complaint but a higher chance of a frightening one, while a Camry buyer may encounter more frequent but often less critical problems.
Key differences
- The Mazda CX-3 has 111 complaints over 7 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 over 10 years, but the CX-3's complaints include sudden unintended acceleration and engine stalling, which are potentially more dangerous.
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints and 158 injuries, compared to the CX-3's 9 crash-related complaints and 3 injuries, though these numbers are not adjusted for sales volume.
- CX-3 owners frequently report electrical glitches like instrument cluster failure and rear camera restarts, while Camry owners report transmission hesitation and electronic parking brake failures.
- The CX-3 has 9 recalls, including fuel pump and rear camera issues, while the Camry has 31 recalls, covering air bag sensors, seats, and wheel studs.
- During a test drive, check for any hesitation or sudden surge when braking or accelerating at low speeds, as owners report unintended throttle opening.
- Ask if the instrument cluster has ever failed or shown multiple warning lights, and test all driver assistance features, especially the rear camera in cold weather.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park; if it sticks, it could indicate a power train defect requiring battery disconnection.
- Listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal and check if the electronic parking brake disengages properly, as failures can leave the car immobile.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and check for any open recalls on both models, especially the CX-3's fuel pump and rear camera recalls and the Camry's air bag sensor recalls.
- During a test drive, specifically test low-speed braking and acceleration for any unexpected surges or delays.
- Have a mechanic inspect the electrical system, including the instrument cluster and driver assistance cameras, for any stored error codes.
- For the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and listen for abnormal brake noises; for the CX-3, check for engine stalling by driving at highway speeds if possible.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records and whether any of the reported issues have already been addressed.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 61 |
| 2021 | 4 | 157 |
| 2020 | 1 | 274 |
| 2019 | 27 | 395 |
| 2018 | 10 | 744 |
| 2017 | 21 | 148 |
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
No VIN yet? Ask the seller.
A genuine seller should be happy to share it. Send this, then paste the VIN into the box above when it comes back.
Going to see one?
Get the Mazda CX 3 inspection checklist by email, so you know what to look for when you're standing next to it.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 3 vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda CX 3 total complaints
- 111
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Mazda CX 3 total recalls
- 9
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda CX 3 avg complaints/year
- 15.9
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 3
- Mazda CX 3 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN