Car Defect Radar

Mazda Mazda3 years to avoid (and the best years)

1,925 NHTSA owner complaints and 23 recalls across 15 model years, 2010 to 2024. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.

Which Mazda Mazda3 years should you avoid?

By NHTSA owner complaints, the Mazda Mazda3 years to avoid are 2010 and 2012. The typical Mazda Mazda3 year has 103 complaints on file.

What are the best Mazda Mazda3 years?

The Mazda Mazda3 years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (24), 2020 (32) and 2021 (49). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.

NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.

Every model year

YearComplaintsvs typical year RecallsCrashes InjuriesOur readMost reported
2024120.1×321Few red flagsElectrical system
2023120.1×031Some concerns to checkTransmission and drivetrain
2022240.2×012Few red flagsAirbags
2021490.5×121Few red flagsEngine
2020320.3×200Few red flagsForward collision avoidance system
2019740.7×631Few red flagsBrakes
20181081.0×465Some concerns to checkElectrical system
2017830.8×261Few red flagsElectrical system
20161031.0×675Few red flagsElectrical system
20151291.3×489Few red flagsBrakes
20141381.3×4105Few red flagsElectrical system
20131171.1×174Few red flagsExterior lighting
20122262.2×195Approach with cautionTransmission and drivetrain
20111321.3×21213Few red flagsAirbags
20106866.7×31813Approach with cautionBody and structure

Most reported problem areas

Share of the 952 complaints sorted by system, all years together.

Recalls (23)