MODELYEARINDEX

Mazda Mazda3

1,137 complaints across 12 scored model years and 23 recall campaigns.

Which years to avoid

Ownership label · Mazda Mazda3 Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2010 vs model median 3.2×
Model median3× median
Body & Interior 73
Tires & Wheels 70
Lights & Visibility 26
Avoid

2010 · 2012

Best

2017 · 2020

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
3.19× 264 F
2011
0.59× 52 B
2012
1.95× 152 D
2013
1.16× 93 C
2014
1.22× 72 C
2015
1.38× 86 D
2016
0.77× 57 C
2017
0.64× 39 B
2018
0.57× 36 B
2019
1.34× 98 D
2020
0.42× 44 B
2021
0.84× 64 B
2022 P
0.35× 31 A
2023 P
0.49× 20 A
2024 P
0.36× 21 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What it costs to run

EPA figures for the most recent model year on record.

Combined MPG26
City / Highway23 / 30
Engine2.25L, 4 cyl
DriveFront-Wheel Drive
Annual fuel cost$2,375

Recalls

23 campaigns on record, 1 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
16V644000 STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE 2010–2013 580,455
19V497000 ENGINE 2019 262,220
23V487000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2014–2018 236,100
17V393000 PARKING BRAKE 2014–2016 227,814
19V272000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER 2016–2018 187,880
17V082000 SEATS 2010, 2011 173,859
25V357000 AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE 2024 171,412
21V875000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2018 121,038

+ 15 further campaigns

Others in Compact Cars

Same body and size class. Each grade describes that model against its own history — these are not ranked against each other.

Model Years to avoid Grade
Acura ILX
20142016
C
Audi A3
20152017
C
BMW 1 Series
none flagged
C
BMW I3
none flagged
C
Buick Verano
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017
C
Chevrolet Cobalt
none flagged
C
Chevrolet Cruze
20112012
C

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2010 Mazda3
Complaints in window
264
Severity-weighted
346.5
Model median (weighted)
108
vs model median
3.19×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
3
Open investigations
1
Score 14.2 F