Mazda Cx-3 Years to Avoid
Based on federal records, the Mazda Cx-3 years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2018: the 2016 alone has 0 NHTSA owner complaints and 655 manufacturer service bulletins on file. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2014 and 2021 model years.
Sources: NHTSA complaints, manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-06-11 · By Sam Reynolds, Lead Researcher
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Service bulletins | Recall campaigns | Avg. price buyers paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014BEST | 0 | 19 | 0 | — |
| 2016AVOID | 0 | 655 | 0 | — |
| 2017AVOID | 0 | 516 | 0 | — |
| 2018AVOID | 0 | 474 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 0 | 446 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 0 | 316 | 0 | — |
| 2021BEST | 0 | 273 | 0 | — |
Methodology: complaint counts are owner reports filed with NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation; service bulletins are manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA; counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year).
Why these years stand out
2016 Mazda Cx-3: 0 owner complaints, 655 service bulletins, 0 open recall campaigns.
2017 Mazda Cx-3: 0 owner complaints, 516 service bulletins, 0 open recall campaigns.
2018 Mazda Cx-3: 0 owner complaints, 474 service bulletins, 0 open recall campaigns.
2014 Mazda Cx-3: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 19 bulletins).
2021 Mazda Cx-3: cleanest recent federal record (0 complaints, 273 bulletins).
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FAQ
What are the worst years for the Mazda Cx-3?
Based on federal records, the Mazda Cx-3 years to avoid are 2016, 2017, 2018: the 2016 alone has 0 NHTSA owner complaints and 655 manufacturer service bulletins on file. The cleanest recent records so far belong to the 2014 and 2021 model years. Counts are raw federal filings (NHTSA complaints, manufacturer communications, open recall campaigns) and are not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the best years for the Mazda Cx-3?
Among recent model years, the 2014 and 2021 Mazda Cx-3 show the lowest combined complaint and service-bulletin counts on federal record.
How do I check a specific Mazda Cx-3 before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the exact year and build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for that VIN — it includes the recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for the exact model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.
Where does this data come from?
Three federal sources — NHTSA owner complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins filed with NHTSA, and open recall campaigns — plus CarWhere's verified buyer-paid transaction prices. Counts are presented raw and refreshed regularly.