2015 Mazda CX-3
Most riskA 2015 car is first year of the generation, so it carries the launch teething faults and most of the recall activity. At roughly 149k miles, 7 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.
Mazda CX-3 years to avoid
Ranked from 8 documented faults · reviewed by the VehicleFaults Research Team
Quick answer
On documented faults and where each build sits in the production run, the Mazda CX-3 years to approach most carefully are 2015 and 2016. The 2022 and 2021 cars carry the least risk. No year is automatically a bad buy · service history and condition still decide it, so use the year-by-year table below as the starting point and then check the specific car.
The years to approach most carefully
2016 Mazda CX-3
Most riskA 2016 car is an early build, while launch issues were still being worked through. At roughly 135k miles, 7 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.
The best years to buy
2022 Mazda CX-3
Safer buyA 2022 car is the final year of the generation, usually the best-built cars in the run. At roughly 54k miles, 0 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.
2021 Mazda CX-3
Safer buyA 2021 car is a late-run build, generally the most sorted part of the generation. At roughly 68k miles, 2 of the 8 documented faults are usually already due.
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Build the inspection planYear-by-year risk
Faults due is how many of the 8 documented faults an average example of that year has usually already reached at typical mileage.
| Year | Typical miles | Faults due | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ~54k | 0 / 8 | Safer buy |
| 2021 | ~68k | 2 / 8 | Safer buy |
| 2020 | ~81k | 6 / 8 | Check carefully |
| 2019 | ~95k | 6 / 8 | Check carefully |
| 2018 | ~108k | 7 / 8 | Most risk |
| 2017 | ~122k | 7 / 8 | Most risk |
| 2016 | ~135k | 7 / 8 | Most risk |
| 2015 | ~149k | 7 / 8 | Most risk |
Guidance only · built from documented fault patterns and where each build sits in the production run, not from an individual car's condition.
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