Mazda CX 3 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Mazda CX 3 options? We analyzed 7 model years (2016–2022) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Mazda CX 3 has 111 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls across model years 2016–2022. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2016 drew the most complaints; 2021 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Mazda
- Model
- CX 3
- Model years analyzed
- 2016–2022 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 111
- Safety recall campaigns
- 9
- Crash-related complaints
- 9
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2016 (48 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2021 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Below Average
By model year
Mazda CX 3: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
Below AverageThe MAZDA CX 3 has 111 NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. 9 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 111 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 9 federal recall campaigns
- 9 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
9 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
STEERING
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2016–2022. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 111 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
111 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
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/safety system warnings. These safety systems became unavailable due to the instrument cluster failure. An authorized Mazda dealership inspected the vehicle and attempted to reprogram (re-image) the instrument cluster, but the repair was unsuccessful. The dealership confirmed that the instrument cluster had failed internally and must be replaced. The failed component is available for inspection. Mazda Customer Experience has confirmed that the replacement instrument cluster is on national back-order and has been unable to provide any estimated availability date. As a result, I am required to continue driving a vehicle with disabled safety systems or leave the vehicle unusable for an indefinite period. I am concerned that a failed instrument cluster can disable important safety systems, including stability control and forward collision mitigation functions, and that replacement parts are unavailable. I am submitting this complaint because this appears to be a potential safety-related defect
All of the issues listed in Mazda Technical Service Bulletin 06-001/20, however this bulletin does not cover my model. Inspected by dealer, possible solution intended to be relubrication of the worm gear/worm shaft in the steering assembly. Issue presented itself in the last year and is most present while driving at high speeds, above 45 miles an hour.
The Mazda CX-30 2021 I purchased from Mastria Mazda in Raynham, Massachusetts has a steering problem that is a significant safety concern. The steering wheel has resistance that can most notably be felt at highway speeds (around 65 mph). When making small corrections to the steering wheel to stay in the lane the steering binds and then releases with further force ultimately resulting in overcorrections. The steering binds and then releases and is not fluid as any car should be. An apt analogy would be opening a new water bottle, when you twist the cap, you get resistance along the plastic perforations and with further force the cap releases and turns quickly. This is the best way I can describe the issue. This car is dangerous at highway speeds. An environment where a crash could be catastrophic. This issue needs to result in a recall immediately.
Having the exact same issue as was outlined and allegedly repaired in the prior service bulletin 06-001/20. Obviously this bulletin only applies to vehicles up to model year 2020. I have checked the model number on the steering motor to determine that it is the "updated" design. Obviously, the issue has not been addressed properly by Mazda.
Windshield wiper fluid tank leaks when you pour fluid in empty within about an hour
LED speedometer in dash showing incorrect speed or unreadable. Advised of chip malfunction.
Read 14 more owner reports
Steering system seems to become unhinged. Something in the steering system is not working properly.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the camera image was distorted while in use. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
When starting the car in cold weather, the driver assistance system, to include rear camera display, navigation, hands-free voice commands and calling, continuously restarts for close to 15 minutes rendering safe navigation unavailable. Without a backup navigation system, drivers cannot get turn prompts and safely plan for the next exit or turn. This has happened repeatedly and could be related to the current open recall for the CX-3.
The engine on my 2017 CX-3 died while travelling on the interstate at 70mph just before the low fuel light would normally turn on. I pulled to the side of the interstate freaked out at what just happened. I was within a mile of an exit with a gas station and the car started when fuel was added. It's the exact same low pressure fuel pump failure symptom that later CX-3's are being recalled for. I took it to a Mazda dealer and he only recommended that I keep the tank over half full. I've been hoping the recall would be expanded to include my VIN number but there doesn't appear to be enough complaints yet to do this. I've been filling up at 1/4 tank and haven't had an issue again after driving another 40,000+ miles. This model has disappointing range even without this issue.
Both headlamp lights have water on it (Condensation ocurring on both headlamps) Please verify if this situation could be considered a safety hazard.
On November 4, 2022 I was driving in the middle lane of I 87 north of Saratoga Springs. The car stalled and died. I was able to get to the break down lane. After sitting for 5 - 10 minutes, completely frazzled, I tried the ignition and the car started. The gas gauge said I had approximately ¼ tank left. I filled the car up and made it the rest of the way home. This had happened once before on a local road and we had the car towed. The thought was that maybe the car had run out of gas although the gas gauge did not so indicate. When I took the vehicle to the mazda dealer after considerable research, they indicated there were recalls on Denso fuel pump impellers for the model of my car in 2018 and following but not for my 2017 model. The date of that service was 1/17/23. There were no codes still in place that would identify the problem. I am certain that this is the problem. I only drive the car locally now and i keep the gas tank at least ½ full.
I was driving my 2017 Mazda CX-3 on the interstate when car suddenly jerked and failed to accelerate. I was driving 70 mph in the left lane when this happened and immediately started to pull over to the righthand shoulder of the road. The car jerked and slowed again when we were in the right lane. By the time I pulled off, the check engine light was on and the car had completely stalled. I was stuck on a narrow shoulder with a dog and two people in the car. We were lucky we made it to the shoulder at all before the car stalled. There was no indication before the car jerked that there was any problem with the vehicle. The car was towed to the dealership and the cause of the check engine light was identified as a leaking fuel pump/fuel rail. I had to have the fuel pump replaced along with a valve cover gasket.
CAR HAS 24,547 MILES AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE TOWED BY AAA. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT OVERBECK AUTO SERVICE 1793 OHIO PIKE, AMELIA, OH 45102. INFO@OVERBECKAUTO.COM
I put my right signals on and came to a near stop, as I did a right turn into the parking space in front of the dry cleaners. I was slowly creeping into the parking space, and pushing the brakes, as I slowed down to a near stop in the parking spot. All of a sudden, as my right foot was still on the brakes, I felt the car lurch forward, and felt myself pulled back into my seat from the velocity, as the car suddenly accelerated forward out of control! I had NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR! I saw myself speeding towards the drycleaners’ glass window storefront! I came to a stop after I had driven over the sidewalk, over some plants, and crashed into the pillar in front of the dry cleaners, completely pulling it off of its foundation. My car’s engine was still running, and the airbags did NOT deploy. This was a case of Sudden Unintended Acceleration where the airbags did not deploy, resulting is serious property damage, but could have been much worse had the pillar not been there to stop my car from breaching the storefront, and potentially hitting a customer or employee.
THIS IS A FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. P/N PELL - 1335ZA. OTHER NUMBERS ON THE LABEL ARE 16.12.22 AND H00073961. I AM IN POSSESSION OF THE FAULTY PART. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON ROUTE 1 IN DELAWARE. THE CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND WE ALMOST MADE IT TO THE SHOULDER. MY HUSBAND, 70, HAD TO PUSH IT THE SHOULDER. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. WE HAD MY 95 YEAR OLD MOTHER IN LAW IN THE CAR. THE TEMPERATURE WAS CLOSE TO 100 DEGREES THAT DAY AND SUNNY. WE WERE VERY CONCERNED FOR HER. WE CALLED 911 AND A STATE TROUPER CAME IN ABOUT 20 MINS. HE TOOK MY HUSBAND TO GET A A FEW GALLONS OF GAS AND THE CAR STARTED. BEFORE THE STALL, WE HAD ENOUGH GAS FOR 39 MILES. WE DID NOT RUN OUT OF GAS. THIS HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE ABOUT SIX MONTHS EARLIER ON A LESS BUSY ROAD AND I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT SO I DID NOT FRET ABOUT IT THAT TIME AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A QUIRKY THING. WE MADE IT HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. WE BROUGHT IT TO THE MECHANIC LOCALLY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. HE VERIFIED THE PROBLEM WITH HIS DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. THE CHECK ENGINE CODE FOR THE EVENT WAS P0192. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WAS $900.00. THERE IS A CURRENT FUEL PUMP RECALL ON MAZDAS BUT IT STARTS WITH THE MODEL YEAR 2018. MINE IS A 2017 BUT THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE SAME! THE COMPONENT IS IN MY POSSESSION BUT NO OTHER PARTIES, BESIDES THE MECHANIC, HAVE EXAMINED IT.
On 3 separate occasions this car presented as if it were out of fuel while the gas gauge showed it having fuel. It sputtered then lost power as if it ran out of gas. Two of these times were on the interstate while the 3rd time was in a residential area.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-3. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH and approaching a stop sign, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated he was unaware if there was any warning light illuminated. The contact added fuel to the vehicle and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic and was informed that the fuel pressure sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,792.
The contact owns a 2017 Mazda CX-3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact related the failure to a faulty fuel pump; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,099.
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 a tow truck sent to me and my car was taken to Brown's Mazda in Fairfax. They told me the battery was dead and that is why that happened. I have had my battery checked by them numerous times and they say it is A-OK and 100% okay, so how can this be. It happened again and I drove straight to the dealer who told me it wasn't the battery but the starting system. They fixed it and I left and 20 minutes later it happened again. It has now happened again. One day my car is fine and the next it does not start. Then, after trying to start it again today. It went crazy and would not shut off. I was at the dealership recently and another woman had this problem. They told her it was the shifting gear and she had to pay a fair amount. This is ridiculous. This is a Mazda problem not an owner problem. No one seems to know what the real issue is or are afraid to tell. This needs to be looked into. The problem is Mazda owners never know when and where this will happen and it could strand us in bad locations with no recourse. There are no warning lights or messages and it happens at random times. It first started two years ago and has been happening repeatedly. The problem has been relayed to Browns Mazda on several occasions and they tell me it is the battery, but every time I get the battery checked it is perfect. Something is wrong and it is probably due to the electrical starting system which also affects the charging terminals. This is a serious issue and someone needs to take a look into this matter. Please help!
Showing 20 of 111 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Mazda CX 3
These pages show model-year patterns across 7 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Mazda CX 3, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mazda CX 3 has 111 complaints on record across 7 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Mazda CX 3 has 9 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 9 of the Mazda CX 3's 111 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Below Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mazda CX 3 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Mazda CX 3 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Mazda CX 3 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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How does the Mazda CX 3 stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
By state
Check a Mazda CX 3 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Mazda CX 3.
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Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Mazda CX 3 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Mazda CX 3 reliable?
Below Average. The Mazda CX 3 has 111 NHTSA owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Mazda CX 3 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2016 (48 complaints), 2019 (27 complaints), 2017 (21 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Mazda CX 3 problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (25 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (17 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (16 complaints).
Does the Mazda CX 3 have recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Mazda CX 3. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.