Last updated: 2026-04-20

RELIABILITY SCORE: 84/100 (EXCELLENT)

2026 Mazda 3 Reliability Report

Name: 2026 Mazda 3
Brand: Mazda

The 2026 Mazda 3 scores 84/100 ("Excellent") with a complaint rate below the segment average. Data shows a dependable ownership experience across 0 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

0per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$433

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,000–$2,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity70/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity100/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Strong reliability record — a solid choice for buyers.

Should You Buy the 2026 Mazda 3?

The 2026 Mazda 3 earns an Excellent 84/100 reliability score.

At 0 per 10,000 vehicles sold, its complaint rate sits below the Sedan segment average, and most owners report a trouble-free ownership experience.

A solid choice for buyers prioritizing dependability, new or used.

See also the 2025 Mazda 3 for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+$93 cheaper to maintain than avg compact cars
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (10%)
+No recalls issued

Cons

No recurring complaint themes yet.

Compare 2026 Mazda 3 With

2026 Subaru Impreza

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

2026 Volkswagen Golf

Reliability: 84/100

Excellent

2026 Acura Integra

Reliability: 76/100

Good

2026 BMW 2-Series

Reliability: 70/100

Good

2026 Subaru WRX

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2026 Mazda 3 — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 0.3

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2026 Mazda 3? Check its history first

Every 2026 Mazda 3 has a different past. A VIN check reveals hidden accidents, title problems, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls that reliability scores can't show you.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2026 Mazda 3 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 14.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (None)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Driver Monitoring System (No)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Mazda 3Repair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$433

vs $526 avg for compact cars

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.3

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

10%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

$433

Category Avg

$526

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Mazda 3 Resale Value

The Mazda 3 is estimated to retain about 64.8% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Mazda 3 model overall and is not specific to the 2026 model year.

Value Retained: 64.8%
Depreciation: 35.2%
Listings Analyzed: 141

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Mazda 3 depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

26–30 MPG

Running cost: $2,450–$2,750/yr

Fuel + repair

23–27 city / 31–36 hwy MPG

Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2026 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
3 4-Door 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	27	36	30	$2,000
3 4-Door 4WD 2.5L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	26	34	29	$2,050
3 5-Door 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	26	34	29	$2,050
3 5-Door 2WD 2.5L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Manual 6-spd	25	34	28	$2,150
3 5-Door 4WD 2.5L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	25	34	28	$2,150
3 4-Door 4WD 2.5L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	23	32	27	$2,200
3 5-Door 4WD 2.5L 4-cyl	4-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	23	31	26	$2,300

Best & Worst Mazda 3 Years

Comprehensive reliability analysis based on NHTSA data, owner complaints, and historical performance.

Best Mazda 3 Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

The best Mazda 3 year is 2026 with a reliability score of 84/100, rated excellent. Other strong picks include 2025 (79/100) and 2018 (79/100).

Top Pick

Excellent

2026

(Current Model)

0Recalls

0Complaints

Good

2025

1Recalls

20Complaints

Good

2018

1Recalls

9Complaints

Mazda 3 Years to Avoid

The worst Mazda 3 year is 2021 with a score of 70/100, primarily due to engine (36) issues.

Good

2021

3Recalls

95Complaints

See full Mazda 3 years-to-avoid analysis

Mazda 3 Reliability Score Trend

Mazda 3 reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 78/100.

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Mazda 3 reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	79/100	Good
2019	78/100	Good
2021	70/100	Good
2022	78/100	Good
2023	78/100	Good
2024	78/100	Good
2025	79/100	Good
2026	84/100	Excellent

Mazda 3 Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	84/100	+5	Excellent	0	0
2025	79/100	+1	Good	1	20
2024	78/100	0	Good	2	22
2023	78/100	0	Good	1	19
2022	78/100	+8	Good	1	26
2021	70/100	-8	Good	3	95
2019	78/100	-1	Good	2	26
2018	79/100	—	Good	1	9

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Mazda 3 reliable?

Yes, the 2026 Mazda 3 is considered highly reliable with a score of 84/100 ("Excellent"). It has 0 recalls and a complaint rate below the segment average, placing it among the more dependable vehicles in its class.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Mazda 3?

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Mazda 3. This may reflect limited time-on-road or reporting volume for this model year.

How many recalls does the 2026 Mazda 3 have?

The 2026 Mazda 3 has no recalls on record, which is a positive indicator.

Is the 2026 Mazda 3 expensive to maintain?

The 2026 Mazda 3 is expected to have below-average maintenance costs at $433/year, which is $93 less than the compact cars average of $526. Its high reliability score of 84/100 and complaint rate below the segment average suggest that unexpected repairs are uncommon.

Don’t buy a 2026 Mazda 3 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Look Up a VIN →

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

Get notified when new recalls or reliability data is added for the Mazda 3.

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