Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.
Fuel economy
27–30 mpgcombined; city 24–26, highway 32–35; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$10,830–$12,030U.S. average; Ohio $9,680–$10,750 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
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Mazda3. 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
Forward collision avoidance
15
0
0
0
Electrical system
3
0
0
0
Steering
3
0
0
0
Unknown or other
3
0
0
0
Fuel/propulsion system
2
0
0
0
Lane departure
2
0
0
0
Service brakes
2
0
0
0
Suspension
2
0
0
0
Engine
1
0
0
0
Equipment
1
0
0
0
Exterior lighting
1
0
0
0
Power train
1
0
0
0
5 more parts
Seat belts
1
0
0
0
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
Structure
1
0
0
0
Tires
1
0
0
0
Visibility/wiper
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 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Mazda3 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 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 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.
Risk: 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.
Carmakers sent NHTSA 726 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2020 Mazda3, the latest on Sep 17, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.
The parts they mention most: electrical system (285), equipment (199), engine and engine cooling (110), equipment adaptive/mobility (104), unknown or other (88).
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 Mazda3.
EPA class: compact cars. EPA greenhouse gas score: 6–7 out of 10. Each version EPA tested:
Swipe the table sideways for more columns.
Version
Engine
Transmission
Fuel
City / hwy / comb
3 4-Door Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 35 / 30
3 4-Door 4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
25 / 33 / 28
3 5-Door Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
26 / 35 / 30
3 5-Door Front-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Manual 6-spd
Regular Gasoline
25 / 35 / 29
3 5-Door 4-Wheel Drive
2.5 L, 4 cyl
Automatic (S6)
Regular Gasoline
24 / 32 / 27
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