Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Mazda CX-30, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 35 | 35% |
| Visibility/wiper | 8 | 8% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Air bags | 3 | 3% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 rapidl
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
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: Engine
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 a
NHTSA complaint: Visibility/wiper
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
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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 whe
NHTSA complaint: Power train
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
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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
NHTSA complaint: Lane departure
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2021 Mazda CX-30. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2021 Mazda3 and CX-30 vehicles. Air may suddenly leak from the tire air valve.
Risk: A sudden air leak from the tire air valve may cause a loss of vehicle control while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace all four tire air valves with new parts, free of charge. The recall began April 6, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-550
| Reliability raw | 79 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 91 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 87 | excellent |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 35 of them (35%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 79/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2021 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 79/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.