Mazda MAZDA3 - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Mazda MAZDA3 owners have reported a total of 3,866 problems for their cars built in the 23 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Mazda MAZDA3. The 2010 Mazda MAZDA3 cars have the most problems reported (884 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Mazda MAZDA3

Model Year	Number of Problems
2026 MAZDA3	1
2025 MAZDA3	5
2024 MAZDA3	18
2023 MAZDA3	20
2022 MAZDA3	31
2021 MAZDA3	63
2020 MAZDA3	40
2019 MAZDA3	109
2018 MAZDA3	139
2017 MAZDA3	105
2016 MAZDA3	132
2015 MAZDA3	151
2014 MAZDA3	173
2013 MAZDA3	176
2012 MAZDA3	319
2011 MAZDA3	176
2010 MAZDA3	884
2009 MAZDA3	137
2008 MAZDA3	372
2007 MAZDA3	291
2006 MAZDA3	220
2005 MAZDA3	125
2004 MAZDA3	179

🔍 Common problems of Mazda MAZDA3

The following chart shows the 33 most common problems for Mazda MAZDA3 cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's equipment (524 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's steering (396 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Mazda MAZDA3

Problem Category	Number of Problems
Equipment	524
Steering	396
Electrical System	356
Engine And Engine Cooling	291
Air Bag	264
Service Brakes	257
Power Train	232
Visibility	202
Seats	172
Structure	166

Exterior Lighting	158
Wheel	147
Tire	113
Other Fuel System	110
Suspension	87
Vehicle Speed Control	84
Back Over Prevention	60
Electronic Stability Control	56
Seat Belt	48
Forward Collision Avoidance	46
Gasoline Fuel System	30
Parking Brake	21
Lane Departure	15
Unknown Or Other	14
Traction Control System	5
Latches/locks/linkage	4
Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness	2
Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat Or Vehicle)	1
Diesel Fuel System	1
Carry Handle, Shell, Base	1
Hybrid Propulsion System	1
	1
Air Brake	1

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Mazda MAZDA3 of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across MAZDA3 model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Mazda MAZDA3 model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across MAZDA3 Model Years

MAZDA3 Model Year	Problems	Sales [1]	Vehicle Age	PPMY Index
2022	31	25,209	4	0.31
2021	63	44,501	5	0.28
2020	40	26,946	6	0.25
2019	109	32,657	7	0.48
2018	139	92,501	8	0.19
2017	105	72,093	9	0.16
2016	132	111,449	10	0.12
2015	151	102,979	11	0.13
2014	173	94,678	12	0.15
2013	176	102,880	13	0.13
2012	319	141,725	14	0.16
2011	176	95,463	15	0.12
2010	884	155,179	16	0.36
2009	137	47,248	17	0.17
2008	372	131,980	18	0.16
2007	291	114,559	19	0.13
2006	220	98,046	20	0.11
2005	125	84,053	21	0.07
2004	179	77,367	22	0.11

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Mazda MAZDA3 is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model Year	Problems Reported
2026 MAZDA3	1
2025 MAZDA3	4
2024 MAZDA3	7
2023 MAZDA3	12
2022 MAZDA3	15
2021 MAZDA3	12
2020 MAZDA3	3
2019 MAZDA3	35
2018 MAZDA3	11
2017 MAZDA3	4
2016 MAZDA3	6
2015 MAZDA3	19
2014 MAZDA3	31
2013 MAZDA3	8
2012 MAZDA3	33
2011 MAZDA3	21
2010 MAZDA3	48
2009 MAZDA3	16
2008 MAZDA3	27
2007 MAZDA3	20
2006 MAZDA3	23
2005 MAZDA3	11
2004 MAZDA3	45

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