Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2019.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 CX-3 | 4 | 1 |
| 2020 CX-3 | 1 | 1 |
| 2019 CX-3 | 27 | 2 |
| 2018 CX-3 | 10 | 1 |
| 2017 CX-3 | 21 | 1 |
| 2016 CX-3 | 48 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system26
- Unknown or other17
- Fuel/propulsion system16
- Exterior lighting10
- Engine10
- Back over prevention10
- Steering9
- Visibility/wiper7
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 28 CX-3 vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 12 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 | 1 |
| 2018 | 6 | 2 |
| 2017 | 6 | 3 |
| 2016 | 10 | 4 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Crash-test ratings by year
NHTSA 5-star results for 6 model-year variants; 6 of 6 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Year | Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 2021 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2020 | 2020 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2019 | 2019 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2018 | 2018 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2017 | 2017 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
| 2016 | 2016 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 13.6 % |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 7 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 7.6–7.7 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.3 | 6.9 | 7.7 |
| 2021 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.3 | 6.9 | 7.7 |
| 2020 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.3 | 6.9 | 7.7 |
| 2019 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.3 | 6.9 | 7.7 |
| 2018 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 6.9 | 7.6 |
| 2017 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 6.9 | 7.6 |
| 2016 | CX-3 · Compact · Regular gasoline | 8.2 | 6.7 | 7.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
12,291 CX-3 cars are on the New Zealand register; 20% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 342 | 342 | 0 |
| 2025 | 475 | 474 | 1 |
| 2024 | 454 | 440 | 13 |
| 2023 | 379 | 370 | 9 |
| 2022 | 588 | 579 | 8 |
| 2021 | 718 | 683 | 29 |
| 2020 | 795 | 706 | 85 |
| 2019 | 1,405 | 1,056 | 335 |
| 2018 | 2,132 | 1,295 | 819 |
| 2017 | 2,079 | 1,424 | 640 |
| 2016 | 1,604 | 1,413 | 171 |
| 2015 | 1,319 | 918 | 380 |
| 2014 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
18,248 CX-3 cars are on Dutch roads; 45% arrived later as imports, and 101 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 103 | €30,749 |
| 2021 | 912 | €30,450 |
| 2020 | 342 | €26,100 |
| 2019 | 3,415 | €31,350 |
| 2018 | 3,611 | €30,097 |
| 2017 | 3,844 | €29,245 |
| 2016 | 3,895 | €28,835 |
| 2015 | 2,126 | €28,135 |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
1,884 CX-3 cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 99% petrol, 1% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 | 63,000 km |
| 2021 | 79 | 50,000 km |
| 2019 | 334 | 75,000 km |
| 2018 | 318 | 85,000 km |
| 2017 | 475 | 105,000 km |
| 2016 | 486 | 124,000 km |
| 2015 | 179 | 133,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 248 CX-3 cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 4 of those collisions were fatal and 53 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 51 | 0 | 10 |
| 2024 | 55 | 1 | 15 |
| 2023 | 44 | 1 | 9 |
| 2022 | 56 | 1 | 8 |
| 2021 | 42 | 1 | 11 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
24,809 CX-3 cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | — |
| 2020 | 10 | — |
| 2019 | 7,463 | 40 |
| 2018 | 5,542 | 40 |
| 2017 | 4,772 | 35 |
| 2016 | 4,738 | 51 |
| 2015 | 2,283 | 38 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
25,453 CX-3 cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 87% passed first time, against 82% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 7,621 | 91% |
| 2018 | 5,655 | 89% |
| 2017 | 4,854 | 87% |
| 2016 | 4,929 | 81% |
| 2015 | 2,394 | 82% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | CX-3 | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Tyres | 3.7% | 5.5% |
| Visibility | 3.1% | 3.6% |
| Brakes | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 2.0% | 4.7% |
| Suspension | 1.7% | 2.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 0.3% | 1.2% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 0.2% | 0.8% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
261,954 new Mazda CX-3 cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2015 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Spain (915), Germany (876), Austria (680).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 3,408 | 146 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 12,881 | 146 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 5,209 | 147 (WLTP) |
| 2019 | 62,695 | 155 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 55,098 | 156 (WLTP) |
| 2017 | 51,186 | 153 (WLTP) |
| 2016 | 49,467 | — |
| 2015 | 22,010 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
3,311 Mazda CX-3 cars registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Petrol versions average 6.8 l/100 km on the road, against 6.4 l/100 km in the official WLTP test — 6% more.
| Fuel | Cars | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 3,311 | 6.8 | 6.4 | +6% |
Litres per 100 km: total fuel used divided by total distance driven, from the car's own fuel consumption meter (OBFCM), collected in 2024 by the manufacturers, mostly remotely, and by national authorities. WLTP figures are the type-approval CO₂ values converted to litres. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, do not plug in; plug-in hybrid figures include the distance driven on electricity. European Environment Agency, Real-world CO₂ emissions from cars and vans · CC BY 4.0
What it costs in fuel
On real-world figures the Mazda CX-3 uses 6.8 litres per 100 km, so 15,000 km a year takes about 1,020 litres: €2,226 at this week's average price in Germany, its largest market in Europe.
| Country | Petrol |
|---|---|
| Germany | €2,226 |
| Spain | €1,819 |
| United Kingdom | £1,783 |
| Italy | €2,059 |
| France | €2,277 |
| United States | $1,156 |
Fuel for 15,000 km (9,300 miles) a year at real-world consumption. Pump prices with taxes, week of 19 October 2026: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, US Energy Information Administration. Non-euro EU prices are in euros as the Bulletin publishes them.
Work it out for your driving
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the CX-3 in 5 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The nut and the lower screw fixing the damper to the steering knuckle could become loose, leading to its detachment. This could lead to a loss of control over the vehicle or to impaired driving stability, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does no…
Corrosion of the tailgate shock absorber may lead to its breaking. This may result in sudden opening of the tailgate and pieces of luggage falling onto the road, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approva…
The impeller in the low-pressure fuel pump may become deformed causing fuel pomping failure. This may result in the engine no start and/or stall, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements laid down in the Regulation …
The engine control unit of the direct-current converter may be defective. This could result in a short circuit and damage of the converter, which can lead to a fire.
The screw connection between the stub axle and the shock absorber may come loose. As a result, the vehicle may no longer be steerable.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
4 campaigns cover the CX-3.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 2, 2015, 2013-2014 Mazda2 vehicles manufactured July 3, 2013, to August 8, 2014, 2014-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured January 19, 2013, to December 2, 2015, and 2013-2015 CX-9 vehicles manufactured December 6, 2012, to July 31, 2015. The lower mounting nuts and bolts that attach the front strut assembly to the steering knuckle may loosen, allowing the steering knuckle to separate.
NHTSA recalls