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2020 Mazda Mazda3 Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 32 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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This is one of the better years for the Mazda Mazda3

The 2020 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

B
84/100

Moderate Reported Activity — 2020 Mazda Mazda3

The 2020 Mazda Mazda3 shows moderate recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Review the recall campaigns and common complaints below before buying.

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2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
32
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
0
Crash Reports
In NHTSA complaints
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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Mazda Mazda3 (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Mazda dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Stopping the vehicle unexpectedly increases the risk of a crash.
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…
NHTSA #19V907000
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Foundation Components: Disc: Caliper
Loose brake calipers can reduce braking performance or interfere with wheel rotation, affecting vehicle handling. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary. If bolts are missing, the affected brake caliper will be replaced. Repairs will…
NHTSA #20V346000
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Most Common Problems — 2020 Mazda Mazda3

Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Forward Collision Avoidance
12
Steering
3
Electrical System
3
Service Brakes
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Fuel/propulsion System
2
Tires
1
Power Train
1
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Mazda Mazda3 — Complaints by Year

A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

2014 138 complaints 2015 129 complaints 2016 103 complaints 2017 83 complaints 2018 109 complaints 2019 74 complaints 2020 32 complaints 2021 54 complaints 2022 24 complaints 2023 12 complaints 2024 12 complaints

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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2014, 2015 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.

✅ Best model years: 2020, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Mazda Mazda3

Is the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 has 2 recall campaigns and 32 owner complaints. This model year shows relatively low recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data.
How many recalls does the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 have?
The 2020 Mazda Mazda3 has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Mazda Mazda3?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 are: Forward Collision Avoidance, Steering, Electrical System, Service Brakes. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 safe to buy?
The 2020 Mazda Mazda3 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Mazda Mazda3 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Mazda Mazda3 are: 2020, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2014, 2015.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.