NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 74 owner complaints for the 2019 Mazda3.
Recalled components: forward collision avoidance, visibility, seats, engine, and 2 more. Most-described problem: the check engine light coming on (5 complaints, 7%). Most-reported area: brakes (15 complaints, 20%).
More complaints than most Mazda3 years
The 2019 drew 47 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 26 for a typical Mazda3 year (about 18 for a typical year since 2016): 1.7 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.
Years to avoid: 2010 and 2012. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles.
The adhesive between the interior rearview mirror and the housing may not be properly bonded, allowing the mirror to detach from the housing. Note: Vehicles equipped with auto dimming mirrors are not affected by this recall.
Risk: Rearward visibility will be reduced without the rearview mirror, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the interior rearview mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3919G.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with manual dimming mirrors.
The seat cover material on both front seats may interfere with the head restraint lock release button, causing it to stick in the release position and not allow the head restraint to lock into place.
Risk: Loose head restraints may increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the lock release buttons on both front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3819F.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles.
A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Risk: An unexpected stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles.
The lug nuts on all four wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a wheel detaching from the vehicle.
Risk: A wheel separating from the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the front and rear wheel lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3519F.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles.
NHTSA listing: MAZDA3. Mazda campaign 3519F.
Electrical system
May 14, 2019
instrument cluster/panel
Fails federal standard 208 (occupant crash protection)
Due to incorrect programing, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may erroneously turn off although the passenger air bag is deactivated. In addition, the seat belt status indicators for both the front passenger seat and/or rear seats may erroneously turn off although the front passenger and/or rear seat belts are unfastened.
Risk: Incorrect indicator warning lights may lead the driver and/or passengers to be unaware of deactivated air bags or unfastened seat belts, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag/seat belt status indicator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3319E.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Mazda3.
What owners report
Owners have filed 74 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Mazda3. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Mazda3 recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2019 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2010 Mazda3 drew the most (83) and the 2019 drew 47.
Owner complaints
2019: 74 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Mazda3
Model year
Complaints
2010
686
2011
132
2012
226
2013
117
2014
138
2015
130
2016
104
2017
84
2018
110
2019
74
2020
32
2021
55
2022
24
2023
12
2024
12
2025
9
2026
1
Safety recalls
2019: 6 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Mazda3
Model year
Recalls
2010
3
2011
2
2012
1
2013
1
2014
4
2015
4
2016
6
2017
2
2018
4
2019
6
2020
2
2021
1
2022
0
2023
0
2024
3
2025
1
2026
0
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Mazda3, the problem described most is the check engine light coming on (5). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2019 Mazda3?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2019 Mazda3.
How do I check if my Mazda3 has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Mazda dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: MAZDA3.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.