2020 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
51 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 5/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Driver assistance leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2020 sits among all Mazda3 years
What owners report
“I was traveling 25mph with no obstruction in front of me, when the collision warning sounded. The braking system did not activate. No collision was imminent.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Mazda3
Recalls (2)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles. The front brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly allowing the calipers to loosen.
Fix: 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 be…
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.
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
717 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2020 Mazda3 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2020 Mazda Mazda3 drew 51 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 5/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2020 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 are driver assistance (27 complaints), other (4), and electrical (4).
Does the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2020 Mazda Mazda3. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.