Mazda Mazda3
Every model year 2016–2026: recalls, owner complaints, NHTSA crash ratings and EPA efficiency side by side, each value traced to the file it came from.
Every Mazda Mazda3 model year
Source: NHTSA · EPA · one row per yearWhich model year the record favours
Source: recalls and complaints per year on the roadOn the filed record so far, the 2023 is the cleanest Mazda3 year we hold, and the 2016 the one to check hardest. The 2016 carries a standing park-outside or do-not-drive advisory, which outranks every other number on this page.
Both figures are divided by the number of years the car has been on sale, because otherwise the oldest year on the page loses every time simply for having been around longer. The current model year and any year under three on the road are left out: their records are not finished.
What changed year to year
Source: computed from the filed record- 2026: best combined mpg 31 → 30
- 2024: 8 → 7 EPA configurations
- 2022: 10 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2021: best combined mpg 30 → 31; 6 → 10 EPA configurations
- 2019: best combined mpg 32 → 30; 8 → 6 EPA configurations
- 2018: 10 → 8 EPA configurations
- 2017: best combined mpg 33 → 32
| Head-to-head | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Mazda3 vs Toyota Camry · Midsize Sedan | Mazda3 +7.1 | |
| 2026 Mazda3 vs Honda Civic · Midsize Sedan | Mazda3 +4.5 | |
| 2026 Mazda3 vs Hyundai Elantra · Midsize Sedan | Mazda3 +3.2 | |
| 2026 Mazda3 vs Nissan Sentra · Midsize Sedan | Mazda3 +11.6 | |
| 2026 Mazda3 vs Tesla Model 3 · Midsize Sedan | Mazda3 +15.6 |
Common questions about the Mazda Mazda3
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich Mazda Mazda3 year is the best used buy?
On the recall record, the 2023 Mazda3 comes out top of the years before the current one: Safety Signal grade A (100/100), 0 recalls and 12 owner complaints on file. That ranks paperwork, not condition — a specific car's history and service record still decide it.
What Mazda Mazda3 years should I avoid?
2016, 2019 have the weakest recall records in this range — one carries an active park-outside or do-not-drive advisory. The year pages list every campaign, its severity and whether a repair exists yet. Every Mazda3 model year ranked, with the reasons.
How many recalls does the Mazda Mazda3 have?
Across model years 2016–2026, NHTSA has posted 25 recall campaigns for the Mazda Mazda3. They are counted per model year in the table above, because a campaign almost never covers the whole run — it covers a build range.