YearToAvoid

2021 Mazda CX-30 Engine Problems

Engine complaints account for 55 of 101 total complaints (54%) filed on the 2021 Mazda CX-30, the highest share of any model year in this range. Owners most often report excessive oil consumption and low oil warnings, with a median failure mileage of 30,590 miles. No related recalls are listed for this issue.

Engine complaints
55
54% of 101
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
30,590 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Low engine oil warning lights illuminate repeatedly, often within the first several thousand miles, with dipstick checks showing no oil despite no visible leaks.
  • Owners report the 2.5-liter turbocharged engine burning through a quart or more of oil between scheduled oil changes.
  • Some owners describe unintended acceleration while parking or driving at low speed, in at least one case resulting in a crash and injuries.
  • A subset of vehicles failed to start with multiple unknown warning lights on the instrument panel, requiring towing to a dealer.
  • Dealers reportedly acknowledged oil consumption as a known issue but told owners no recall existed at the time of complaint.

When 2021 Mazda CX-30 engine complaints were filed

First complaint Oct 28, 2021, latest Jul 5, 2026.

2021 Mazda CX-30 engine complaints: complaints filed per month6Oct 2021Mar 2022Jul 2022Jan 2023Sep 2023May 2024Sep 2024Aug 2025
55 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2021 to Jul 2026; peak Aug 2022 (6).

Engine recalls for the 2021 Mazda CX-30

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by CX-30 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20205 (15%)
  2. 202155 (54%)
  3. 202210 (30%)
  4. 20234 (17%)
  5. 20241 (3%)
  6. 20254 (15%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2021 Mazda CX-30?
NHTSA lists 55 engine complaints for the 2021 CX-30, which is 54% of the 101 total complaints filed for that model year, the highest engine share among the 2020-2025 model years shown.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Mazda CX-30 engine oil consumption issue?
No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area on the 2021 CX-30.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2021 CX-30?
The median mileage at failure for engine complaints on the 2021 CX-30 is 30,590 miles, though some owners reported low oil warnings within the first few thousand miles.
Have engine problems led to crashes or injuries on the 2021 CX-30?
NHTSA records 3 crashes and 2 injuries tied to engine complaints on the 2021 CX-30, with 0 fires reported.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.