Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Mazda Mazda3. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Front Brake Caliper Bolts May Loosen and Fall Off
- 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.
Emergency Braking Can Activate Unexpectedly
- Summary
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (32)
32 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The forward collision avoidance is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 32 |
|---|---|---|
| Forward collision avoidance | 15 | 46.9% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 9.4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 9.4% |
| Steering | 3 | 9.4% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 9.4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 6.3% |
| Lane departure | 2 | 6.3% |
| Suspension | 2 | 6.3% |
| Engine | 1 | 3.1% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3.1% |
How 2020 compares with other Mazda3 years
Best and worst Mazda3 years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 104 | 6 |
| 2017 | 83 | 2 |
| 2018 | 108 | 4 |
| 2019 | 74 | 6 |
| 2020 | 32 | 2 |
| 2021 | 52 | 1 |
| 2022 | 24 | 0 |
| 2023 | 12 | 0 |
| 2024 | 12 | 3 |
| 2025 | 8 | 1 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 2020 Mazda3 for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Mazda Mazda3 FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 20V346000 (brake), 19V907000 (forward collision avoidance). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Owners filed 32 complaints with NHTSA. Forward collision avoidance (15), Electrical system (3), Service brakes (3) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What safety rating did the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Mazda Mazda3 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 5 stars rollover (10.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Mazda3 compare with other years?
Among the 2016–2021 Mazda Mazda3 model years at least five years old, the 2020 drew the fewest complaints (32) and the 2018 the most (108). The 2020 drew 32. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.