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2024 Mazda MAZDA3
The verdict
1 thing going for it, 3 to watch.
Cons
Official recall campaigns exist for this vehicle. See the Safety Recalls section for what failed and how it's fixed.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Safety Recalls
4 of 11 owner complaints are about the electrical system. Tap it in the heatmap to read the real reports.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
2 complaint(s) involved a crash and 0 involved a fire.
Why we say this — NHTSA — Owner Complaints
Pros
Earned a strong overall government crash-test rating.
Why we say this — NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings
Neutral
Nothing in this category from the official data.
Take this with you:
★★★★★Crash-test safety
0Safety recalls
0Owner complaints
18% involved a crash or fire
—Combined MPG
ℹ️ Recalls & complaints are reported per model — the same across every trim & engine. Fuel economy (and crash ratings by body style) can vary — use the pickers in those sections.
Safety Recalls
Official recall campaigns. Tap one to see the danger and the fix.
What is a recall, really?
A recall means the government made the manufacturer admit a safety defect — and the fix is free at any dealer, forever, even for used cars. Recalls range from a software update to "the steering wheel can detach," so read the danger line on each one. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof each recall was completed, or have a dealer run the VIN. Recalls also have a quieter cousin worth reading: technical service bulletins.
NHTSA Campaign 23V718000
What's wrong: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 CX-90 and MAZDA3 vehicles. Due to a software error, the rearview, front, and/or side camera images may not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
The danger: A camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the view monitor control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6223J.
NHTSA Campaign 24V649000
What's wrong: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system from functioning. In addition, the headlights will not automatically adjust from high beams to low beams as intended.
The danger: Automatic braking, steering assist, and headlight control systems that do not function as intended can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the forward sensing camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 24, 2024. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6824H.
NHTSA Campaign 25V357000
What's wrong: Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda3 and CX30 vehicles. The Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) units may set an error code and deactivate the air bags, due to a low battery condition.
The danger: Air bags that do not deploy in the event of a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the SAS unit with improved software or replace the unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2025. Mazda's number for this recall is 7525E.
Source: NHTSA — Safety Recalls · re-checked about every 24 hours
Where Owners Report Problems
Where owners report the most trouble — based on 11 complaints (2 involved a crash, 0 a fire). Tap a part to read the real reports.
Raw count — best-sellers naturally log more complaints than rare cars, so judge it against the peer comparison below, not on its own.
Why don't we show complaints per vehicle sold?
Because no official source publishes sales counts per model — that data is sold by private firms, and the free numbers online are guesses. A rate built on a guessed denominator is a guess wearing a lab coat, so we refuse to show one. Instead we show comparisons where fleet size cancels out or is disclosed: the same model across its own years, the crash/fire severity mix, and the peer ranking below — each with its methodology attached.
Of 4 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 4 of 4):
Car gives me emergency brake warnings about imminent collision maybe once or twice a week with nothing in front of me what so ever and once even straight up just brought me to a complete halt in the middle of the road with absolutely nothing in the road. The dealership basically told me it was a known issue and that “some models are more sensitive than others” and that they will be doing nothing about it. Different models of Mazda 3s from the same year are currently being investigated for the same recalls. This definitely needs to be addressed before I get into an accident.
See attached document for complaint.
My Mazda3, odometer reading about 3000 miles, would not start. I have been driving normally daily, do not leave lights on or any other equipment connected when the car is off. I have not had any warning lights displayed other than startup. Monday I drove to my local CT. golf course, 20 miles from home, arrived at 9am. 5 hours later I after golf, I can’t open trunk. Fortunately I left the car unlocked. The car would not start. Road Service tried to jump battery unsuccessfully. Dragged the car onto truck-bed and transports to dealer. Service tech contacts me next day … charged battery, checked electric system and found no malfunctions. This is a scary situation when one never knows when this will happen again. Is there a solution??
The contact leased a 2024 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at 55–60 mph, the windshield wipers continued to stay in the on position and failed to turn off. The parking brake engaged without application and turned on and off. All the electrical systems malfunctioned and failed to turn off. The lane assist engaged and forced the vehicle to crash into the side wall. All the instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. There was no air bag deployment or fire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the mechanic reset the codes. The mechanic informed the contact that the malfunction may continue while traveling over a bump. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 1,900.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 3 of 3):
While driving on the highway (50mph), the sunroof had shattered unexpectedly. The sunroof itself was not open, but the visor was open so the glass fell into the car, onto the driver, the passenger and into the backseats. The glass shattering sounded like a gunshot which startled us while on the highway, and the broken glass cut the driver.
My Mazda3, odometer reading about 3000 miles, would not start. I have been driving normally daily, do not leave lights on or any other equipment connected when the car is off. I have not had any warning lights displayed other than startup. Monday I drove to my local CT. golf course, 20 miles from home, arrived at 9am. 5 hours later I after golf, I can’t open trunk. Fortunately I left the car unlocked. The car would not start. Road Service tried to jump battery unsuccessfully. Dragged the car onto truck-bed and transports to dealer. Service tech contacts me next day … charged battery, checked electric system and found no malfunctions. This is a scary situation when one never knows when this will happen again. Is there a solution??
Interior Rattles from passenger side and also infotainment screen is rattling. Should not be happening on a 2024 with only a couple thousand miles on it. Scratches on the interior from basically nothing, everything on this car is very easy to scratch. There was no accident just wanted to file a complaint.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000–5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempted to accelerate again, the RPM remained around 3,000, and I immediately received multiple warning messages on the dashboard, including: “Skyactiv Partially Disabled” warning Engine Malfunction warning ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) warning light Simultaneously, the vehicle rapidly decelerated from 65 MPH to approximately 55 MPH, creating an extremely hazardous situation and nearly resulting in a collision. I had to carefully maneuver across lanes to reach the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, the warning lights temporarily cleared; however, the vehicle appeared to be operating in limp mode. I had the car towed home via AAA. After this near-fatal incident, I scanned the vehicle using an OBD2 reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P0780 and P0761, indicating Shift Malfunction and Shift Solenoid 3 Performance issues. To address the issue proactively, I had my mechanic perform two full transmission fluid and filter exchanges on Monday, February 16, 2026, and again on February 18, 2026. Both services included a pan drop, replacement of the transmission filter, use of Mazda OEM transmission fluid (0000A7115QT and FZ01-21-500), and a complete transmission relearn procedure after each service. Despite these efforts, the same codes (P0761 and P0780) reappeared when scanned with a professional-grade diagnostic tool. The battery has been tested and confirmed fully charged. Additionally, my mechanic identified oil leaking from the timing chain cover.
Car gives me emergency brake warnings about imminent collision maybe once or twice a week with nothing in front of me what so ever and once even straight up just brought me to a complete halt in the middle of the road with absolutely nothing in the road. The dealership basically told me it was a known issue and that “some models are more sensitive than others” and that they will be doing nothing about it. Different models of Mazda 3s from the same year are currently being investigated for the same recalls. This definitely needs to be addressed before I get into an accident.
Of 2 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
On July 1, 2025, I was involved in a severe rear-end collision while driving my 2024 Mazda3 manual hatchback. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the rear windshield, leave a deep dent in the tailgate, and bend the trailer hitch mount under the vehicle by several inches. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed, and there were no airbag warning lights before or after the crash. After the incident, I checked my vehicle’s VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and discovered that Recall 7525E had been issued on June 6, 2025, for a critical airbag sensing system defect (SAS module), which can disable airbag deployment after battery depletion or improper power conditions. According to Mazda and NHTSA documents, this defect can completely disable airbag function, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. As of July 11, 2025, I have not received any recall notice from Mazda by mail, email, phone, or dealer contact—despite being the registered owner. Mazda’s documentation shows that: Dealers were notified as early as June 3, 2025 Owner letters are not scheduled until July 28, 2025 This means that I was driving a defective vehicle without knowledge of a serious safety issue at the time of the crash. I believe that: Mazda failed in its legal obligation to notify me in a timely and adequate manner. The non-deployment of airbags in my crash is consistent with the failure described in Recall 7525E. Other affected Mazda owners may remain unaware and at significant risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA: Investigate whether Recall 7525E was the cause of airbag failure in this incident. Determine whether Mazda’s recall notification practices met regulatory requirements. Ensure immediate outreach to affected owners to prevent further injury or risk. I am also seeking legal counsel due to the serious safety implications and potential liability arising from this defect. I will be retaining all documentation, vehicle records, photos, and post-
Moon roof exploded when not struck with anything
Of 2 reports about this part, 2 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 2 of 2):
On July 1, 2025, I was involved in a severe rear-end collision while driving my 2024 Mazda3 manual hatchback. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the rear windshield, leave a deep dent in the tailgate, and bend the trailer hitch mount under the vehicle by several inches. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed, and there were no airbag warning lights before or after the crash. After the incident, I checked my vehicle’s VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and discovered that Recall 7525E had been issued on June 6, 2025, for a critical airbag sensing system defect (SAS module), which can disable airbag deployment after battery depletion or improper power conditions. According to Mazda and NHTSA documents, this defect can completely disable airbag function, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. As of July 11, 2025, I have not received any recall notice from Mazda by mail, email, phone, or dealer contact—despite being the registered owner. Mazda’s documentation shows that: Dealers were notified as early as June 3, 2025 Owner letters are not scheduled until July 28, 2025 This means that I was driving a defective vehicle without knowledge of a serious safety issue at the time of the crash. I believe that: Mazda failed in its legal obligation to notify me in a timely and adequate manner. The non-deployment of airbags in my crash is consistent with the failure described in Recall 7525E. Other affected Mazda owners may remain unaware and at significant risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA: Investigate whether Recall 7525E was the cause of airbag failure in this incident. Determine whether Mazda’s recall notification practices met regulatory requirements. Ensure immediate outreach to affected owners to prevent further injury or risk. I am also seeking legal counsel due to the serious safety implications and potential liability arising from this defect. I will be retaining all documentation, vehicle records, photos, and post-
The contact leased a 2024 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at 55–60 mph, the windshield wipers continued to stay in the on position and failed to turn off. The parking brake engaged without application and turned on and off. All the electrical systems malfunctioned and failed to turn off. The lane assist engaged and forced the vehicle to crash into the side wall. All the instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. There was no air bag deployment or fire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the mechanic reset the codes. The mechanic informed the contact that the malfunction may continue while traveling over a bump. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 1,900.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
left-most lane of a three-lane highway, I pressed the accelerator to maintain the flow of traffic. The vehicle suddenly began revving between 4,000–5,000 RPM without increasing speed. When I attempted to accelerate again, the RPM remained around 3,000, and I immediately received multiple warning messages on the dashboard, including: “Skyactiv Partially Disabled” warning Engine Malfunction warning ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) warning light Simultaneously, the vehicle rapidly decelerated from 65 MPH to approximately 55 MPH, creating an extremely hazardous situation and nearly resulting in a collision. I had to carefully maneuver across lanes to reach the shoulder. After shutting the vehicle off and restarting it, the warning lights temporarily cleared; however, the vehicle appeared to be operating in limp mode. I had the car towed home via AAA. After this near-fatal incident, I scanned the vehicle using an OBD2 reader and retrieved diagnostic trouble codes P0780 and P0761, indicating Shift Malfunction and Shift Solenoid 3 Performance issues. To address the issue proactively, I had my mechanic perform two full transmission fluid and filter exchanges on Monday, February 16, 2026, and again on February 18, 2026. Both services included a pan drop, replacement of the transmission filter, use of Mazda OEM transmission fluid (0000A7115QT and FZ01-21-500), and a complete transmission relearn procedure after each service. Despite these efforts, the same codes (P0761 and P0780) reappeared when scanned with a professional-grade diagnostic tool. The battery has been tested and confirmed fully charged. Additionally, my mechanic identified oil leaking from the timing chain cover.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
Car gives me emergency brake warnings about imminent collision maybe once or twice a week with nothing in front of me what so ever and once even straight up just brought me to a complete halt in the middle of the road with absolutely nothing in the road. The dealership basically told me it was a known issue and that “some models are more sensitive than others” and that they will be doing nothing about it. Different models of Mazda 3s from the same year are currently being investigated for the same recalls. This definitely needs to be addressed before I get into an accident.
Of 1 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
On July 1, 2025, I was involved in a severe rear-end collision while driving my 2024 Mazda3 manual hatchback. The impact was forceful enough to shatter the rear windshield, leave a deep dent in the tailgate, and bend the trailer hitch mount under the vehicle by several inches. Despite this, none of the airbags deployed, and there were no airbag warning lights before or after the crash. After the incident, I checked my vehicle’s VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup tool and discovered that Recall 7525E had been issued on June 6, 2025, for a critical airbag sensing system defect (SAS module), which can disable airbag deployment after battery depletion or improper power conditions. According to Mazda and NHTSA documents, this defect can completely disable airbag function, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. As of July 11, 2025, I have not received any recall notice from Mazda by mail, email, phone, or dealer contact—despite being the registered owner. Mazda’s documentation shows that: Dealers were notified as early as June 3, 2025 Owner letters are not scheduled until July 28, 2025 This means that I was driving a defective vehicle without knowledge of a serious safety issue at the time of the crash. I believe that: Mazda failed in its legal obligation to notify me in a timely and adequate manner. The non-deployment of airbags in my crash is consistent with the failure described in Recall 7525E. Other affected Mazda owners may remain unaware and at significant risk. I respectfully request that NHTSA: Investigate whether Recall 7525E was the cause of airbag failure in this incident. Determine whether Mazda’s recall notification practices met regulatory requirements. Ensure immediate outreach to affected owners to prevent further injury or risk. I am also seeking legal counsel due to the serious safety implications and potential liability arising from this defect. I will be retaining all documentation, vehicle records, photos, and post-
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
FRONT AND REAR WINDSHIELDS GET EXCESSIVE CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF WINDOWS OBSTRUCTIING VISIBILITY. CAR TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE SAME SITUATION. THIS PUTS OTHERS AT RISK BECAUSE THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK WELL WHEN THERE IS HEAVY CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOWS. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE PURCHASE IN 2024.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
215/45R18 89V I bought a new 2024 Mazda 3 sedan Sport for my senior college son on [XXX] in Rockville, Maryland. In the evening of [XXX], during our attending my son's graduation in Nashville, Tennessee, on the highway to hotel, the front right tire was suddenly blowed out (air leaking quickly and completely). There was nothing on the highway, no object and no pothole. The cars in the front of us were just fine. My son only drove several thousand miles. We were very scared and our safety was threatened. My insurance Geico helped us to replace it with spare tire. We went to a local tire store at Nashville to replace the tire with BRI TURANZA EL440, and the new tire cost us $352.01. Our local Mazda dealer at Rockville Maryland asked us to contact Toyo for tire warranty, but nothing happened. We have kept the receipt. By the way, I googled new Mazda3 tire problems, and I found multiple complains on line. Examples [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Of 1 reports about this part, 1 involved a crash and 0 a fire.
Real owner reports filed with NHTSA (showing 1 of 1):
The contact leased a 2024 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at 55–60 mph, the windshield wipers continued to stay in the on position and failed to turn off. The parking brake engaged without application and turned on and off. All the electrical systems malfunctioned and failed to turn off. The lane assist engaged and forced the vehicle to crash into the side wall. All the instrument cluster warning lights were illuminated. There were no reported injuries. There was no police report filed. There was no air bag deployment or fire. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where the mechanic reset the codes. The mechanic informed the contact that the malfunction may continue while traveling over a bump. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted regarding the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 1,900.
Many crash/fire reportsSome crash/fire reportsNo crash/fire in reports
Color = how serious (crash/fire involvement) · number = how many (share of all this car's reports). Tap any part to read real owner complaints.
Source: NHTSA — Owner Complaints · re-checked about every 24 hours
Crash-Test Safety Ratings
Official U.S. government 5-star crash-test results.
How to read these stars
These come from the government physically crash-testing this vehicle — front, side, and rollover — and scoring it 1 to 5 stars. Ratings are per body style, so a sedan and its coupe twin can differ. If a vehicle shows no rating, it usually means the government never tested that exact configuration — untested is not the same as unsafe, and we'll never blur that line.
2024 Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD
2024 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR AWD
2024 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD
Source: NHTSA — 5-Star Safety Ratings · re-checked about every 24 hours
Fuel Economy (MPG)
Official EPA estimates — the real numbers, not the brochure.
No official EPA fuel-economy match for this exact model. Rather than show a guess, we're leaving it blank.
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE — fueleconomy.gov · re-checked about every 24 hours