2019 Mazda CX-3 problems & reliability
26 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2019 Mazda CX-3, alongside 2 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 2019 Mazda CX-3 vehicles were involved in 4 fatal crashes with 1 occupant death. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 9 | 35% |
| Steering | 5 | 19% |
| Unknown OR Other | 4 | 15% |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 8% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 8% |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 8% |
| Air Bags | 1 | 4% |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 4% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 4% |
| Engine | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 18 reported components →Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“So the sport mode on cx3 have not bracket under the sport mode and if try to activeit the sport mode whole switch goes down you cant active with grabbing it will fall out of socket”
Electrical System · filed Dec 17, 2024
“The contact owns a 2019 Mazda CX-3. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The contact stated that occasionally the air bag warning light flashed off and on. Additionally, the rear hatch door failed to open as needed. The cause of the failures has not yet…”
Latches/locks/linkages · filed Oct 28, 2024
“A recall notice dated July 14, 2023 stated improper design of rearview camera wiring harness fastener. The fastener may become damaged from vibrations during normal vehicle use and/or while closing the lift gate. I have been told by the dealership that they do not have the parts to remedy the issue and don't know when…”
Electrical System · filed Jul 29, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
447 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2019 Mazda CX-3. The 10 most recent:
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s)…
SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jun 19, 2026
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the…
01-008-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued May 1, 2026
DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the…
SA-031-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 30, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance…
SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 21, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal…
SA-026-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 16, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-003/22 03/02/22 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the…
SA-023-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 11, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs and bulletin(s) listed below: The changes are noted below in red. SA-010/23 02/09/23 DESCRIPTION Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions…
SA-021-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 4, 2026
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) and TSB(s) listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-035/24 05/31/24 DESCRIPTION There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not…
SA-014-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 11, 2026
Subject: TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3, 2019-2022 CX-3…
SSPD8 Repair d · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Mar 5, 2026
Subject: TSB 01-001/26 Warranty and Parts Kit Update INCLUDES: Warranty Extension Program - Special Service Program (SSP) D8 Check Engine Light ON with DTC P0126:00, 2018-2025 CX-5, 2019-2023 Mazda3, 2019-2022 CX-3…
SSPD8 Dlr Ltr a · Warranty Program/Extension · issued Mar 5, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2019 Mazda CX-3 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2019 Mazda CX-3?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.