Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
26–28 mpgcombined; city 24–25, highway 31–33; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$11,600–$12,490U.S. average; Ohio $10,370–$11,160 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2020 CX-30. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 CX-30. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.
Complaints by part of the car
Part
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Unknown or other
9
0
0
0
Service brakes
7
1
0
0
Engine
6
0
0
0
Electrical system
5
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
5
1
0
0
Power train
4
0
0
0
Structure
3
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
2
1
0
0
Forward collision avoidance
2
0
0
0
Seat belts
2
0
0
0
Suspension
2
0
0
0
Steering
1
0
0
0
2 more parts
Visibility/wiper
1
0
0
0
Wheels
1
0
0
0
Complaints by model year
Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 CX-30 over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-30 vehicles. When fully opened, the power liftgate may partially lower unexpectedly when the vehicle is parked facing uphill on a slope.
Risk: If the power liftgate unexpectedly lowers while a person is accessing the rear storage area of the vehicle, it can increase their risk of injury.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power liftgate control module software and inspect the serial number of the power liftgate drive unit, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4621B.
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.
Risk: 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.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. The evaporative vent hose for the fuel tank may be disconnected, possibly allowing fuel to leak from the charcoal canister vent at the rear of the vehicle.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, the engine may stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the evaporative vent hose in the fuel tank. If the hose is disconnected, it will be reconnected and the charcoal canister with some related parts will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4520F.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 687 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 CX-30, the latest on Sep 17, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (284), equipment (187), equipment adaptive/mobility (107), engine and engine cooling (96), unknown or other (90).
NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.
Maintenance
Oil
The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2020 CX-30.
EPA class: small sport utility vehicle. EPA greenhouse gas score: 5–6 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
CX-30 Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
25 / 33 / 28
CX-30 4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
25 / 32 / 27
CX-30 4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
24 / 31 / 26
Sources and dates
U.S. EPA fuel economy data, file of Sep 29, 2026
NHTSA owner complaints, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA recalls, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA manufacturer communications, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA defect investigations, file of Oct 17, 2026
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, file of Aug 7, 2026
U.S. Energy Information Administration, file of Oct 12, 2026
Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data