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Mazda Mazda3
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History

10 model years analyzed (2017–2026). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database β€” the same data used by federal regulators.

πŸ“‹
386
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
πŸ””
19
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
πŸ’₯
23
Crash-Related
crash complaints
πŸ”₯
4
Fire-Related
fire complaints
πŸ₯
12
Injuries Reported
across all years
πŸ€–
Average
AI Rating
reliability score

Checking a specific Mazda Mazda3? Run a VIN check for its exact history.

⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP 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.

2024
2024 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB AWD
Overall Safety
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Frontal Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Side Crash
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
Rollover Risk
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5/5
How to Read NCAP Stars
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…5 stars - Excellent
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…4 stars - Good
β˜…β˜…β˜…3 stars - Average
β˜…β˜…2 stars - Below average
β˜…1 star - Poor
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
πŸ€–

AI Interpretation

High ConfidenceAverage
AI interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

NHTSA complaint data for the 2017–2026 Mazda3 shows the highest volume in 2017–2019, with 2018 alone accounting for 106 complaints. The most frequently cited components are Unknown or Other, Electrical System, and Engine. Forward Collision Avoidance and Service Brakes also appear prominently. The data suggests potential issues in electrical and engine systems, though consumer reports do not confirm defects.

πŸ“Š Key Findings
  • 2018 model year has the most complaints (106), followed by 2017 (83) and 2019 (72).
  • Unknown or Other component leads with 83 complaints, indicating many issues are not easily categorized.
  • Electrical System (81) and Engine (51) are the top two named components.
  • Forward Collision Avoidance (44) and Service Brakes (38) are also frequently reported.
  • Crash-related complaints total 23 out of 386 overall.
⚠️ Top Concerns
  • Electrical System issues are reported in 81 complaints.
  • Engine problems appear in 51 complaints.
  • Forward Collision Avoidance system concerns are noted in 44 complaints.
  • Service Brakes are cited in 38 complaints.
  • Power Train and Visibility/Wiper each have 29 complaints.
⚠️ Worst Years

2017–2019 have elevated complaints, particularly 2018 (106). Electrical System and Engine issues are prominent in these years, along with Forward Collision Avoidance and Service Brakes.

βœ… Best Years

Model years 2024–2026 show very few complaints (10 or fewer), which may indicate improved reliability or lower sales volume. Buyers may consider these years if available.

βœ… Before You Buy β€” Checklist
  • Verify all open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
  • Request service records for Electrical System and Engine repairs.
  • Have a mechanic inspect Forward Collision Avoidance and Brake systems before purchase.
  • Check for any unresolved complaints related to Unknown or Other components.
  • Consider a pre-purchase inspection focusing on reported problem areas.
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect. Complaint counts may be influenced by sales volume; higher-selling years may have more reports. Unknown or Other category may obscure specific component issues.

πŸ“… NHTSA Complaints by Model Year

2017
83
2018
106
2019
72
2020
31
2021
49
2022
23
2023
12
2024
10
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: May 2026

πŸ”” NHTSA Safety Recalls

19 recalls found

Safety 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.

Campaign #24V649000March 9, 2024

Safety Recall

Component: LANE DEPARTURE: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #21V875000December 11, 2021

Safety Recall

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Campaign #20V346000December 6, 2020

Safety Recall

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Campaign #19V425000July 6, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
Campaign #19V514000May 7, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
Campaign #19V272000April 4, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
Campaign #19V272000April 4, 2019

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
Campaign #25V357000

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Campaign #19V907000

Safety Recall

Component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Campaign #23V718000

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #25V357000

Safety Recall

Component: AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Campaign #21V101000

Safety Recall

Component: TIRES:VALVE
Campaign #23V487000

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #17V745000

Safety Recall

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
Campaign #23V487000

Safety Recall

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #19V907000

Safety Recall

Component: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Campaign #19V497000

Safety Recall

Component: ENGINE
Campaign #19V558000

Safety Recall

Component: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
Campaign #19V363000

Safety Recall

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

πŸ”§ Most-Reported Problem Areas

Based on component keywords extracted from all 386 NHTSA complaints.

1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
83 complaints
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
81 complaints
3
ENGINE
51 complaints
4
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
44 complaints
5
SERVICE BRAKES
38 complaints
6
POWER TRAIN
29 complaints
7
VISIBILITY/WIPER
29 complaints
8
AIR BAGS
26 complaints

πŸ“‹ NHTSA Complaint Reports

386 total

These 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.

TIRESMar 2026

size 21545ZR18 93Y. replaced these oem tires with these from costco on feb 27 2025. in dec 5 2025 the tire developed a large bubble. miles bought was 27790. current miles 31212. per tire center steal belting was broken no signs of road hazard or other damage. the belt broke and rubber was stressed with " maybe a 1000 miles regaining before catastrophic failure." wear instrument showed they were literally showing new tires. states they were the 3rd michellin tires with dude wall bubbling that week. states could have caused severe accident. no warnings damage leaks or idicators. all maintenance and pressure follwed per manufacturing specs. tires are a danger to drivers even low miles to failure to cause accident.

POWER TRAINFeb 2026

My Mazda3 began producing a chirp when shifting from 3rd to 4th gear (automatic transmission). The dealer stated that the car needed a new torque converter. At the time the car only 37,000 miles on it, quite low mileage for a torque converter to fail. Mazda has previously admitted to producing cars with faulty torque converters, as specified in Mazda TXXXXXX] ). While my car fit the description of both the problem and proposed fix, and also fell within the applicable models/VINs listed on the TSB, Mazda corporate HQ stated that my specific VIN was not covered by the TSB, and therefore the repair cost was my responsibility. Since the problem, solution, and general vehicle type are entirely as described in the TSB, it appears possible that the TSB was too narrowly scoped and omitted impacted vehicles, to the detriment of owners. This would also cause potential safety concerns, since an unrepaired torque converter could produce unexpected shifting problems. Therefore I suggest that NHTSA investigate to determine if additional vehicles are impacted by Mazda's faulty torque converters. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SUSPENSIONNov 2025

I pulled into the driveway (at about 5 mph) of my passenger's home, when a very loud, metallic pop occurred somewhere inside my vehicle. I could not discern the problem by visually inspecting the car. Upon returning to my home, I arranged for the dealership to inspect the car's suspension. They found that both rear springs had snapped off from their lower vehicle attachment points. At the time of the incident, my car was less than 6 years old and had approximately 62500 total miles. I had the dealership replace both rear springs and associated attachment hardware. Prior to this failure, the dealership had routinely inspected the suspension of my vehicle as part of PA annual inspections. I experienced NO warning symptoms prior to the suspension failure.

STEERING,SUSPENSIONNov 2025

TSB 02-003/24 Car front suspension bolts corroded and making metal on metal sounds during turning and braking

EQUIPMENTJul 2025

See attached document for complaint.

SEAT BELTSJul 2024

Passenger seat belt won’t retract and remains in a locked state.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,LANE DEPARTUREJun 2024

Google search shows Mazda has common problem with their front sensing camera, people are reporting the issue for different Mazda models across the board for the last few years including newer models as well. My car display shows few malfunction warning messages. Following captured from MyMazda app. 1. Forward sensing camera malfunction. i-ACTIVESENSE advanced safety and driver support systems may not operate correctly. 2. High Beam Control System is disabled. Automatic switching between high and low beams is unavailable.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCESep 2023

While driving on a residential street the automatic emergency braking system activated and brought the car to a very abrupt stop but there was nothing in the front of the car to activate the system. There were no cars in the on-coming lane and no cars in the lane beside my car. When the car stopped the Brake warning appeared in the windshield and a warning tone sounded. It was in the early evening and it was raining. Fortunately there were no cars behind me so there were no injuries. I took the car to the Mazda dealership and upon inspection they noted that the radar system associated with the automatic emergency braking system was malfunctioning and not correctly calculating the distance between the car and other objects. They are in the process of replacing the radar. If this had happened on the highway at higher speeds or if there had been a car behind me I would have been injured.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2023

My car's automatic emergency brake is deploying without warning, during driving, when there are no other cars in my forward proximity. I took it to the dealership to have it fixed, and on the drive home, it did it again. There is a recall for similar makes and models for this year, but my car has not been included.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2023

on 3 occasions may 2023, June 2023 and July 2023 the forward Collison camera activated. in May and June it showed the vehicle to near stop like radar cruise control in rush hour speed traffic. in July 2023 it sounded the alarm and came to a full stop in heavy traffic. it occurs on bright hot days going straight no turns no oncoming traffic no traffic around and no obstacles hold or dips. this can cause the car to stop immediately and cause an accident. App detects problem with system but dealer cannot find problem and blame camera or GPS or satellite radio factory equipped.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPERJul 2023

in May 2023 the visors of the vehicle hinge melted causing the visors to hang down to eye level and would not hold up causing visibly issues for driver and passenger. dealer said it is a common issue in heat but it blocks forward visibility and won't hold up and if there were and accident, forward movement of passenger or driver can cause the head to hit the visor causing injury.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2023

Automatic safety notification censoring system for the brakes engaged when a stop was not applicable or necessary causing the car to brake on its own in traffic. Luckily no one else was on the road.

STEERING,LANE DEPARTUREJun 2023

Lane departure warning activated and attempted to correct during a gentle curve. The location had shifted lanes due to construction, so clear lines were visible but not the actual lane to follow which is a frequent occurrence in New York City. The system came close to steering me into the adjacent lane occupied by another vehicle forcing me to fight the correction. There was a lane departure warning on the dash and I believe the blind spot indicator was on (i.e. the adjacent vehicle was detected in some capacity). I considered this especially dangerous as in this zone also had very tight lanes so my physical correction could have also caused an accident. There was no malfunction of the physical components. No dealer or service center has reproduced the issue however I have discussed with other drivers of the same line (2020-23 Mazdas) who have had similar experiences leading to a decision to disable these "safety" features. Mazda provides a reasonable description of scenarios where lane departure and assistance will disable itself due to poor conditions or low confidence. I would recommend at a minimum requiring the system to detect and potentially differentiate lane widths, as city driving sometimes has extremely tight lanes (for example, the inner roadway of the Williamsburg Bridge where two adjacent lanes are perhaps 8-9ft with less than 2ft on either side to the wall). In these scenarios, any steering correction at all is more dangerous than if it were off.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2023

I was driving down 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, traffic was crowded but flowing with an estimated speed of 20mph between lights. I believe the distance between my front bumper and the car ahead was only slightly under 2 car lengths in motion. Coming to a stop light, the car in front of me slowed and I followed, applying pressure to the brake gradually. Roughly 2-3 seconds into my braking, the forward collision warning activated (fast beep) followed by a hard brake causing myself and one passenger to lurch forward. The car behind me managed to hard brake before hitting me by a very small margin. As my car came to a near stop the space in front opened to several car lengths, that is a continuous application of gradual braking would have been totally sufficient to stop. Weather conditions were good. A similar situation had occurred to me before on the highway (unnecessary forward collision warning, but thankfully no auto brake) and so after this I decided to check the front for any obstruction of sensors and could not find any. I have heard from at least one other owner of a similar model Mazda that they have experienced the same during city/Manhattan driving.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCENov 2022

β€’The first incident I had with the SBS was about a month on the highway, I was approaching a vehicle that was braking due to upcoming traffic. I had plenty of time to stop, upwards of 8-10 car lengths. Yet my SBS kicked in and slammed the brakes, jarring me forward. Luckily no one was directly behind me at that time because I have no doubt it would have caused an accident. At that time, it was the only time it had occurred, so I wrote it off as the sensor being a bit too sensitive. β€’The second incident I have had was recent, 11/23. I was pulling into a parking spot at work, that has a concrete wall to section off parking spots. I was low speed, turned into the spot and the SBS activated, slamming the brakes, resulting in me being propelled into my steering wheel. I was roughly 5-6 feet away from the wall

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMAug 2022

Fuel pump, car dying out, can't turn off brake release from when it dies. Shaking when accelerating. Fuel gas issue.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMay 2022

I was traveling approximately 5 mph with approximately 15 feet from the car in front of me, maintaining a constant following distance. The collision warning sounded, followed by emergency braking within 1 second. No collision was imminent.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMay 2022

I was traveling 25mph with no obstruction in front of me, when the collision warning sounded. The braking system did not activate. No collision was imminent.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEApr 2022

Was letting car slow down for red light. No cars in front of me. Suddenly the car braked and the brake warning came on. I was pretty far back from the light. I took the car to the dealer and he said the occurrence did not show on the computer. There was a recall for this problem but not for my car. If someone had been behind me or if this happens on a busy street, I would be rear ended. There have been other computer problems with this car but they never happen when the dealer checks for them.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEDec 2021

EL VEHICULO TIENE PROBLEMAS DE ENCENDIDO, DESPUES DE ESTAR EN REPOSO DOS DIAS NO ENCIENDE SE TIENE QUE PASAR CORRIENTE, INCLUSIVE EN MANEJOS CORTOS AL VOLVER A ENCENDER EL VEHICULO PRESENTA EL MISMO PROBLEMA, ESTE ES UN PROBLEMA EN LA MAYORIA DE ESTE TIPO DE VEHICULOS, MISMOS QUE SON ENCONTRADOS MUCHOS COMENTARIOS EN INTERNET, EL VEHICULO ESTA EN LA CDMX MEXICO.

Showing 20 of 386 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check a Specific Mazda Mazda3

This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.

πŸ“– Understanding This Data

πŸ“‹

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 β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Mazda Mazda3 has 386 complaints on record across 10 model years.

πŸ””

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 Mazda3 has 19 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

πŸ’₯

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 23 of the Mazda Mazda3's 386 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

πŸ€–

How Is the AI Rating Calculated?

The AI reliability rating (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. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision β€” always verify with a VIN-specific report.

πŸ“Š

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 β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

πŸ”

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Mazda Mazda3 vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Mazda Mazda3 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.

πŸ”Ž

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 β€” 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 Mazda3 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

Other Mazda Models

All Mazda Models β†’

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