2019 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
40/100
#10 most-complained of 16 Mazda3 years
The 2019 Mazda3 has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 10th worst of 16 model years, earning a 'Good' verdict relative to other Mazda3 years. NHTSA lists 74 complaints and 6 recalls, with Brakes as the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 74
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- —
Top 2019 Mazda Mazda3 problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes16 (22%)
- Other15 (20%)
- Electrical System12 (16%)
- Engine12 (16%)
- Transmission & Powertrain11 (15%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras9 (12%)
- Fuel System8 (11%)
- Visibility & Wipers8 (11%)
- Airbags6 (8%)
- Structure & Body6 (8%)
What owners report
- Owners report the automatic emergency braking system falsely detecting obstacles and slamming on the brakes unexpectedly, in one case leading to a rear-end collision.
- Some drivers describe sudden unintended acceleration or swerving at very low speeds while maneuvering into a driveway.
- Interior rearview mirrors reportedly detached from their mounts while driving on the freeway, which owners attribute to adhesive breaking down in heat.
- Several owners report harsh brake vibration in Sport mode along with jerky low-gear acceleration in stop-and-go traffic.
- Airbag warning lights and system malfunction alerts appeared repeatedly on some vehicles shortly after purchase, with no clear pattern tied to speed or driving condition.
- Owners describe the driver-assist suite (blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, radar, city brake support) randomly disabling itself with a dashboard warning during highway driving.
2019 Mazda Mazda3 recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V907000Dec 19, 2019Collision Avoidance & Cameras35,390 vehicles
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking
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.
Risk: 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 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.
- NHTSA 19V558000Jul 29, 2019Visibility & Wipers22,571 vehicles
Visibility:glass, side/rear
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.
Risk: Rearward visibility will be reduced without the rearview mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
- NHTSA 19V514000Jul 5, 2019Structure & Body9,430 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:head restraint
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.
Risk: Loose head restraints may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
2019 compared with other Mazda3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Mazda3 reliable?
- Compared to other Mazda3 model years, the 2019 ranks 10th worst out of 16 years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 40 and a 'Good' verdict relative to the rest of the lineup.
- What problems does the 2019 Mazda3 have?
- NHTSA lists 74 complaints for the 2019 Mazda3, led by Brakes (16 complaints, 22% share), Electrical System (12 complaints, 16%), and Engine (12 complaints, 16%).
- Does the 2019 Mazda3 have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2019 Mazda3, covering issues including a false-braking Smart Brake System, a detaching rearview mirror, a seat cover interference issue, a PCM software error that could stall the engine, loose lug nuts, and an incorrect airbag indicator light.
- What year Mazda3 should I avoid?
- Among the 16 model years tracked, 2010 has the highest Complaint Index at 100 and is the worst-ranked year, followed by 2012 at 93 and 2011 at 87; the 2019 model is not one of the flagged 'Avoid' years.
- At what mileage do 2019 Mazda3 problems tend to show up?
- The median mileage at failure across all reported problems is 5,000 miles, though Brakes issues show a median of 5,200 miles and Transmission & Powertrain issues show a median of 11,340 miles.