Free VIN Check
2019 Mazda Mazda3
Enter your VIN below for an instant free decode with NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and owner complaints.
2019 Mazda Mazda3 — Safety Summary
The 2019 Mazda Mazda3 has 6 NHTSA safety recalls and 74 owner complaints on record. Transport Canada separately lists 6 Canadian recalls for this model. The most frequently reported complaint area is visibility/wiper. It earned an NHTSA overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5. Based on this public data we rate its risk profile as high. Enter your VIN above to confirm which of these apply to your exact vehicle, then get the Smart Buyer Report for a buyer analysis of this model's reliability, common issues by mileage, and a pre-purchase inspection checklist.
Should you buy the 2019 Mazda Mazda3 in Canada?
The 2019 Mazda Mazda3 shows a higher level of recall or complaint activity in public data. That is not a reason to rule it out, but it does mean a careful inspection and VIN-specific check are especially worthwhile.
The best next step is to run the exact VIN and, if the car still looks promising, get a Smart Buyer Report for a model-specific reliability read and an inspection checklist before you visit the seller.
What owners complain about most
The complaint categories reported most often for the 2019 Mazda Mazda3, based on owner reports in the public NHTSA data.
Complaint patterns suggest where to look — they are not proof any specific vehicle has that issue. Treat them as inspection prompts.
What to check before buying a used 2019 Mazda Mazda3
- Owners report visibility/wiper concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report air bags concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report power train concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Owners report unknown or other concerns most often for this model — worth checking during an inspection.
- Confirm any open recall work was completed by running the exact VIN.
Canadian ownership considerations
General things worth checking on a used Mazda3 in the Canadian climate — winter, road salt, and cold-weather wear.
- Road salt causes corrosion on rocker panels, brake lines, and subframe points — inspect the undercarriage on salt-belt cars.
- Confirm the heater, defroster, and rear demister work before winter.
- Check battery health and cold-start behaviour for reliable winter starting.
- Look for uneven tire wear that can hint at suspension or alignment issues on rougher winter roads.
Pre-purchase inspection priorities
- Bring a qualified mechanic or book an independent pre-purchase inspection.
- Check the undercarriage for rust and corrosion, especially on salt-belt vehicles.
- Confirm all open recalls have been repaired using the VIN.
- Review maintenance records and look for gaps in servicing.
- Test all winter-critical systems: heater, defroster, battery, and (if equipped) AWD/4WD.
Want a buyer-focused summary for this VIN?
The free VIN Check helps you screen the vehicle. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer risk scoring, inspection guidance, and a buyer-focused summary for this specific VIN.
Unlock the full buyer reportNHTSA Safety Ratings
Government crash test results
NHTSA Recalls
6 recall(s) for this year/model
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
19/12/2019Mazda 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. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4219L.
ENGINE
27/06/2019Mazda 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. Mazda's number for this recall is 3719F.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
05/07/2019Mazda 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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3819F.
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
29/07/2019Mazda 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. Note: Vehicles equipped with auto dimming mirrors are not affected by this recall.
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. Mazda's number for this recall is 3919G.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
14/05/2019Mazda 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. In addition, the seat belt status indicators for both the front passenger seat and/or rear seats may erroneously turn off although the front passenger and/or rear seat belts are unfastened.
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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3319E.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
07/06/2019Mazda 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. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3519F.
Transport Canada Recalls
6 Canadian recall(s) from the official Transport Canada database
Lights And Instruments
2019-05-14Issue: On certain cars, the passenger airbag status and seat belt status indicator lights may not work properly. These lights are designed to indicate when the passenger airbag is turned off and when a passenger is not buckled. Instead, this problem could cause the passenger airbag status indicator light to incorrectly turn off when the passenger airbag is deactivated. It could also cause the passenger seat belt status indicator to incorrectly turn off when the seat belt is not buckled. Additionally, the rear seat belt status indicators may turn off regardless of seat belt use. Note: This problem has no effect on the operation of the airbag system. Safety Risk: Seat belt and airbag indicator lights that do not work properly could cause confusion. They could also cause a driver to be unaware that the rear seat occupants are not buckled. This could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their car to a dealer to replace the seat belt indicator assembly.
Wheels
2019-06-07Issue: On certain cars, the wheel lug nuts may not be properly tightened due to a manufacturing issue. This could cause the nuts to loosen or fall off, and could result in a wheel separating from the car. Safety Risk: A wheel separation could increase the risk of a crash. A wheel that separates could also hit another person or vehicle. Corrective Actions: The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their car to a dealer to re-tighten the front and rear wheel nuts to the proper specification.
Engine
2019-06-27Issue: On certain vehicles, a software error in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) could cause the valve clearance adjuster not to work properly. This could result in internal engine damage. If this happens, the engine may misfire and lose power. In the worst case, the engine may stall while driving without the ability to restart it. The malfunction indicator light (MIL) may also turn on in the instrument cluster. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to update the PCM software.
Seats And Restraints
2019-07-05Issue: The material on the driver and front passenger seatbacks may not be installed correctly. This could cause it to in interfere with the release button for the head restraint. As a result, the button could be stuck in the ‘release’ position and allow the head restraint to move up and down freely. In a crash, this could allow the head restraint to detach. Safety Risk: A head restraint that does not remain in place in a crash could create a risk of injury. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealership to install a plastic spacer at the bottom of the head restraint lock release button.
Visual System
2019-07-29Issue: On certain cars, the interior rearview mirror glass was not properly attached and could fall off. Safety Risk: If interior rearview mirror glass suddenly falls off, the driver’s rear visibility will be decreased. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their car to a dealer to replace the interior rearview mirror.
Brakes
2019-12-19Issue: On certain cars, the automatic emergency braking system (called Smart Brake Support or SBS) may falsely detect an obstacle in front of the car while driving. As a result, the brakes may apply automatically when there is no risk of a crash. Safety Risk: If the SBS system activates the brakes unexpectedly when there is no risk of a crash, there could be an increased risk of a rear-end crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your car to a dealer to update the SBS control software. On certain cars with earlier build dates, the instrument cluster will also be reprogrammed or replaced. Mazda will provide these owners with an updated owner's manual that provides revised information about how to temporarily deactivate the SBS system.
Contains information sourced from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database, licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Data is provided "as is" from Transport Canada's monthly release and may not reflect real-time updates. Transport Canada does not endorse this service. Always confirm open recalls with the manufacturer or Transport Canada before purchase.
Owner Complaints
74 complaint(s) filed with NHTSA
Top complaint categories:
Want the full picture?
The free data above comes from public NHTSA records. The Smart Buyer Report adds buyer analysis for this exact model — reliability score, common problems by mileage, real maintenance costs in CAD, a pre-purchase inspection checklist, a market value estimate, and Canadian notes on rust, winter, and fuel.
Compare Related Vehicles
Data disclaimer:Vehicle history information on CarHistoryReport.ca is compiled from publicly available government sources, primarily the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Reports may not include all incidents, recalls, or issues related to a specific vehicle. Data is provided "as-is" without warranty of completeness or accuracy. Always obtain a professional pre-purchase inspection before buying any used vehicle. CarHistoryReport.ca is not liable for purchasing decisions made based on report contents.