Mazda Mazda3
Owners filed 2,983 complaints across 23 model years of the Mazda Mazda3. The 2010 drew the most (686); the 2026 the fewest (1).
Model years23
Complaints2,983
Recalls58
Fires31
Deaths2
Every Mazda Mazda3 model year compared
Complaints per year| Year | Complaints | Relative volume | Recalls | Fires | Crashes | Most reported | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | — | — | Steering | Routine | |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | — | 2 | Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking | Routine | |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | — | 2 | Electrical System | Routine | |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 3 | Power Train | Fatalities reported | |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | — | 1 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2021 | 49 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Engine | Routine | |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 | — | — | Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking | Routine | |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 | — | 3 | Service Brakes | Routine | |
| 2018 | 108 | 4 | — | 6 | Electrical System | Fatalities reported | |
| 2017 | 83 | 2 | — | 6 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2016 | 104 | 6 | 1 | 7 | Electrical System | Do not drive | |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 | 2 | 8 | Unknown or Other | Do not drive | |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 | 1 | 10 | Unknown or Other | Routine | |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 | 2 | 7 | Exterior Lighting | Routine | |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 | 1 | 9 | Power Train | Above average | |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 | 2 | 12 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 | 5 | 18 | Unknown or Other | Above average | |
| 2009 | 115 | 4 | 1 | 11 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2008 | 303 | 3 | 1 | 29 | Steering | Above average | |
| 2007 | 222 | 3 | 3 | 28 | Steering | Above average | |
| 2006 | 166 | 2 | 3 | 21 | Steering | Routine | |
| 2005 | 97 | 3 | 3 | 16 | Air Bags | Routine | |
| 2004 | 145 | 3 | 2 | 18 | Steering | Routine |
Which Mazda Mazda3 years should you avoid?
On raw complaint volume the 2010 is the weakest year on record, with 686 complaints concentrated in the unknown or other. It carries 3 recalls.
Read these numbers with sales volume in mind. A model year that sold in huge numbers naturally accumulates more reports than a rare one, and older cars have had more years to fail. The stronger signal is the severity columns and whether the same component keeps coming up year after year.
Data: NHTSA complaint and recall files, September 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports.