SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2020 Mazda Mazda3
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 32 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3, most frequently naming the driver assistance, brakes and steering categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 729 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | 1 | 1 |
| Jan 2021 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 2021 | 2 | 4 |
| May 2021 | 2 | 6 |
| Jun 2021 | 1 | 7 |
| Aug 2021 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 2021 | 2 | 10 |
| Dec 2021 | 2 | 12 |
| Apr 2022 | 1 | 13 |
| May 2022 | 2 | 15 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 16 |
| Nov 2022 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2023 | 3 | 20 |
| Jul 2023 | 2 | 22 |
| Aug 2023 | 1 | 23 |
| Sep 2023 | 1 | 24 |
| Jun 2024 | 1 | 25 |
| Jul 2024 | 1 | 26 |
| Jul 2025 | 1 | 27 |
| Nov 2025 | 2 | 29 |
| Feb 2026 | 1 | 30 |
| Mar 2026 | 1 | 31 |
| Jul 2026 | 1 | 32 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Driver assistance1744.7%
- Brakes37.9%
- Steering37.9%
- Electrical37.9%
- Fuel system25.3%
- Suspension25.3%
- Tires & wheels12.6%
- Body & structure12.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Low pressure fuel pump failure with 75,575 miles on odometer. Fuel pump completely seized. Car was parked at a retail location and would not start. Upon troubleshooting, mechanic was able to determine the low pressure pump was not delivering fuel. Pump was replaced. Faulty fuel pumps could lead to hazardous conditions as they are mounted within the fuel tank. I feel this is too early in the vehicles life for this component to have completely failed.
- NHTSA ID
- 11748076
- Incident
- Jun 28, 2026
size 21545ZR18 93Y. replaced these oem tires with these from costco on feb 27 2025. in dec 5 2025 the tire developed a large bubble. miles bought was 27790. current miles 31212. per tire center steal belting was broken no signs of road hazard or other damage. the belt broke and rubber was stressed with " maybe a 1000 miles regaining before catastrophic failure." wear instrument showed they were literally showing new tires. states they were the 3rd michellin tires with dude wall bubbling that week. states could have caused severe accident. no warnings damage leaks or idicators. all maintenance and pressure follwed per manufacturing specs. tires are a danger to drivers even low miles to failure to cause accident.
- NHTSA ID
- 11724244
- Incident
- Dec 5, 2025
My Mazda3 began producing a chirp when shifting from 3rd to 4th gear (automatic transmission). The dealer stated that the car needed a new torque converter. At the time the car only 37,000 miles on it, quite low mileage for a torque converter to fail. Mazda has previously admitted to producing cars with faulty torque converters, as specified in Mazda TXXXXXX] ). While my car fit the description of both the problem and proposed fix, and also fell within the applicable models/VINs listed on the TSB, Mazda corporate HQ stated that my specific VIN was not covered by the TSB, and therefore the repair cost was my responsibility. Since the problem, solution, and general vehicle type are entirely as described in the TSB, it appears possible that the TSB was too narrowly scoped and omitted impacted vehicles, to the detriment of owners. This would also cause potential safety concerns, since an unrepaired torque converter could produce unexpected shifting problems. Therefore I suggest that NHTSA investigate to determine if additional vehicles are impacted by Mazda's faulty torque converters. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11719227
- Incident
- Sep 1, 2025
I pulled into the driveway (at about 5 mph) of my passenger's home, when a very loud, metallic pop occurred somewhere inside my vehicle. I could not discern the problem by visually inspecting the car. Upon returning to my home, I arranged for the dealership to inspect the car's suspension. They found that both rear springs had snapped off from their lower vehicle attachment points. At the time of the incident, my car was less than 6 years old and had approximately 62500 total miles. I had the dealership replace both rear springs and associated attachment hardware. Prior to this failure, the dealership had routinely inspected the suspension of my vehicle as part of PA annual inspections. I experienced NO warning symptoms prior to the suspension failure.
- NHTSA ID
- 11700190
- Incident
- Oct 8, 2025
TSB 02-003/24 Car front suspension bolts corroded and making metal on metal sounds during turning and braking
- NHTSA ID
- 11699700
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2024
See attached document for complaint.
- NHTSA ID
- 11671865
- Incident
- Jun 18, 2025
Passenger seat belt won’t retract and remains in a locked state.
- NHTSA ID
- 11603045
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2024
Google search shows Mazda has common problem with their front sensing camera, people are reporting the issue for different Mazda models across the board for the last few years including newer models as well. My car display shows few malfunction warning messages. Following captured from MyMazda app. 1. Forward sensing camera malfunction. i-ACTIVESENSE advanced safety and driver support systems may not operate correctly. 2. High Beam Control System is disabled. Automatic switching between high and low beams is unavailable.
- NHTSA ID
- 11594653
- Incident
- Mar 12, 2024
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Subject: Update – Campaign Warranty Claim Response Enhancements – Modules Not Repaired for Certain Campaigns Dear Mazda Dealer Colleagues, On October 28, 2026, a change was implemented in the warranty claim response screen to provide precise information for all campaigns requiring module programming or module replacement subject to the LECS system software checks. As previously announced, some claims were automatically rejected with the Edit code JN1 – One or More Modules Are Not Updated when submitting a campaign warranty claim. This response was based on the session file received from MDARS or MDARS II at the dealership and the VIN on the claim submitted. This change provides additional Related Information which enhances the edit code information. This information allows the dealer to correct the error without contacting Warranty or Hotline. Edit code JN1 now contains the actual module name and the software version that was collected from the car and what the minimum required software needed to be for the claim. Using this information, the technician can now identify the exact error or errors and correct the concern.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some customers may complain about any of the following 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App Connected Vehicle enrollment. 2. Remote function(s) inoperative.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted below in Red. 09-038/24 08/08/24 NOTE: This service information is NOT applicable to 7th generation Mazda vehicles because the odometer data is stored in the BCM. DESCRIPTION In accordance with Federal regulations, follow the procedure listed below when replacing a speedometer. NOTE: Tampering with a motor vehicle odometer is strictly prohibited by Federal, and State laws. It is the dealer’s responsibility to comply with Federal, State, and local laws concerning odometer and related documentation requirements when providing a repair or replacement. Mazda vehicles are manufactured with tamper-proof speedometers.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mazda Connected Services - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-042/26 06/30/26 DESCRIPTION Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Index General Questions MAZDA CONNECT Indication Setup and Getting Started Dealer Processes Registration / Enrollment / Take-Over Customer Subscription Status WI-FI General Informatio Opening the TCU Communication Line WI-FI How-To Conditions for Remote Engine Start Will Not Function WI-FI Trial Period Conditions for Remote Engine Start Function Will turn engine OFF Interacting With The App TCU Communication Line Status Service Issues Educational Videos Troubleshooting Resources MyMazda App Error Codes Customer Opt-Out
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Examples: 1. Devices connected to the DLC-2 (battery discharge/DTC stored) 2. Devices plugged into the 12V outlet 3. GPS tracking device (engine no start/battery discharge) 4. Dash cam (DTC stored) 5. Non-certified USB cable (Apple Carplay™/ Android Auto™ will not connect) 6. Over-sized wheels/tires (incorrect GPS location) 7. DTC C0023:14 8. Decorative trim and/or cover on the START/STOP ENGINE button
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued service alert listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. SA-038/26 08/18/26 and 06/15/26 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about any of the following: 1. Infotainment Center Display does not provide the Authorization Code (OTP) during the MyMazda App
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 56.8 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 49.4 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 36.8 |
| 2021 | 55 | 1 | 0 | 45.2 |
| 2020Viewing | 32 | 2 | 0 | 47.5 |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 50.2 |
| 2018 | 110 | 4 | 0 | 52.6 |
| 2017 | 84 | 2 | 0 | 47.7 |
| 2016 | 104 | 6 | 0 | 52.0 |
| 2015 | 130 | 4 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2014 | 138 | 4 | 0 | 54.1 |
| 2013 | 117 | 1 | 1 | 43.6 |
| 2012 | 226 | 1 | 1 | 41.2 |
| 2011 | 132 | 2 | 1 | 56.3 |
| 2010 | 686 | 3 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 2009 | 115 | 4 | 1 | 56.7 |
| 2008 | 303 | 3 | 1 | 55.4 |
| 2007 | 222 | 3 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 2006 | 166 | 2 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 2005 | 97 | 3 | 0 | 53.5 |
| 2004 | 145 | 3 | 0 | 51.6 |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.