2019 Mazda Mazda3 reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 holds 74 complaints after 8 years, a rate of 16 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Mazda3 years here — over the median of the other years, which is 7. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Automatic emergency braking, Side or rear glass, and Front seat head restraint.

2012 Mazda Mazda3 — Photo by Ethan Llamas, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0

Complaints

Per year

Recalls

Years on the road

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (15 of 74), then Electrical system (11) and Engine (11). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Mazda3 has 108 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2020 has 32 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Mazda Mazda3. How we count. Data as of 2026-10-16.

Recalls (6)

Recall forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking 2019-12-19 · NHTSA campaign 19V907000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System (SBS) can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and suddenly stopping the vehicle.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the SBS software. In addition, vehicles with certain production dates will receive an instrument cluster software update or replacement and a replacement owner's manual. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4219L.

Recall visibility, side or rear glass 2019-07-29 · NHTSA campaign 19V558000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with manual dimming mirrors. The adhesive between the interior rearview mirror and the housing may not be properly bonded, allowing the mirror to detach from the housing. Note: Vehicles equipped with auto dimming mirrors are not affected by this recall.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the interior rearview mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3919G.

Recall Front seat head restraint 2019-07-05 · NHTSA campaign 19V514000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The seat cover material on both front seats may interfere with the head restraint lock release button, causing it to stick in the release position and not allow the head restraint to lock into place.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the lock release buttons on both front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3819F.

Recall Engine 2019-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V497000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.

Recall wheels, lug nuts 2019-06-07 · NHTSA campaign 19V425000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The lug nuts on all four wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a wheel detaching from the vehicle.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the front and rear wheel lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3519F.

Recall electrical system, instrument cluster 2019-05-14 · NHTSA campaign 19V363000

Summary Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. Due to incorrect programing, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may erroneously turn off although the passenger air bag is deactivated. In addition, the seat belt status indicators for both the front passenger seat and/or rear seats may erroneously turn off although the front passenger and/or rear seat belts are unfastened.

Remedy Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag/seat belt status indicator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3319E.

Complaints by component (74 total)

Service brakes

Electrical system

Engine

Powertrain

Forward collision avoidance

Fuel and propulsion system

Visibility and wipers

Air bags

Structure

Seat belts

Steering

Electronic stability control (ESC)

Exterior lighting

Seats

Speed control

Suspension

Visibility

Show 9 more Show less

Crash-flagged

Fire-flagged

Injury reports

Death reports

Complaints filed per year

Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings

"Driver’s side seat belt would not retract."
Seat belts · filed 2026-08-10
"The driver-side sun visor has suffered an internal mechanical failure where the internal plastic tension components have cracked under normal use. As a direct result, the sun visor will not stay up and randomly drops…"
Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-06-28
"1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The airbag system, specifically the curtain airbags and related airbag control components, malfunctioned by deploying…"
Air bags · filed 2026-01-18
"Driver side door handle failed. Cannot enter or exit through driver side door. If something were to happen that we need to get out in an emergency situation we cannot exit through the driver side door. No damage…"
Unknown or other · filed 2025-11-26
"To whom it may concern, I was on a back road late in the evening not far from home [XXX] and a small deer ran into the road. I needed to brake to avoid hitting the deer. After breaking, a Brake System Malfunction…"
Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2025-08-06

NHTSA crash ratings

Version	Overall	Front	Side	Rollover
2019 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2019 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2019 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB AWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated
2019 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated	Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Specs and fitment

5th generation (BP), 2019–present

Body styles Sedan, Hatchback

Oil SAE 0W-20 (gasoline SKYACTIV-G 2.5; 5W-30 where manual specifies) , 4.8 qt capacity

Tire size 215/45R18, 205/60R16 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 23V718000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and MAZDA3 vehicles. Due to a software error, the rearview, front, and/or side camera images may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.". A camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury. Remedy: Dealers will update the view monitor control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6223J.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Mazda Mazda3 Next year 2020 Mazda Mazda3 See every Mazda Mazda3 model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?

What are common problems with a 2019 Mazda Mazda3?

The complaints owners file most often name Service brakes (15 of 74), then Electrical system (11) and Engine (11). Those filings include 3 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Mazda3 has 108 complaints, 6 per year, and the 2020 has 32 complaints, 6 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 been recalled?

The 2019 Mazda Mazda3 has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 74 complaints about the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 with NHTSA.

What engine oil does a Mazda Mazda3 use?

US Mazda3 manuals specify SAE 0W-20 for SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines unless the manual lists another grade for your engine.

What generation is the 2020 Mazda3?

5th generation / BP (2019-on).

What body styles does the Mazda3 offer?

US Mazda3 generations on this site include sedan and hatchback body styles.