Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

24 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
6

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 2software faults 2unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle experienced erroneous Lane Assist and Brake Assist failures, causing the vehicle to drive into…
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The contact owns a 2023 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the vehicle experienced erroneous Lane Assist and Brake Assist failures, causing the vehicle to drive into the wrong lane. The vehicle experienced acceleration and braking assist failures. Occasionally, the vehicle failed to immediately start. The vehicle was serviced by the dealer on several occasions, and the battery was replaced. Additionally, the transmission and transmission pin failures persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11763348 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1sudden stalling 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2023 Mazda. The contact stated that the vehicle was braking randomly while driving. There was an unknown malfunction code that flashed quickly. The steering was stiff and failed to…
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The contact owns a 2023 Mazda. The contact stated that the vehicle was braking randomly while driving. There was an unknown malfunction code that flashed quickly. The steering was stiff and failed to turn. The steering wheel adjusted and guided the vehicle into the wrong lane. The RPM was sporadically reeving. The RPM increased, and the vehicle stalled without acceleration. There was smoke emerging from the hood. There was oil leaking. The vehicle failed to turn off and on. The fuel gauge and infotainment center were not working properly. The contact stated that while leaving the local dealer, the vehicle stalled. The battery was replaced. The vehicle was towed to another unknown local dealer who determined the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was replaced, but the failure recurred. The dealer determined that there was an oil leak and needed to replace the transmission, serpentine belt, and battery. The dealer informed me additional testing was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding a buyback, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11737807 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Worth reading
7

Most reports here involve loss of braking. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of braking 3software faults 2unintended acceleration 2
A recent report: Unexpected Automatic Emergency Braking Activation at Highway Speeds in Cold Temperatures. Description: I am reporting a safety issue with a 2023 Mazda CX-30 involving the collision avoidance /…
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Unexpected Automatic Emergency Braking Activation at Highway Speeds in Cold Temperatures. Description: I am reporting a safety issue with a 2023 Mazda CX-30 involving the collision avoidance / automatic emergency braking system. While driving at highway speeds, the system activates a forward collision warning (audible alert and dashboard indicator), followed almost immediately by automatic braking, even when there are no vehicles, obstacles, or pedestrians ahead. Conditions When Issue Occurs: * Ambient temperature: below ~40°F (4°C) * Road conditions: cold, often icy or snowy * Speed: highway speeds 45-75 * Environment: clear roadway, no visible hazards * visibility : clear System Behavior: * Audible warning and visual alert activate * Automatic braking occurs approximately 0.5–1 second after the warning * No obstacle is present to justify intervention Safety Risk: This presents a serious safety hazard because: * Sudden braking at highway speeds creates a high risk of rear-end collision * The warning-to-brake interval is extremely short, leaving little time for driver override. * Occurs in low-traction conditions, increasing risk of loss of control. * The event is unexpected and not predictable by the driver. Frequency: * Occurred multiple times under similar cold-weather conditions. * Appears repeatable based on temperature range. Attempts to Resolve: * Sensors/camera appear clean and unobstructed. * No prior collision damage to the vehicle. * Issue persists despite normal operation otherwise. * Similar reports observed from other owners in online discussions. This is not a one time occurrence, in the section below, i noted the last event but this is a daily occurrence in temperatures below 42F.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11734610 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
1

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

loss of steering 1
A recent report: While attempting a left-hand turn, the steering wheel suddenly became stiff and unresponsive, as if the mechanical gear had bound. This sudden resistance made it impossible to complete the turn…
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While attempting a left-hand turn, the steering wheel suddenly became stiff and unresponsive, as if the mechanical gear had bound. This sudden resistance made it impossible to complete the turn, causing the vehicle to strike a curb at low speed. A post-accident inspection at Lee Johnson Mazda (RO# 649854) confirmed extensive damage, including a bent inner tie rod, a damaged front wheel bearing/hub assembly, and wheel/tire damage totaling over $6,500. The dealership stated no electronic fault codes were present in the computer, but the physical behavior matches the 'sticky steering' symptoms currently under federal investigation for other Mazda models (Recall 24V022 / RQ26002). I believe a mechanical failure in the steering gear caused the collision.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11716259 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
2

Most reports here involve airbags deploying unexpectedly.

airbags deploying unexpectedly 2
A recent report: While driving at approximately 20 mph on a residential road during slushy conditions, the side curtain airbags deployed without warning. There was no collision, no impact, and no indication of a…
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While driving at approximately 20 mph on a residential road during slushy conditions, the side curtain airbags deployed without warning. There was no collision, no impact, and no indication of a rollover or crash. A police officer arrived and completed a report, which noted no crash had occurred. The airbag deployment caused damage throughout the vehicle, and the car has since been declared a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer initially delayed responding for over two weeks. When they did respond, they claimed the airbags deployed properly based on “connected data” indicating a possible rollover. However, they refused to provide any proof of this data, any Event Data Recorder (EDR) data, or any technical explanation of what triggered the deployment. No warning lights or messages were displayed before the deployment. The local dealership that had the vehicle inspected the physical damage but did not confirm a rollover or any significant structural event. Mazda has refused to release their investigation data and instead closed the case without transparency. This deployment caused significant damage and created safety and financial risk. I am concerned that this incident may reflect a larger issue in airbag deployment logic that other owners may also face.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11649705 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Worth reading
4

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

premature wear 1
A recent report: Others are at risk and below details how my safety was compromised. Powerlift gate/ trunk closed on my head and did not stop. It knocked me onto the ground and opened up a bloody gash on my head…
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Others are at risk and below details how my safety was compromised. Powerlift gate/ trunk closed on my head and did not stop. It knocked me onto the ground and opened up a bloody gash on my head. Went to emergency room in the hospital to have them treat me with my head injury as I was bleeding with a head wound laceration. They sealed the wound with glue as it was in my hairline and gave aspirin for the head pain. There should be a safety feature on the power liftgate that alerts it if person or object is in the way. Other brands of vehicles have this safety feature. It is liability and there is concern for others of this happening that could potentially result in death. My injury has not fully healed as I know have recurring headaches and there will be a large scar left on my head. The vehicle is available for inspection.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11648286 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
2

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 1
A recent report: My 2023 Mazda CX-30, which is currently under full manufacturer warranty, was brought to the dealer on October 10, 2025, specifically to address a safety defect involving white chemical particulates…
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My 2023 Mazda CX-30, which is currently under full manufacturer warranty, was brought to the dealer on October 10, 2025, specifically to address a safety defect involving white chemical particulates blowing through the HVAC vents. The dealership confirmed the failure of the "evaporative coating", which resulted in unidentified chemical byproduct being discharged directly into the passenger cabin.The vehicle remained out of service for 103 days due to this manufacturing defect. Upon receiving the Repair order (RO# 77004584) today, January 20, 2026, I discovered a significant safety concern that violates standard warranty repair protocols: the technician admitted to receiving two separate heater unit boxes that were damaged during shipping and subsequently 'transferred all salvageable items "from one damaged unit to the other to make one complete unit". As a consumer with a vehicle under warranty, I am entitled to a repair using new, undamaged factory parts. I am extremely concerned about the structural and functional integrity of a "reconstructed" HVAC system assembled from damaged components. Furthermore, despite the confirmed chemical emission, no professional decontamination of the interior was performed. The manufactures is now using financial threats of storage and rental car fees to force me to accept this substandard, "cannibalized" repair.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11712291 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 24 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2023 and 2026, roughly 7 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.