Most common 2019 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Share of the 74 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Mazda3 complaints by model year
Best Mazda3 years: 2023, 2020, 2024. Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, 2008. Compare all years →
2019 Mazda Mazda3 recalls (6)
Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Glass, side/rear
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles equipped with manual dimming mirrors. The adhesive between the interior rearview mirror and the housing may not be properly bonded, allowing the mirror to detach from the housing.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the interior rearview mirror assembly, free of charge. The recall began September 19, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4.
Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The seat cover material on both front seats may interfere with the head restraint lock release button, causing it to stick in the release position and not allow the head restraint to lock into place.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will install spacers at the bottom of the lock release buttons on both front seat head restraints, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019.
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4.
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. The lug nuts on all four wheels may loosen, potentially resulting in a wheel detaching from the vehicle.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the front and rear wheel lug nuts to the correct specification, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019.
Electrical system › Instrument cluster/panel
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. Due to incorrect programing, the passenger air bag deactivation indicator light may erroneously turn off although the passenger air bag is deactivated.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag/seat belt status indicator assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 9, 2019.
What 2019 Mazda Mazda3 owners say
Brakes
These issues been happening since the second month I owned my 2019 Mazda 3 hatchback. 1- suspensions, they're very rough & harsh., they bounce so much for no reason, I damaged one tire already while I was driving on i476 normal highway where I stepped on normal pothole ended up damaging my tire, suspensions are really dangers on all roads. 2- "adaptive cruise control" this feature many times almost caused an accident, rear end specially on highways. For some reason it doesn't detect the car in front of me when I have auto cruise enabled, no rain clear weather, this been reported more than 5 times to the dealership & its hard for them to tell what happen. …
To whom it may concern, I was on a back road late in the evening not far from home [redacted] and a small deer ran into the road. I needed to brake to avoid hitting the deer. After breaking, a Brake System Malfunction warning message and i-ACTIVESENSE System Malfunction warning illuminated on my dashboard. I brought the car to a Mazda dealership the next morning. The technician determined that the brake fluid level sensor became stuck, requiring replacement of the brake fluid reservoir and the brake fluid level sensor. What failed: The repairs include replacement of the Brake Fluid Reservoir and the Brake Fluid Level Sensor. This is the link to the dealer report [redacted] . No one other than the dealer has inspected these parts to my knowledge. There was no accident of any kind. …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the vehicle network malfunction, vehicle inspection", the check engine warning light and all the safety features were disabled, and the windshield wipers turned on independently. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The contact mentioned that the gear shifter failed to shift out of park(P) and the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact was able to operate the vehicle normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test and stated that no failure was found however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the dealer stated that they were aware of the failure, but the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by a Tech. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. …
Car lulls/jerks when accelerating from low speeds car lacks power most of the time and performs poorly engine loses power, several occurrences of what would appear to be limp mode ( can't get passed 2000-3000 ) rpms car has erratic idle rpms, sometimes high and sometimes low I've recently heard the engine roar while idling and hissing from the engine bay when shutting off the engine also sounded like the car was dieseling after shut down likely because the car was beginning to overheat from the immense stress in the engine from running too lean car has poor sound absorption in the cabin, sounds like you're in a airplane every bump it goes over reverberates through the car for an extremely unpleasant and unsafe experience feels like there is excessive play in the front axle wheels seem to drag and thud/thump like there is a flat when there is not I've had my wheels aligned twice already, …
Electrical system
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that after pulling over to the shoulder the vehicle would not immediately restart. The contact stated that approximately five minutes later, the vehicle restarted without pressing the start button. The contact stated that the message "Network Malfunction" was displayed. The contact stated that several electrical malfunctions had previously occurred with the vehicle including the front windshield wipers independently activating, with the headlights and instrument cluster lights flickering. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,000.
When trying to start the vehicle it is unable to start and the car chimes while the complete instrument cluster flashes off and on. The car will not start and the entire instrument panel blinks/flashes displaying all warning lights. I hear whirring and clicking noises. Just prior to it not starting I may experience the driver side vents pushing out hot air while the passenger side is pushing out cool air. I have the AC set to cool at 60 degrees both sides. I have 16k miles currently and the non start flashing instrument panel all started after Mazda did a recall and flashed the cars computer. The first problem was in April of 2020. The cars computer has been flashed more than 2 times. I have to jumpstart the car in order to start. Mazda has not found the problem and cannot recreate. The problem usually happens after the car is parked and in the sun.
2019 Mazda Mazda3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 35 / 30 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 35 / 29 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 a good car?
Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Mazda3 rates average: 23% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Mazda3 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Mazda Mazda3?
The brakes — 15 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (11) and electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2019 Mazda Mazda3, the most recent from December 19, 2019 (automatic emergency braking). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Mazda3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2020 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2012 and 2008. See the full Mazda Mazda3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2019 Mazda Mazda3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 5,000 miles; 95% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.