Mazda Mazda3: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Mazda Mazda3 problems by model year, from 1,916 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2021 (51%, 24 drivetrain complaints), 2012 (42%, 75 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (41%, 26 drivetrain complaints). 4 of the 12 Mazda Mazda3 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (11%), 2020 (13%) and 2017 (14%). 2020 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2020 (13%) to 2021 (51%), up 38 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (75 of 351 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Mazda Mazda3 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 11% | 68 | 686 | 12/12 | 3 |
| 2011 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 20% | 18 | 132 | 7/12 | 2 |
| 2012 Mazda3 | high | 42% | 75 | 226 | 2/12 | 1 |
| 2013 Mazda3 | high | 40% | 28 | 117 | 4/12 | 1 |
| 2014 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 29% | 38 | 138 | 5/12 | 4 |
| 2015 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 17% | 20 | 129 | 9/12 | 4 |
| 2016 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 20% | 19 | 103 | 6/12 | 6 |
| 2017 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 14% | 11 | 83 | 10/12 | 2 |
| 2018 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 19% | 20 | 108 | 8/12 | 4 |
| 2019 Mazda3 | high | 41% | 26 | 74 | 3/12 | 6 |
| 2020 Mazda3 | no elevated signal | 13% | 4 | 32 | 11/12 | 2 |
| 2021 Mazda3 | high | 51% | 24 | 52 | 1/12 | 1 |
| 2022 Mazda3 | too few to score | – | 4 | 24 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Mazda3 | too few to score | – | 5 | 12 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Mazda Mazda3 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Mazda Mazda3 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the Mazda Mazda3 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 20 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2015 | 15V621000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2015–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V684000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2014–2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V685000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage | 2016 |
| Nov 2017 | 17V745000 | engine and engine cooling: exhaust system | 2018 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V497000 | engine | 2019 |
| Nov 2021 | 21V875000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018 |
14 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2009 | 09V126000 | electrical system | 2010 |
| Apr 2014 | 14V173000 | electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator | 2014 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V644000 | structure: body: hatchback/liftgate | 2010–2013 |
| Feb 2017 | 17V082000 | seats | 2010–2011 |
| Jun 2017 | 17V393000 | parking brake | 2014–2016 |
| Apr 2019 | 19V272000 | visibility: windshield wiper/washer | 2016–2018 |
| May 2019 | 19V363000 | electrical system: instrument cluster/panel | 2019 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V425000 | wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 2019 |
| Jul 2019 | 19V514000 | seats: front assembly: head restraint | 2019 |
| Jul 2019 | 19V558000 | visibility: glass, side/rear | 2019 |
| Dec 2019 | 19V907000 | forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking | 2019–2020 |
| Jun 2020 | 20V346000 | service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper | 2020 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V101000 | tires: valve | 2021 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V487000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2014–2018 |
What the free pages leave out on the Mazda Mazda3
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Mazda Mazda3
What are the worst years for the Mazda Mazda3?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Mazda Mazda3 years are the 2021 (51% of relevant complaints, high), the 2012 (42% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2019 (41% of relevant complaints, high). 4 of 12 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Mazda Mazda3?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Mazda Mazda3 years are the 2010 (11%), the 2020 (13%) and the 2017 (14%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Mazda Mazda3 have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 12 scored years, 351 of 1,730 relevant NHTSA complaints (20%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2012, 2013, 2019 and 2021.
Is the Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 4 of 12 Mazda Mazda3 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 8 do not. Pooled across those years, 20% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Mazda Mazda3?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Mazda Mazda3 years we track, out of 20 in total: 17V745000 (Nov 2017, 2018), 19V497000 (Jun 2019, 2019), 21V875000 (Nov 2021, 2018), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.