The 2020 Mazda3 presents a mixed reliability profile due to two recalls affecting critical safety systems. The notable issue with automatic braking and brake calipers should raise concerns for prospective buyers, especially given the average failure mileage of 38,694 miles.
Key Factor:Brake system vulnerabilities
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Safety Alert
Safety Alert: This model has a higher recall frequency (2) than the average MAZDA vehicle (1.1). Owners should prioritize checking these components.
2 recalls for this vehicle1.1 avg. recalls per vehicle (brand)
๐Why This Matters
The recalls regarding the forward collision avoidance system and hydraulic service brakes significantly impact the vehicle's reliability and safety ratings. The automatic emergency braking system can lead to unintended stops, which poses a risk not only to the driver but also to other road users. Additionally, potential issues with brake caliper mountings can compromise stopping power, making these defects critical for anyone considering this model.
Focus Area:Safety Profile
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Expert Analysis
The year-over-year trend for Mazda indicates a commitment to safety; however, the emergence of these specific recalls shows that even reputable brands face challenges in manufacturing quality control. Compared to industry norms for this segment, this model exhibits a higher than expected risk profile due to its safety-related recalls.
Safety & Reliability Score
83/100
Score Breakdown
Recall Impact-16
Complaint Impact-1.45
Investigation Impact-0
Technical Specifications
Key specifications for the 2020 MAZDA Mazda3
Model Year2020
MakeMAZDA
ModelMazda3
Fuel TypeGasoline
Body ClassPassenger Vehicle
Safety History Timeline
Jan20
NEWProduction
Jan20
RECALLRecall Issued
Sep20
ISSUEFirst Report
Dec20
RECALLRecall Issued
Consumer Complaint Analysis
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Most Reported Issue
14 complaints (48% of total)
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Complaint Trend
Stable
No trend data
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Safety Incidents
No critical incidents
Complaint Severity Distribution
Breakdown of 29 consumer complaints by severity level.
๐กMedium
13(45%)
๐ขLow
16(55%)
โ Good News: No critical or high-severity complaints reported for this vehicle.
Mileage Failure Analysis
โ๏ธEngineering Insight
With peak failure occurrences reported between 0-20k miles, current owners should remain vigilant as issues may arise early in their vehicle's life cycle. Prospective buyers must be particularly cautious about models that may still be within this vulnerable mileage range.
๐ Mileage data extracted from 4 of 29 complaints (14% coverage)
0-20k
3 reports (75%)
20k-40k
0 reports (0%)
40k-60k
0 reports (0%)
60k-80k
0 reports (0%)
80k-100k
0 reports (0%)
100k+
1 reports (25%)
* Analysis based on mileage data extracted from consumer complaint descriptions. Actual failure rates may vary.
๐ ๏ธ DIY Diagnosis Center
Experiencing an issue? Select a symptom to find official manufacturer solutions (TSBs).
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System (SBS) can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and suddenly stopping the vehicle.
Consequence
Stopping the vehicle unexpectedly increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the SBS software. In addition, vehicles with certain production dates will receive an instrument cluster software update or replacement and a replacement owner's manual. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4219L.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Campaign: 20V346000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
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Summary
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles. The front brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly allowing the calipers to loosen.
Consequence
Loose brake calipers can reduce braking performance or interfere with wheel rotation, affecting vehicle handling. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary. If bolts are missing, the affected brake caliper will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4420F.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA Investigations
0 investigations
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No active investigations for this vehicle.
Consumer Complaints
29 total complaints
Consumer-reported issues submitted to NHTSA for 2020 Mazda3.
Common Reported SymptomsAI Analysis
Warning48%
Accident24%
Display7%
Acceleration Issues7%
Steering/Suspension๐ต Low
SUSPENSION
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.
Steering/Suspension๐ต Low
STEERING,SUSPENSION
TSB 02-003/24 Car front suspension bolts corroded and making metal on metal sounds during turning and braking
Other๐ต Low
EQUIPMENT
See attached document for complaint.
Safety Systems๐ต Low
SEAT BELTS
Passenger seat belt wonโt retract and remains in a locked state.
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.
Safety Systems๐ถ Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
While driving on a residential street the automatic emergency braking system activated and brought the car to a very abrupt stop but there was nothing in the front of the car to activate the system. There were no cars in the on-coming lane and no cars in the lane beside my car. When the car stopped the Brake warning appeared in the windshield and a warning tone sounded. It was in the early evening and it was raining. Fortunately there were no cars behind me so there were no injuries. I took the car to the Mazda dealership and upon inspection they noted that the radar system associated with the automatic emergency braking system was malfunctioning and not correctly calculating the distance between the car and other objects. They are in the process of replacing the radar. If this had happened on the highway at higher speeds or if there had been a car behind me I would have been injured.
Brakes๐ต Low
SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
My car's automatic emergency brake is deploying without warning, during driving, when there are no other cars in my forward proximity. I took it to the dealership to have it fixed, and on the drive home, it did it again. There is a recall for similar makes and models for this year, but my car has not been included.
โจ AI Insight
This complaint matches keywords from official recalls:
Recall #20V346000
*correlation estimated by AI, not an official NHTSA link.
Safety Systems๐ถ Medium
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
on 3 occasions may 2023, June 2023 and July 2023 the forward Collison camera activated. in May and June it showed the vehicle to near stop like radar cruise control in rush hour speed traffic. in July 2023 it sounded the alarm and came to a full stop in heavy traffic. it occurs on bright hot days going straight no turns no oncoming traffic no traffic around and no obstacles hold or dips. this can cause the car to stop immediately and cause an accident. App detects problem with system but dealer cannot find problem and blame camera or GPS or satellite radio factory equipped.
Visibility๐ถ Medium
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER
in May 2023 the visors of the vehicle hinge melted causing the visors to hang down to eye level and would not hold up causing visibly issues for driver and passenger. dealer said it is a common issue in heat but it blocks forward visibility and won't hold up and if there were and accident, forward movement of passenger or driver can cause the head to hit the visor causing injury.
Electrical๐ต Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Automatic safety notification censoring system for the brakes engaged when a stop was not applicable or necessary causing the car to brake on its own in traffic. Luckily no one else was on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the resale value of a recalled Mazda3 compare to similar vehicles?
'A recalled Mazda3 may experience a depreciation in resale value compared to its peers without recalls.' Buyers often factor in repair history and recall status when assessing used vehicles. This means that if you're considering purchasing one of these models, it's crucial to confirm that all necessary repairs have been completed before finalizing your decision.
๐งญWhat This Means for You
Both current owners and prospective buyers benefit from reviewing this safety analysis before making decisions.
If you're unsure, we recommend starting with a VIN check or consulting a certified mechanic.
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If You Own This Vehicle
Safety Check: Cross-reference your VIN with official MAZDA records to ensure no 2 recalls remain open.
Unaddressed recalls pose real-world risks. Prioritize scheduling any pending repairs to maintain vehicle integrity.
Proactive tip: Enroll in MAZDA's owner notification program for real-time safety updates.
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If You're Buying Used
Request the VIN from the seller and verify the 'Clean' recall status via NHTSA.
This specific Mazda3 year is noted for its strong reliability foundations.