15 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2024. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Certain Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles have an air bag problem. The air bag sensor unit may show an error and turn off the air bags if its battery charge gets too low. When the air bags are turned off this way, they will not deploy if the vehicle is in a crash, which increases the risk of injury to people in the vehicle.
On these vehicles, the forward sensing camera can malfunction. When this happens, the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system may not work as they are supposed to. In addition, the headlights will not automatically switch from high beams down to low beams the way they are designed to. Because of this, these driver assistance features may fail to function when needed.
Mazda is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and Mazda3 vehicles because a software error may cause the rearview, front, and/or side camera images to not appear on the display. This means the driver may lose the extra view these cameras normally provide. Dealers will update the view monitor control module software to fix the problem.
Certain 2014 to 2018 Mazda3 and 2016 to 2021 CX-3 vehicles may have a rearview camera that does not display properly. Instead of showing a clear picture, the camera image can flicker or appear distorted. This means the picture you see when using the rearview camera may not be reliable or clear, which can make it harder to see what the camera is supposed to show you behind the vehicle.
The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and become deformed, which can cause the fuel pump to fail. If the pump fails while you are driving, the engine may stall, and stalling increases the risk of a crash. Dealers will replace the fuel pump in affected vehicles, free of charge.
In some Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles, air may suddenly leak from a tire's air valve.
On certain Mazda CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles, the bolts that hold the front brake calipers in place may not have been tightened properly when the vehicle was built. Over time, this can let the calipers become loose. Loose calipers can reduce how well the brakes work or interfere with the wheels turning properly, which affects how the vehicle handles. Either of these problems can increase the risk of a crash.
Mazda is recalling certain Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System, which brakes on its own to avoid hitting something, can wrongly sense an object while you are driving and bring the car to a sudden stop. Dealers will update the software for this system. Vehicles built on certain dates will also get an instrument cluster software update or a new cluster, along with a replacement owner's manual. All of this work is free.
On some Mazda3 cars equipped with a manual, non auto-dimming rearview mirror, the adhesive that bonds the mirror to its housing may not be properly applied. This can allow the mirror to detach and come off its mount while you are driving, leaving you without a rearview mirror to see what is behind you. Cars with auto-dimming mirrors are not affected by this issue.
Mazda is recalling certain Mazda3 cars. The seat cover material on both front seats can interfere with the button that releases the head restraint, the padded rest at the top of the seat back. The button can stick in the released position, which keeps the head restraint from locking into place and leaves it loose. Dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the release buttons on both front head restraints. There is no charge to the owner.
A software error in the computer that controls the engine may cause the engine to stall while the vehicle is being driven. Mazda dealers will reprogram that computer with corrected software at no charge. The recall began August 20, 2019, and owners can contact Mazda customer service to schedule the free repair.
The lug nuts on all four wheels of certain Mazda3 vehicles may loosen. If this happens, a wheel could separate from the vehicle. A wheel separating from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Some 2019 Mazda3 vehicles have an indicator light problem caused by incorrect programming. The passenger airbag deactivation light may turn off even though the passenger airbag is actually deactivated. The seat belt warning lights for the front passenger and/or rear seats may also turn off even though those seat belts are unfastened.
Mazda is recalling certain Mazda3 vehicles because of a faulty relay that controls the windshield wipers. A relay is the small switch that turns the wipers on and off. If it fails, the wipers can stop working altogether. Without working wipers, the driver's view through the windshield is reduced. Dealers will replace the body control module, the part that contains the relay, with a new one that uses an improved relay design.
Certain Mazda3 vehicles were built with an incorrect exhaust valve spring inside the engine. This spring may fail while the vehicle is being driven. If it fails, the engine can suddenly stall, meaning it shuts off while you are driving.
Recalls and NHTSA owner complaints for each model year, side by side. Complaints are unverified owner reports, and better-selling or older years naturally collect more — read this as a record, not a ranking.
| Model year | Recalls | High / critical | Do-not-drive / park-outside | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 108 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| 2019 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 74 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 49 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
NHTSA lists 15 safety recalls covering the 2018–2024 Mazda MAZDA3. 10 of them are rated high or critical on this site. The most recent is "Mazda3 and CX-30 Air Bags May Not Deploy" (NHTSA campaign 25V357000), reported May 29, 2025.
The 2019 Mazda MAZDA3 has the most, with 6 recalls. The 2021 model year has the fewest of the years we cover, with 1. Newer model years have had less time to collect recalls, so a low count on a recent year is not a guarantee.
No. None of the 15 Mazda MAZDA3 recalls on file carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory from NHTSA.
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall often applies to only some vehicles of a model year, and the VIN lookup shows the ones still unrepaired on your car. Recall repairs are free at any franchised Mazda dealer, including for second owners.
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: