2021 Mazda CX-30 Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 49

“Excessive oil consumption. Regularly have a low oil warning come up about 6000 kms after an oil change. Oil is always low when checked.”
NHTSA complaint #11748372, 2026

“While driving, on approach to a stop signal, at an intersection the car stopped moving. The display said engine malfunction, have inspected. The electronics and engine continued to operate, but the car would not move when gas pedal was depressed. I shut off and restarted my vehicle numerous times, with no effect on the problem, the car still would not move. The vehicle behind me had to brake unexpectedly, and I could have been hit by others in the intersection, there could have been an accident.(I put car in neutral and the driver behind me, pushed my vehicle, manually, out of the intersection…”
NHTSA complaint #11734603, 2026

“As reported by others, Engine Malfunction light came on. Car running rough. Mazda dealer says corroded wiring harness and $5k to replace. They bypass the conventional repair and splice it in. Within a hour of driving after pick up, same engine malfunction light and rough running returns. This time they said I need a new transmission. Electrical issues and faulty transmission are both dangerous. With as much posted online regarding the transmission, I would hope to find a recall. $10k in repairs for a barely 4 yr old car!”
NHTSA complaint #11644437, 2025

Electrical System 13

“Two issues A) my usb or display stop to work often I have reset to make it work again, look like loose electrical 2) many time it has also happened start key malfunction error I have jumped start, I have replaced battery same issue”
NHTSA complaint #11687693, 2025

“As reported by others, Engine Malfunction light came on. Car running rough. Mazda dealer says corroded wiring harness and $5k to replace. They bypass the conventional repair and splice it in. Within a hour of driving after pick up, same engine malfunction light and rough running returns. This time they said I need a new transmission. Electrical issues and faulty transmission are both dangerous. With as much posted online regarding the transmission, I would hope to find a recall. $10k in repairs for a barely 4 yr old car!”
NHTSA complaint #11644437, 2025

“For 4-5 weeks the car often would not start. Jump the battery and it would start. Run fine 1-2 days then require another jump. At end required jump nearly every time it was to be used. Presently at Mazda dealer. They confirm the problem. They cannot find the cause. Car has been there two weeks. Waiting for assistance from manufacturer. I researched this on the internet. Visited many Mazda forums an 'do it yourself" forums. This seems to be a common problem. NO where have I read about a satisfactory solution. In fact, it sounds like there is none. Dealer's proposal so far has been to…”
NHTSA complaint #11619403, 2024

Forward Collision Avoidance 12 4 crash 4 injury

“The contact owned a 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that her husband was driving 60 mph on cruise control and while approaching a traffic light he depressed the brake pedal but failed to deactivate the cruise control and stop the vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver steered to the right and crashed into another vehicle. The contact stated all the air bags did deploy. The driver sustained leisure on his back and both legs due to the air bag deployment. The contact sustained leisure on her head, her nose, her left ribs, hips, and both legs due to the air…”
NHTSA complaint #11511941, 2023 · crash · 4 injury(ies)

“On June 3rd, 2026, about 1:15 PM, I braked in the rain because there was a stopped car in front of me. The brakes did not work; the Automatic Emergency brakes did not work; the Forward Collision Warning did not work and I hit the car in front of me causing a 3 car accident. As I hit the car I saw the Forward Collision Warning come on and then go out. Unfortunately, the brakes worked after that and the Mazda Collision Center cannot find anything wrong with the brakes. I note that the 2022 and 2023 models of the same car did have recalls related to the brakes. The claim is still open and I have…”
NHTSA complaint #11743896, 2026 · crash

“The accident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 14, which I reported to Enterprise, City of Falls Church, on the morning of November 15. Additionally, I provided to Enterprise email links to the many reports about breaking problems about the CX30 2021, 2022, and 2023 MAZA models and the reasons for their recall for repair. Here are the details about what happened. As I was trying to put the car in reverse from a standing position, the car, instead, lurched forward at great speed headed toward the Sun Trust bank. I had to use super-human strength to the brake pedal on the car…”
NHTSA complaint #11555773, 2023 · crash

Unknown Or Other 10

“While driving, on approach to a stop signal, at an intersection the car stopped moving. The display said engine malfunction, have inspected. The electronics and engine continued to operate, but the car would not move when gas pedal was depressed. I shut off and restarted my vehicle numerous times, with no effect on the problem, the car still would not move. The vehicle behind me had to brake unexpectedly, and I could have been hit by others in the intersection, there could have been an accident.(I put car in neutral and the driver behind me, pushed my vehicle, manually, out of the intersection…”
NHTSA complaint #11734603, 2026

“The left and/or right side sun visor does not stay in the fully retracted position and may lower slightly due to its own weight. The problem is attributed to a broken connection point where the sun visor attaches to the vehicle. Impaired visibility, particularly in bright sunlight.”
NHTSA complaint #11722934, 2026

“Low oil indicator came on after only1,800 miles since an oil change, I added a quart of oil and then the light came on again after only 1,000 miles. Asked the service department at the dealership and they said there was an issue with the oil and the turbo system and that it would be a three day repair. I was advised in the meantime to take a couple of extra quarts of oil if I was going to doing any traveling this summer.”
NHTSA complaint #11544093, 2023

Visibility/Wiper 10

“The climate control system suffered a sudden, complete failure due to an engineering defect documented in Mazda Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) ID: MC-10203760-0001. The factory evaporator core leaked refrigerant rapidly starving the A/C compressor of essential lubricating oil. This caused the compressor to overheat and complete seize. This failure occurred during extreme summer heat exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit, creating an immediate health hazard inside the cabin during my daily 40-mile highway work commute. Additionally, the complete loss of climate control functionality compromises th…”
NHTSA complaint #11753153, 2026

“The vehicle experienced a premature internal A/C failure, resulting in a total loss of climate control refrigerant. Because the A/C system failed, the vehicle's windshield defroster completely stopped removing humidity and moisture from the cabin air. This caused the front windshield to instantly and severely fog over while operating the vehicle completely obstructing forward driver visibility. The manufacturer has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) MC-10203760-0001 for factory evaporator defect on 2021 models, acknowledging low refrigerant charge due to component leakage. However, the…”
NHTSA complaint #11744720, 2026

“I have noticed the windshield is distorted and from reports all over the Internet that seems to be an issue with 20-22 mazda cx-30’s and I don’t think Mazda is going to replace it. It causes me to get fatigued, and a little dizzy at times during long distance driving.”
NHTSA complaint #11549655, 2023

Power Train 8

“While driving, on approach to a stop signal, at an intersection the car stopped moving. The display said engine malfunction, have inspected. The electronics and engine continued to operate, but the car would not move when gas pedal was depressed. I shut off and restarted my vehicle numerous times, with no effect on the problem, the car still would not move. The vehicle behind me had to brake unexpectedly, and I could have been hit by others in the intersection, there could have been an accident.(I put car in neutral and the driver behind me, pushed my vehicle, manually, out of the intersection…”
NHTSA complaint #11734603, 2026

“As reported by others, Engine Malfunction light came on. Car running rough. Mazda dealer says corroded wiring harness and $5k to replace. They bypass the conventional repair and splice it in. Within a hour of driving after pick up, same engine malfunction light and rough running returns. This time they said I need a new transmission. Electrical issues and faulty transmission are both dangerous. With as much posted online regarding the transmission, I would hope to find a recall. $10k in repairs for a barely 4 yr old car!”
NHTSA complaint #11644437, 2025

“Received a "LOW ENGINE OIL LEVEL” warning message before the regular oil change interval of 7,500. Light came on 11/20/24 after purchasing the vehicle from a Mazda dealership 8/10/24 (~3 months). Model and VIN were impacted by the Mazda Valve Stem Seal Settlement. This issue was not disclosed by the dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #11629133, 2024

Service Brakes 8 4 crash 1 injury

“The contact owned 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle in the parking garage at her workplace, the contact reversed and then straightened the steering wheel; however, after shifting to drive and attempting to drive 6-10 feet forward into the parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and crashed into a pillar before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the engine had revved up, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound before the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed…”
NHTSA complaint #11635826, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“On June 3rd, 2026, about 1:15 PM, I braked in the rain because there was a stopped car in front of me. The brakes did not work; the Automatic Emergency brakes did not work; the Forward Collision Warning did not work and I hit the car in front of me causing a 3 car accident. As I hit the car I saw the Forward Collision Warning come on and then go out. Unfortunately, the brakes worked after that and the Mazda Collision Center cannot find anything wrong with the brakes. I note that the 2022 and 2023 models of the same car did have recalls related to the brakes. The claim is still open and I have…”
NHTSA complaint #11743896, 2026 · crash

“The accident occurred on the afternoon of Tuesday, November 14, which I reported to Enterprise, City of Falls Church, on the morning of November 15. Additionally, I provided to Enterprise email links to the many reports about breaking problems about the CX30 2021, 2022, and 2023 MAZA models and the reasons for their recall for repair. Here are the details about what happened. As I was trying to put the car in reverse from a standing position, the car, instead, lurched forward at great speed headed toward the Sun Trust bank. I had to use super-human strength to the brake pedal on the car…”
NHTSA complaint #11555773, 2023 · crash

Vehicle Speed Control 8 3 crash 2 injury

“The contact owned 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated while attempting to park the vehicle in the parking garage at her workplace, the contact reversed and then straightened the steering wheel; however, after shifting to drive and attempting to drive 6-10 feet forward into the parking space, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated and crashed into a pillar before coming to a stop. The contact stated that the engine had revved up, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud sound before the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed…”
NHTSA complaint #11635826, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle accelerated independently and hit a brick pillar. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries on her neck, back, and also had headaches. The contact did seek medical attention at the emergency room. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was towed. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been info…”
NHTSA complaint #11453651, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was slightly depressed; however, the vehicle speed increased significantly independently. The contact stated that the failure occurred as the contact arrived at the contact's residence and was attempting to park the vehicle. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to stop, and the vehicle was uncontrollable. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into the contact’s apartment building. The contact stated that the building siding…”
NHTSA complaint #11680382, 2025 · crash

Air Bags 3 2 crash 3 injury

“I was involved in a traffic accident on 6/29/23 involving myself and my [xx] year old son, both in the front seat. We were struck in the back by one vehicle, spun out of control, hit another vehicle on the passenger side where my son was sitting and spun out of control again. Driver side did not strike anything and side airbags deployed (both front seat and back seat), passenger side airbags never deployed. My son's safety was put at risk as the damage was extensive and the car was totaled. He suffered two fractures in his shoulder and a broken clavicle. The problem has not been confirmed by t…”
NHTSA complaint #11533785, 2023 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“The contact owned a 2021 Mazda CX30. The contact stated while making a left turn, another vehicle struck the middle of her vehicle causing server damage. The contact stated that none of the frontal air bags were deployed. The contact suffered severe injuries and she sought medical attention. The vehicle was declared a total loss. A police report was filed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 13,450.”
NHTSA complaint #11498534, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“Following a recent inspection at Perry Mazda in Santa Barbara, my vehicle was diagnosed with a failed clock spring mechanism causing airbag malfunction warnings. Clock spring failure under 70K miles on a 2021 vehicle is premature and suggests a defect rather than normal wear. I contacted Mazda North America and it has been over a week without a response. I have maintained the vehicle responsible and have no history of collisions or modifications that could have contributed to this failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11739586, 2026

Fuel/Propulsion System 3

“Low engine oil light is on again, I had one at 4600 miles and keep happening every 5-6000 miles. I had 7!! oil changes on a car that is 2.5 years old and it is at 29000 miles. I am sitting at the dealership and they are telling me nothing is wrong and despite of the valve stem cap replacement available they are not willing to replace it. In addition I had my battery die and needed to be replaced at 23 months after purchasing a brand new car - due to a faulty system. This is getting extremely upsetting. And dealearships do not care.”
NHTSA complaint #11589759, 2024

“Vehicle burns oil at at much higher rate than scheduled oil changes allow.”
NHTSA complaint #11540771, 2023

“Low engine oil light came on after 3 months of driving. I know this is a common issue on the turbo model, yet there has not been a recall.”
NHTSA complaint #11480401, 2022

Seats 2

“-Driver seatbelt retractor has failed. Will no longer retract and it is available for inspection. -Safety is compromised due to pretensioner will not function in the event of a collision. Seatbelt will not perform as designed. -I have not taken the vehicle into the dealer but will be doing so. -The seatbelt issue has not been inspected by anyone as of yet. I am filling this out in case there are other owners with similar issues. There are quite a few complaints about this issue in Mazda forums. -There are no dash lights on at all indicating an issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11643631, 2025

“Seatback fold mechanism loose. Vehicle only has 23,000 miles and seat is starting to come loose.”
NHTSA complaint #11602840, 2024

Visibility 2

“The vehicle experienced a premature internal A/C failure, resulting in a total loss of climate control refrigerant. Because the A/C system failed, the vehicle's windshield defroster completely stopped removing humidity and moisture from the cabin air. This caused the front windshield to instantly and severely fog over while operating the vehicle completely obstructing forward driver visibility. The manufacturer has issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) MC-10203760-0001 for factory evaporator defect on 2021 models, acknowledging low refrigerant charge due to component leakage. However, the…”
NHTSA complaint #11744720, 2026

“The contact owns a 2021 Mazda CX-30. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the interior rear mirror loosened and eventually fell from the roof of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not yet repaired. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Critical Brake System Malfunction" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 2…”
NHTSA complaint #11641757, 2024

Exterior Lighting 1

“Vehicle makes a noise on the driver side headlight when light is on. Once headlight is off, noise is gone.”
NHTSA complaint #11603335, 2024

Lane Departure 1

“The I-Activesense camera disables all the time while driving. It disabled cruise control, LKA and LKA warning as well as auto high beams. While driving at highway speeds, when the vehicle drifts slightly over the line it does not get corrected nor do I receive ANY warning. It's almost as if the system knows it's there but doesn't want to turn on. While I was driving one day, it was very windy and the wind blew my car into the other lane slightly and almost collided with a vehicle. If the system was working that would not have happened. The problem was addressed at the dealership and I was told…”
NHTSA complaint #11721948, 2025

Latches/Locks/Linkages 1

“Upon opening rear hatch, loud banging/knock developed that happened on every opening. Sounded as if it were damaging the body or latch. Did online research of problem and found through Mazda owners forum Mazda TSB #09-009/23. The TSB notes the rear latch has an "internal fault in the liftgate latch and/or loose bolts." Dealers are advised to confirm the issue and replace with new latch and bolts - "This repair will be covered under Mazda's New Vehicle Limited Warranty term." My vehicle had 71,500 miles at the time of the issue, just beyond the warranty limits. I took my vehicle to the local de…”
NHTSA complaint #11622433, 2024

Seat Belts 1 1 crash 3 injury

“Involved in an accident low speed on 3/17/23. Upon impact with other car passengers seat belt did not activate until passenger hit dash with her head and then it apparently engaged and threw passenger back with tremendous force injuring passenger. Upon inspection at the body shop they found the following code: U0452..invalid data received from restraints control Panel. History. They will be calling Madza for inspection. This needs to be inspected as soon as possible before someone gets killed.”
NHTSA complaint #11514192, 2023 · crash · 3 injury(ies)

Steering 1

“Multiple warning messages came on including "Pus button start malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected." "In-vehicle network malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected." "Auto light system malfunction. Turn on/off lights manually." "Power steering malfunction. Have the vehicle inspected." "Driver attention alert disabled." Vehicle would not start after this and had to be towed to a Mazda dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #11448498, 2022

Structure 1 1 injury

“The sunroof exploded while driving. If the inner shield hadnt been up the glass would have fallen on 2 people and a dog. The explosion was so loud my left ear is hurting. Nothing dropped on the sunroof. It exploded upwards. We thought our car had been shot.”
NHTSA complaint #11500731, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)

Suspension 1

“Had to replace tie rods two times before 11,000 miles.”
NHTSA complaint #11602478, 2024

Wheels 1

“On December 13, 2025, my vehicle (2021 Mazda CX-30) was serviced at a Valvoline Instant Oil Change location. During service, the technician stated he was checking tire pressure and asked whether 36 PSI was acceptable. I agreed. When I pulled out of the bay, the tire pressure warning light remained on and showed 29 PSI. I stopped immediately and informed the technician. He then stated he could not inflate the rear-left tire because he could not remove the valve stem cap due to corrosion. This was not disclosed before the vehicle was released. The technician told me I should drive the vehicle…”
NHTSA complaint #11705780, 2025