NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 74 owner complaints for the 2019 Mazda3.
6Safety recalls
74Owner complaints
3Complaints citing a crash
0Complaints citing a fire
Data: NHTSA recall and complaint filesUpdated Sep 27, 2026
Recalled components: forward collision avoidance, visibility, seats, engine, and 2 more. Most-reported area: brakes (15 complaints, 20%). Includes the sedan and hatchback.
6 safety recalls for the 2019 Mazda3
Newest first. Summaries are NHTSA's own wording. Open a recall for the fix and the full notice.
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.
What owners report
The areas named in the 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Mazda3. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Brakes15 · 20%
Electrical system11 · 15%
Engine11 · 15%
Powertrain11 · 15%
Forward collision avoidance9 · 12%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (6)
Fuel and propulsion system8 · 11%
Visibility/wiper8 · 11%
Unknown or other15 · 20%
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 2019 Mazda3 drew the most (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
2016
104
2017
83
2018
108
2019
74
2020
32
2021
49
2022
24
2023
12
2024
12
2025
7
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
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.
Tested version
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Mazda Mazda3 4 DR AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
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Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
Mazda Mazda3 5 HB AWD
Not rated
Not rated
Not rated
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Mazda Mazda3 5 HB FWD
Not rated
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Questions
What are the most common 2019 Mazda3 problems?
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: brakes (15), electrical system (11), engine (11). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
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 Sep 27, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Sep 26, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
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.