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Owner report · 2021 model year

2021 Mazda 3

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The Verdict

Worst problem area

Engine

Engine leads by volume: 19 of 54 complaints (35%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 32 in 2020 to 54 in 2021.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

At a glance

NHTSA complaints
54
Recall campaigns
1
EPA fuel cost per year
$2,000–$2,400
Combined MPG
26–31

Complaints by model year

  1. 742019
  2. 322020
  3. 542021
  4. 242022
  5. 122023

Where owners report problems

  1. Engine19 (35%)
  2. Driver Assistance & Speed Control10 (19%)
  3. Electrical7 (13%)
  4. Other7 (13%)
  5. Airbags & Restraints5 (9%)
  6. Brakes5 (9%)
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.Also cataloged for 2021: 4 configuration(s) of a different vehicle class, excluded from the comparison bar only (but included in the figures above).
Category20192020202120222023vs. 2021 Compact Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)2,100–2,3002,100–2,3002,000–2,4002,000–2,4002,000–2,400
Combined MPG27–3027–3026–3126–3126–31
City / Highway MPG24–27 / 32–3624–27 / 32–3623–28 / 31–3623–28 / 31–3623–28 / 31–37
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)295–328295–328287–337287–337287–337
Complaints filed7432542412Not compared
Recalls issued62100Not compared
Crash-involved complaints30213Not compared
Fire-involved complaints00202Not compared
Injuries reported10121Not compared
Deaths reported00001Not compared
Configurations compared33644

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Mazda 3 have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Mazda 3?

Engine: 19 of 54 NHTSA complaints (35%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Mazda 3 get?

EPA rates it 26–31 MPG combined.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Mazda 3?

EPA estimates $2,000–$2,400 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (10)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic (S6)42.0LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars28 mpg (high)36 mpg (high)31 mpg (high)$2,000 (low)287 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Automatic (S6)42.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars26 mpg35 mpg30 mpg$2,100299 g/mi
Configuration 3Automatic (S6)42.5L4-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars25 mpg33 mpg28 mpg$2,200320 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 6-spd42.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars24 mpg33 mpg27 mpg$2,300323 g/mi
Configuration 5Automatic (S6)42.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars26 mpg34 mpg29 mpg$2,150304 g/mi
Configuration 6Automatic (S6)42.5L4-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars25 mpg31 mpg (low)27 mpg$2,300326 g/mi
Configuration 7Automatic (S6)42.5LFront-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars26 mpg35 mpg30 mpg$2,100303 g/mi
Configuration 8Automatic (S6)42.5L4-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars25 mpg33 mpg28 mpg$2,200313 g/mi
Configuration 9Automatic (S6)42.5L4-Wheel DriveRegularCompact Cars23 mpg (low)32 mpg27 mpg$2,300334 g/mi
Configuration 10Automatic (S6)42.5L4-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars23 mpg (low)31 mpg (low)26 mpg (low)$2,400 (high)337 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine190000
Transmission & Drivetrain40000
Fuel System20000
Electrical71200
Brakes50000
Steering11000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires40000
Airbags & Restraints51010
Driver Assistance & Speed Control101000
Body, Seats & Latches20000
Visibility & Lighting00000
Other70000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • TIRES:VALVE

    Campaign 21V101000 · Feb 22, 2021

    Defect
    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve.
    Consequence
    A sudden air leak from the tire air valve may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
    Remedy
    Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four tire air valves with new parts, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4721B.