2020 Mazda CX-30 Problems & Owner Complaints

Unknown Or Other 9

“The initial sensor alarm indication was low oil pressure and within less then an hour engine malfunction was detected and the vehicle stopped functioning. This incident occurred on [XXX] in SanAntonio and thereafter it was towed to the Mazda Dealership for inspection upon request. I was driving from Dallas to SanAntonio with my [XXX] and [XXX] children when the vehicle started making strange noise and It the notification on dashboard stated I need to immediately stop the vehicle for safety. Middle of nowhere I had to find a nearest safe place for my children. This vehicle put me and my kids…”
NHTSA complaint #11665901, 2025

“I am experiencing sharp edge on the Driver Side window up button. The Nicle plating is wearing off and causing safety concern. I have images of the concern. Will send upon request. Mazda is suggesting that I take the vehicle in for diagnostics and service. Their diagnostic cost is extremely high, and I am trying to avoid paying the diagnostic fee. Copy of the contents of my email sent to Mazda. I am experiencing sharp edge on the Driver Side window up button. I am wondering if this can be repaired under warranty or, should I report the abnormally to NHTSA to pursue a possible recall to have…”
NHTSA complaint #11623146, 2024

“My sunroof spontaneously shattered/exploded during a standstill at a stoplight while waiting to enter a freeway. The glass sunroof panel appeared slightly curved upwards (caused by built up interior pressure?) and the shattered hole is right below my roof crossbar. There is no damage to metal roof surface or crossbar. My interior roof slider was closed when my sunroof shattered as it could have compromised my family's safety. After the incident, I drove my vehicle to the nearest dealership (Capistrano Mazda) but they didn't lift a finger besides taking a couple pics and suggested I call thei…”
NHTSA complaint #11585002, 2024

Service Brakes 7 1 crash

“The front camera didn't operate properly The brakes have an elongated stopping distance”
NHTSA complaint #11702067, 2025 · crash

“Front and rear brakes premature wear, would have failed safety inspection under 30,000 miles but brakes were inspected just outside of warranty with metal on metal. RIGHT rear coil spring snapped lower middle of coil while driving on flat even ground. Just outside of warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #11596869, 2024

“The car was running in parking garage without ignition being turned on. When I entered the car, the motor wouldn't catch at all, and message popped up saying the there was a brake malfunction. All the lights were on, so it did not seem to be a battery problem, but the drive function was dead. Several months ago the car started racing while i was driving and i couldnt get it to stop. I finally, while still driving, turned off the ignition and rolled off the road. After a few minutes, i restarted the engine. it had stopped racing and i drove it to the Mazda dealership. They didnt find any…”
NHTSA complaint #11563320, 2023

Electrical System 5

“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…”
NHTSA complaint #11710048, 2025

“The contact owns a 2020 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the instrument panel made an abnormal sound. The contact then noticed that the odometer had inadvertently rolled back to 9,999 miles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11631587, 2024

“I bought Mazda CX30 in 2020 and the battery already starts to fail. The engine light and the battery light are on suddenly when I was driving. Then, after a while, when I restart the engine and it starts to work again. However, it happens for two times within a week. I have sent the car to the Auto Zone and the nearby car auto repair company to check the car. However, they said they cannot detect anything as the engine light and the battery light are on again this time. It is so dangerous when the car suddenly stop in the middle of the road when I was driving. I am so lucky that this accid…”
NHTSA complaint #11506136, 2023

Engine 5

“Low Engine Oil Light keeps appearing at seemingly random intervals. I will heat up my vehicle, begin driving, and sometimes after 10 minutes, sometimes after 20 minutes it will come on. I drove 2.5 hours and it did not come on at all. It first started Friday 11/29 and was driven to and from a few places and came on 50% of the time. The 2.5 hour drive occurred on Saturday 11/30 and the light did not come on at all.”
NHTSA complaint #11628495, 2024

“The car was running in parking garage without ignition being turned on. When I entered the car, the motor wouldn't catch at all, and message popped up saying the there was a brake malfunction. All the lights were on, so it did not seem to be a battery problem, but the drive function was dead. Several months ago the car started racing while i was driving and i couldnt get it to stop. I finally, while still driving, turned off the ignition and rolled off the road. After a few minutes, i restarted the engine. it had stopped racing and i drove it to the Mazda dealership. They didnt find any…”
NHTSA complaint #11563320, 2023

“Every 1000 miles the low oil light comes on. I have 24000 miles on the car and this only started about 4000 miles ago. I have to add a quart of oil every 1-2000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11513156, 2023

Fuel/Propulsion System 5 1 crash

“The front camera didn't operate properly The brakes have an elongated stopping distance”
NHTSA complaint #11702067, 2025 · crash

“I bought Mazda CX30 in 2020 and the battery already starts to fail. The engine light and the battery light are on suddenly when I was driving. Then, after a while, when I restart the engine and it starts to work again. However, it happens for two times within a week. I have sent the car to the Auto Zone and the nearby car auto repair company to check the car. However, they said they cannot detect anything as the engine light and the battery light are on again this time. It is so dangerous when the car suddenly stop in the middle of the road when I was driving. I am so lucky that this accid…”
NHTSA complaint #11506136, 2023

“NEW MODEL YEAR AND ALREADY 1.SAFETY AND EMISSION RECALL 4520F POTENTIAL FUEL LEAK 2.SAFETY RECALL 4420F FRONT BRAKE BOLTS MAY FALL OFF 3.DRIVE OFF LOT 1/20 AND HUGE AIR GAP WITH HEAT SYSTEM - DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP, 4.AC IN SUMMER NO GOOD - DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP THESE ISSUES BEGAN IN JAN 2020, DATE BELOW MAY NIGHT BE EXACT AND MORE TROUBLE HAS CONTINUED WITH A/C AND NOW FUEL TANK RECALL AND BRAKE RECALL. THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE ANYMORE. SENT LETTER TO MAZDA HEADQUARTERS WITH CC TO DEALERSHIP ON 8/21/20. TO DATE NO RESPONSE FROM MANUFACTURER. I WANT A LIFETIME BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY…”
NHTSA complaint #11361499, 2020

Power Train 3

“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 TR…”
NHTSA complaint #11674592, 2025

“The initial sensor alarm indication was low oil pressure and within less then an hour engine malfunction was detected and the vehicle stopped functioning. This incident occurred on [XXX] in SanAntonio and thereafter it was towed to the Mazda Dealership for inspection upon request. I was driving from Dallas to SanAntonio with my [XXX] and [XXX] children when the vehicle started making strange noise and It the notification on dashboard stated I need to immediately stop the vehicle for safety. Middle of nowhere I had to find a nearest safe place for my children. This vehicle put me and my kids…”
NHTSA complaint #11665901, 2025

“I am reporting a repeated and potentially dangerous transmission failure in my 2020 Mazda CX30. At 6 months old, the original transmission failed. Mazda confirmed it was defective and replaced it with a refurbished unit with 10,000 miles on it. That replacement is now also failing—within 4 years of the first failure. This means the car has experienced two transmission failures before reaching 5 years of service. This raises concerns about: •The reliability of Mazda’s factory parts •The quality and safety of refurbished transmissions Mazda uses in warranty repairs •A potential pattern of prem…”
NHTSA complaint #11661587, 2020

Structure 3

“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, 2024

“Driver door cannot be opened from inside with either engine ON or OFF. After I came home from work , I parked the car inside the garage and I could not get out of the car.It took me approximately 2-4 minutes.After that the car just opened. This is the second time in 4 months.”
NHTSA complaint #11499099, 2022

“I SEE THIS AS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE THAT THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH FROM INSIDE MY CX30 REQUIRES THE NEED OF A FLATHEAD SCREWDRIVER. WHO ROUTINELY HAS THIS ITEM IN THEIR CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #11354940, 2020

Exterior Lighting 2 1 crash

“The front camera didn't operate properly The brakes have an elongated stopping distance”
NHTSA complaint #11702067, 2025 · crash

“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, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 2

“While driving across Speer Blvd in Denver, CO (6 lanes) the emergency assist brake engaged and brought my car to a complete stop. There were no cars or objects ahead of me and fortunately the cars behind me were able to stop.”
NHTSA complaint #11468192, 2022

“The Automatic Emergency Braking system is activated even if there is nothing in front of the car. The car stops on its own. This has happened 11 times. Yes, my car is available for inspection. I do not know when it's going to happen. My car has malfunctioned like this 11 times. I can get hit from behind since the car is suddenly and unexpectedly braking. The dealership has not been able to reproduce the problem. The local dealership told me that Mazda is aware of the problem, but does not know what is causing it or how to fix it. The first time I brought my car into the dealership for…”
NHTSA complaint #11438761, 2021

Seat Belts 2

“The initial sensor alarm indication was low oil pressure and within less then an hour engine malfunction was detected and the vehicle stopped functioning. This incident occurred on [XXX] in SanAntonio and thereafter it was towed to the Mazda Dealership for inspection upon request. I was driving from Dallas to SanAntonio with my [XXX] and [XXX] children when the vehicle started making strange noise and It the notification on dashboard stated I need to immediately stop the vehicle for safety. Middle of nowhere I had to find a nearest safe place for my children. This vehicle put me and my kids…”
NHTSA complaint #11665901, 2025

“DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT IS TOO SENSITIVE. WITHOUT EVEN STOPPING ABRUPTLY, THE SEAT BELT BECOMES LOCKED MAKING IT DIFFICULT IF TRYING TO LEAN FORWARD TO SEE IF TRAFFIC IS COMING AS SEAT BELT DOESN'T UNLOCK EASILY. I TYPICALLY HAVE TO UNCLIP THE SEAT BELT TO LET IT RETRACT THEN PUT IT BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY. CAR DOESN'T HAVE TO BE IN MOTION EITHER, I CAN BE STOPPED AND NOT ALL BUT MOST TIMES IF LEANING FORWARD THE BELT BECOMES LOCKED. I'VE HAD MANY CARS, NONE WITH THIS ISSUE. HAPPENS WHEN SLOWING DOWN OR STOPPED AND LEANING.”
NHTSA complaint #11363884, 2020

Suspension 2

“Rear coil spring broke at ~33,000 miles under normal driving conditions. No warnings given in vehicle safety system and not included in recommended maintenence. Seen when inspected by independent service center. Cannot safely drive vehicle until replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #11625683, 2024

“Front and rear brakes premature wear, would have failed safety inspection under 30,000 miles but brakes were inspected just outside of warranty with metal on metal. RIGHT rear coil spring snapped lower middle of coil while driving on flat even ground. Just outside of warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #11596869, 2024

Steering 1

“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, 2023

Visibility/Wiper 1

“Defective windshield. There is visible warping in the windshield and Mazda won't cover the cost of the replacement. This is a known issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11615251, 2024

Wheels 1

“RIGHT HAND SIDE TPMS ARE READING 10 PSI HIGHER THAN ACTUAL PRESSURE IN TIRES. THERE IS NO MANUAL RESET FOR TPMS IN CX30 MODEL. ATTEMPTS TO HAVE TPMS AUTO DETECTED BY DRIVING PER OWNER MANUAL DID NOT FIX INCORRECT HIGH READING FROM TPMS”
NHTSA complaint #11297809, 2020