CSR

Mazda · NHTSA safety record

2020 Mazda CX-30

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 33 safety complaints about the 2020 Mazda CX-30 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 7 complaints, 21% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 3,950 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers January 2020 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

33 complaints on file

33

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

0

Mention fire

0

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 9 · 27%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 · 21%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 5 · 15%
ENGINE 5 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 15%
POWER TRAIN 4 · 12%
STRUCTURE 3 · 9%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2 · 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 · 6%
SEAT BELTS 2 · 6%
SUSPENSION 2 · 6%
STEERING 1 · 3%
0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 33.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 8.

12 9 6 3
20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2020 Mazda CX-30, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV AWD SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 14.7% 15.5%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE

21V086000 · February 18, 2021

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020-2021 CX-30 vehicles. When fully opened, the power liftgate may partially lower unexpectedly when the vehicle is parked facing uphill on a slope.
The risk
If the power liftgate unexpectedly lowers while a person is accessing the rear storage area of the vehicle, it can increase their risk of injury.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power liftgate control module software and inspect the serial number of the power liftgate drive unit, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 8, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4621B.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 13,857 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

20V347000 · June 12, 2020

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 vehicles equipped with all-wheel drive. The evaporative vent hose for the fuel tank may be disconnected, possibly allowing fuel to leak from the charcoal canister vent at the rear of the vehicle.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire. Additionally, the engine may stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the evaporative vent hose in the fuel tank. If the hose is disconnected, it will be reconnected and the charcoal canister with some related parts will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 29, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4520F.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 12,097 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

20V346000 · June 12, 2020

The defect
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles. The front brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly allowing the calipers to loosen.
The risk
Loose brake calipers can reduce braking performance or interfere with wheel rotation, affecting vehicle handling. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary. If bolts are missing, the affected brake caliper will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4420F.

Mazda North American Operations · up to 24,037 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

crash

The front camera didn't operate properly The brakes have an elongated stopping distance

NHTSA complaint 11702067. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 66,000 miles

The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated while driving out of the driveway, the steering wheel became firm. The contact stated that the power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering unit needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 66,000.

NHTSA complaint 11528975. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My car was squeaking and lurching around 3/4 gear. I took it in to the Mazda dealership (Northtowne Mazda in Kansas City) and they told me it was a "well-known issue" with this year and make of a Mazda. There is a problem with the torque converter lock-up clutch which sheds iron particles into the transmission fluid. The torque converter needs to be replaced. After further research, it appears that Mazda has a well-documented manufacturing defect that is outlined in Mazda TSB 05-005/23. My car has a 60,000 mile/5 year warranty on it. It currently only has 48,600 miles on it (well under the warranty limit). I called the Mazda Corporation Customer Care and they opened a ticket but I was told

NHTSA complaint 11761957, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The front passenger side headlight is making a whirring noise whenever the light is turned on. Based on the NHTSA safety reports for this model, this indicates the fan is failing, and soon the headlight will also fail. Intact headlights are essential for driving safety at night. No warning messages have appeared on the car.

NHTSA complaint 11751262. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2020 Mazda CX-30 has an intermittent no-start condition caused by a complete electrical failure. This occurs randomly, often overnight and after long or short trips. When it happens: The car does not respond to the key fob or ignition Dashboard warning lights are off Vehicle cannot be started, creating a safety risk if it occurs during travel or in an emergency The defect began during car's full warranty period and has persisted despite multiple service visits and battery replacement. The dealer has been unable to diagnose or correct the issue, and Mazda Corporate is aware of the defect under case Case Number 00398310. After about two years of these intermittement failures, and parasitic

NHTSA complaint 11710048, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
There is a module that should connect to the hatch door to open. That module in no longer available. Without the hatch door opening, in case of side impact and being pushed into something else, there is no way to get out of the car. This poses a serious safety hazard. I have contacted the Mazda dealership and I am told that the part is "retired" and there is no replacement part at this time.

NHTSA complaint 11700042. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
I OWN 2020 MAZDA CX 30 WITH 66000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING WITH JERKY MOTIONS. ON JULY 14, 2025 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO PALISADES MAZDA IN ROCKLAND COUNTY NEW YORK TO HAVE TRANSMISSION LOOKED AT AND TO CHANGE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED. AFTER I DROPPED THE CAR OFF LATER THAT DAY I GOT A CALL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CONDEMNED. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET WITH SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL AND SEE THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS ON THESE CARS AND MAZDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TSB 05-002/20 IS A BULLETIN ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THIS VEHICLE. MAZDA IS WELL AWARE OF THE TRANSISSION PROBLEMS

NHTSA complaint 11674592. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mazda CX-30

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 26 1 —
2024 31 2 —
2023 25 1 —
2022 33 1 —
2021 101 2 —

Other 2020 Mazda models

CX-5 107 MAZDA3 32 CX-9 19

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Mazda on this site — 82 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst