Mazda CX-30 Reliability
Quick answer
Across model years 2020–2026, owners filed 257 complaints about the Mazda CX-30 with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the CX-30 to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2021 as the year to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
By CarWhere Research · Last reviewed 2026-11-10 · Source: NHTSA
257
NHTSA owner complaints (2020–2026)
26
Complaints citing a crash
7
Recall campaigns
1
Year to avoid
Most-reported Mazda CX-30 problems
NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2020–2026, by the component owners named, filed 2020–2026. A complaint can name more than one component. The last three columns count complaints that report a crash, a fire or an injury.
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crash | Fire | Injury |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 68 | 26% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 50 | 19% | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 38 | 15% | 8 | 0 | 3 |
| Service brakes | 34 | 13% | 14 | 0 | 4 |
| Powertrain / transmission | 20 | 8% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility / wipers | 20 | 8% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 16 | 6% | 6 | 0 | 7 |
| Speed control / throttle | 16 | 6% | 6 | 0 | 3 |
Of all 257 complaints, 26 (10%) report a crash, 1 (0%) a fire and 15 (6%) an injury.
Mazda CX-30 complaints by model year
Where problems concentrate. Year flags come from CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine, which compares each CX-30 model year with the model's other years.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 34 | 3 | Service brakes | — |
| 2021 | 101 | 2 | Engine | Avoid |
| 2022 | 33 | 1 | Engine | — |
| 2023 | 25 | 1 | Service brakes | — |
| 2024(new) | 34 | 2 | Forward collision avoidance | — |
| 2025(new) | 26 | 1 | Electrical system | — |
| 2026(new) | 4 | 0 | Speed control / throttle | — |
Raw counts are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, and older years have had longer to collect complaints. Years marked "new" have had less than three years on the road. — = not flagged either way.
Mazda CX-30 recalls
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns across Mazda CX-30 model years 2020–2026. The ones below cover the most model years. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Model years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25V357000May 29, 2025 | 2024 and 2025 | Air bags — air bag/restraint control module / software | Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2024-2025 Mazda3 and CX30 vehicles. The Sophisticated Air Bag Sensor (SAS) units may set an error code and deactivate the air bags, due to a low battery condition. |
| 23V275000Apr 18, 2023 | 2022 and 2023 | Service brakes — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip / control unit/module | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2022-2023 CX-30 and 2023 CX-50 vehicles. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) may be damaged, which can result in reduced braking ability. |
| 21V086000Feb 18, 2021 | 2020 and 2021 | Body structure — body / hatchback/liftgate | 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. |
| 24V649000Sep 3, 2024 | 2024 | Lane departure — sensing system / camera | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024 Mazda 3, CX-30, and 2025 CX-50 vehicles. A malfunction in the forward sensing camera (FSC) may prevent the automatic emergency braking system and the lane-keep assist system… |
| 21V101000Feb 22, 2021 | 2021 | Tires — valve | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve. |
Best and worst CX-30 years
- Years to avoid: 2021.
- No model year stands out as clearly better than the rest.
- 2024–2026: too new to judge fully; complaint counts are still building.
What to inspect on a used Mazda CX-30
Based on the components owners report most. None of these replaces an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Electrical: test every light, window, lock, the infotainment screen and the charging system; scan for stored fault codes.
- Driver aids: ask about false automatic-braking events and check for warning messages on the dash.
- Brakes: check pedal feel, pulling and grinding, and look at rotor and pad wear; ask when the brake fluid was last changed.
- Recalls: check the VIN for open recalls; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any Mazda CX-30 can be better or worse than the model's record. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
Mazda CX-30 reliability FAQ
Is the Mazda CX-30 reliable?
Across model years 2020–2026, owners filed 257 complaints about the Mazda CX-30 with NHTSA, most often about the engine and the electrical system, and NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns. We have no published sales figures for the CX-30 to turn that into a per-1,000-sold rate, so these counts compare its model years with each other, not with other models. CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2021 as the year to avoid. Model years 2024–2026 have had less than three years on the road, so their complaint counts are still building.
What are the most common Mazda CX-30 problems?
In NHTSA owner complaints for model years 2020–2026, the most-reported areas are the engine (68), the electrical system (50), automatic emergency braking (38) and the brakes (34). One complaint can name more than one component, and complaints are unverified owner reports.
What years of the Mazda CX-30 should you avoid?
CarWhere's year-by-year verdict engine flags 2021 as the year to avoid. Each model year is compared only with other CX-30 years: complaints are adjusted for time on the road, and serious ones (engine, transmission, brakes, steering, fuel system, or a reported crash, fire or injury) count double, with a smaller adjustment for recall campaigns.
How many recalls does the Mazda CX-30 have?
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering Mazda CX-30 model years 2020–2026. The one covering the most model years is 25V357000 (air bags, 2024 and 2025). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How do I check a specific used Mazda CX-30?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
How we measure CX-30 reliability
- Complaints are every NHTSA owner complaint filed for the Mazda CX-30, model years 2020–2026, across all the body-style and trim names NHTSA files them under, de-duplicated by complaint number. They are unverified owner reports.
- Year flags compare each CX-30 model year only with other CX-30 years, so they say which years to prefer, not how the CX-30 compares with other models.
- This is federal complaint and recall data, not a survey and not comparable to Consumer Reports or J.D. Power ratings. It does not estimate repair costs.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints and NHTSA recall campaigns (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-11-10; published U.S. sales figures; CarWhere years-to-avoid analysis.
More Mazda CX-30 research
Mazda CX-30 reliability by model year: