Reliability & cost of ownership
Mazda Mx-3 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Mazda Mx-3? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for a full reliability and repair-cost forecast.
Mazda Mx-3 problems by model year
1 recall entry and 12 owner complaints on file across 2 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Mx-3 | 0 | 2 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
| 1995 Mx-3 | 1 | 10 | No NCAP test | Reliability forecast → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Mazda Mx-3, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- air bags5 complaints
- suspension3 complaints
- structure1 complaint
- equipment1 complaint
- service brakes1 complaint
- hydraulic1 complaint
- electrical system1 complaint
- visibility1 complaint