YearToAvoid

2020 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Mazda3 years

The 2020 Mazda Mazda3 ranks as the Best year among 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 0 and 32 complaints logged. Two recalls exist, one for brake caliper bolts and one for false automatic braking, but no crashes, fires, or injuries were reported.

Complaints
32
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2020 Mazda Mazda3 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Collision Avoidance & Cameras15 (47%)
  2. Other4 (13%)
  3. Brakes3 (9%)
  4. Electrical System3 (9%)
  5. Steering3 (9%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (9%)
  7. Fuel System2 (6%)
  8. Lane Departure2 (6%)
  9. Engine1 (3%)
  10. Seat Belts1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the Smart Brake System falsely detecting an obstacle and triggering automatic emergency braking or warnings during normal highway or city driving.
  • Some drivers report the steering suddenly taking over control at highway speed, pulling the car toward lane dividers before returning to the lane.
  • Several owners describe sudden brake lock-up or an ABS warning light appearing along with the car stalling at low speed, sometimes after a false brake alert on the display.
  • Water intrusion around the driver-side door window has been reported, with water pooling inside the door and leaking into the cabin.
  • A front radar sensor failure has been linked to water damage, disabling forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control.
  • One owner reported a fuel pump issue causing the engine to die while driving, with shaking during acceleration.
2020 Mazda Mazda3 complaints: complaints filed per month5Sep 2020May 2021Sep 2021May 2022Jun 2023Sep 2023Jul 2025Mar 2026
40 complaints filed with NHTSA from Sep 2020 to Jul 2026; peak Jun 2023 (5).

2020 Mazda Mazda3 recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V346000Jun 12, 2020Brakes24,037 vehicles

    Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliper

    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.

    Risk: 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 be performed free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4420F.

  2. 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.

2020 compared with other Mazda3 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution67108430.5
2019Good40746—
2020Best0322—
2021Good47491—
2022Best7240—

All Mazda Mazda3 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Mazda3 is rated Best among the 16 model years tracked, with a Complaint Index of 0 and only 32 complaints filed.
What problems does the 2020 Mazda3 have?
The top reported problem area is Collision Avoidance & Cameras, making up 47% of complaints, mainly involving the Smart Brake System falsely detecting obstacles. Brakes, Electrical System, Steering, and Suspension each account for 9% of complaints.
Does the 2020 Mazda3 have a recall?
Yes, two recalls apply: one for front brake caliper mounting bolts that may not have been tightened properly, and one for Smart Brake System software that could falsely trigger automatic emergency braking.
How does the 2020 Mazda3 compare to other years?
The 2020 Mazda3 ranks 16th worst, meaning it has the lowest Complaint Index among all tracked years, tied for Best verdict alongside 2022, 2024, and 2025.
At what mileage do 2020 Mazda3 problems occur?
The median mileage at failure across complaints is 2,000 miles, with steering complaints reported around 1,177 miles and brake complaints around 5,853 miles.

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.