2021 Mazda Mazda3: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 49 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 1 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
49
Complaints
1
Recalls
2
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
1
Injuries
57.1
Severity index
Severity index 57.1 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 90 2021 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2021 Mazda Mazda3 ranks 41 of 90 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 54% of its model-year peers. See the full 2021 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 18 | 36.7% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 7 | 14.3% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 14.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6 | 12.2% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 | 8.2% |
| AIR BAGS | 4 | 8.2% |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 | 6.1% |
| LANE DEPARTURE | 3 | 6.1% |
The single most-reported system is ENGINE, cited in 18 of 49 complaints (36.7%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 10 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V101000 | 22/02/2021 | TIRES:VALVE | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.