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.
The fix and full notice
Fix: 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 and 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.
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.
NHTSA listing: MAZDA3. Mazda campaign 4219L.
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 2020 Mazda3.
What owners report
Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Mazda3. Below, they are sorted by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Forward collision avoidance15 · 47%
Most named: automatic emergency braking (13); warnings (9)
Brakes3 · 9%
Electrical system3 · 9%
Steering3 · 9%
Fuel and propulsion system2 · 6%
Lane departure systems2 · 6%
Suspension2 · 6%
Unknown or other3 · 9%
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 2020 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 2020 drew 17.
Owner complaints
2020: 32 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
2020: 2 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.
The areas owners name most often in NHTSA complaints: forward collision avoidance (15), brakes (3), electrical system (3). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can name several areas.
Is the 2020 Mazda3 safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2020 Mazda3 earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2020 Mazda3?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2020 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.