2020 Mazda CX-3 problems
Light NHTSA footprint — 1 owner complaint. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.
The 2020 Mazda CX-3 has 1 NHTSA owner complaint on file (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 CX-3 | 21 | 0 |
| 2018 CX-3 | 10 | 0 |
| 2019 CX-3 | 26 | 0 |
| 2020 CX-3 (this page) | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 CX-3 | 3 | 1 |
| 2022 CX-3 | 0 | 0 |
Limited NHTSA data — only 1 complaint on file. The score reflects what's reported, but a small sample skews easily.
Only 1 NHTSA complaint on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
On 1/22/21, I was driving for Lyft. I had a passenger in this car and I was giving her a ride home. I had a seizure towards the end of the ride, and was completely amnesiac to the crash that occurred. During my seizure, I was unable to check for clearance before I entered a…
Common questions
Is the 2020 Mazda CX-3 reliable?
Limited NHTSA data. Only 1 owner complaint has been filed for the 2020 Mazda CX-3, which is not enough for a meaningful reliability score. Active recalls (if any) are listed on this page and remain authoritative — those are verified defects regardless of complaint volume. For a confident reliability read we look for at least 10 owner complaints in the federal database.
Should you avoid the 2020 Mazda CX-3?
Only 1 NHTSA complaint on file — too few for a confident reliability call. Could be a clean record or just thin data. We don't issue a buy/avoid verdict on the 2020 Mazda CX-3 without a meaningful complaint sample — doing so off a handful of filings would be guesswork.
What should I check before buying a used 2020 Mazda CX-3?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2020 Mazda CX-3 to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2020 Mazda CX-3 a good used car to buy?
Hard to say from federal data alone — only 1 owner complaint has been filed. Lean on the recall list above, a pre-purchase inspection, and a vehicle-history report on the specific VIN. Our data tells you what the model is known for; a history report tells you what that exact car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2020 Mazda CX-3?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Mazda CX-3 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2020 Mazda CX-3?
Hard to say from NHTSA data alone with only 1 complaint on file. A quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. The decision comes down to your specific situation: vehicle cost, miles on it, how long you plan to keep it, and whether you can absorb a $3K–$8K repair without straining cashflow. With limited public data on this vehicle, lean on the recall list above and check owner forums before committing.