2020 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
2,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 32 complaints (40.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 50.0% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 9.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 13 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 9 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Lane Departure: Warning | 2 |
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 13; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 9; Electrical System: 3; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Lane Departure: Warning: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 26 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2020: 1; 2021: 11; 2022: 5; 2023: 7; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11402806 · 2021-03-13 (March 13, 2021)
I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE STRAIGHT AHEAD ON A TWO-WAY CITY STREET WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT OR ON MY SIDES. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 40 MPH. THE TWO-WAY STREET IS SEPARATED BY A CONCRETE DIVIDER AND TROLLY TRACKS. A "BRAKE!" ALERT APPEARED ON THE DISPLAY SCREEN FOLLOWED BY BEEPS. SUDDENLY THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE BEHIND TO COME TO A SCREECHING HALT. IN A FEW SECONDS I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,706 miles reported. Look up ODI 11402806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11415327 · 2021-05-05 (May 5, 2021)
THIS CAR IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, WITH ONLY 1600 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 30 OR 40 MPH THE SMART BRAKE SYSTEM (SBS) FALSELY DETECTS RANDOMLY AN OBSTACLE WHILE DRIVING, ACTIVATING THE AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY WARNING LIGHT AND ALARM. THE MAZDA DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND WAS PART OF AN EARLIER RECALL. I.E.MAZDA RECALL NUMBER 4219L
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11415327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361790 · 2020-09-29 (September 29, 2020)
MY NEW 2020 MAZDA 3 PREMIUM WITH 1,177 MILES SUDDENLY TOOK COMPLETE CONTROL OF STEERING MY CAR. DRIVING 65-70 MPH ON A 3 LANE STRAIGHT HIGHWAY ON A CLEAR DAY, WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC, I MOVED ONE LANE TO MY LEFT, AND THE CAR TOOK OVER THE STEERING, PULLING MY CAR OUT OF THE LEFT LANE NEARLY MISSING THE CENTER CEMENT DIVIDER, THEN DARTING BACK ACROSS MY LANE AND HALFWAY INTO THE LANE TO MY RIGHT,THEN DASHING BACK TO THE CEMENT MEDIAN. I AM UNAWARE OF HOW MANY TIMES THE BACK AND FORTH OCCURRED, I TRIED TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11495146 · 2022-11-28 (November 28, 2022)
•The first incident I had with the SBS was about a month on the highway, I was approaching a vehicle that was braking due to upcoming traffic. I had plenty of time to stop, upwards of 8-10 car lengths. Yet my SBS kicked in and slammed the brakes, jarring me forward. Luckily no one was directly behind me at that time because I have no doubt it would have caused an accident. At that time, it was the only time it had occurred, so I wrote it off as the sensor being a bit too sensitive. •The second incident I have had was recent, 11/23. I was pulli…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11495146 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11479130 · 2022-08-13 (August 13, 2022)
Fuel pump, car dying out, can't turn off brake release from when it dies. Shaking when accelerating. Fuel gas issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11748076 · 2026-07-02 (July 2, 2026)
Low pressure fuel pump failure with 75,575 miles on odometer. Fuel pump completely seized. Car was parked at a retail location and would not start. Upon troubleshooting, mechanic was able to determine the low pressure pump was not delivering fuel. Pump was replaced. Faulty fuel pumps could lead to hazardous conditions as they are mounted within the fuel tank. I feel this is too early in the vehicles life for this component to have completely failed.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11748076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11719227 · 2026-02-19 (February 19, 2026)
My Mazda3 began producing a chirp when shifting from 3rd to 4th gear (automatic transmission). The dealer stated that the car needed a new torque converter. At the time the car only 37,000 miles on it, quite low mileage for a torque converter to fail. Mazda has previously admitted to producing cars with faulty torque converters, as specified in Mazda TXXXXXX] ). While my car fit the description of both the problem and proposed fix, and also fell within the applicable models/VINs listed on the TSB, Mazda corporate HQ stated that my specific VIN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11719227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11432381 · 2021-09-09 (September 9, 2021)
The contact owns a 2020 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the ABS warning light illuminated, and the brakes locked up and caused the vehicle to stall. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure persisted. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer to be diagnosed however, the dealer was not able to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11432381 at NHTSA ↗