Owners have filed 26 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the engine, steering, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2022Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2022 Mazda 3: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/3
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2022's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
Worth adding to your 2022 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2022 Mazda 3. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 31 mpg |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 4WD, FWD | 28–30 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Oil consumption, low-oil warnings
3,000–6,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2022 Mazda 3, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Oil disappears between scheduled changes, and the low-oil warning comes on long before service is due. In most reports the light appears every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, and about a quart brings the level back up. Owners find no visible leaks. Some cars start doing this within the first 6,000 miles. Owners say dealers can't explain it and offer no fix. One report describes a low oil pressure warning at highway speed. None of these reports mention a crash or fire.
The most serious reports describe sudden loss of control. In one, the wheel jerks to the right after a loud noise while the car speeds up on its own. That crash deployed the airbags, totaled the car, and injured someone, on a car with about 3,000 miles. In another, a car shifted into reverse lunges forward and crashes, and that owner also reports false pedal-misuse and lane-assist warnings. A separate, less urgent complaint is a steering wheel surface that wears early, with warranty claims approved for some owners and denied for others.
Driver-assist failures are the main safety concern. In one crash, automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning do nothing before impact, and then the dash fills with collision, brake, and sensor error messages. Other complaints describe the infotainment unit glitching and the navigation and backup camera going dead. One report lists a battery that died at 19,742 miles with no cause found, plus a transmission that won't shift above third gear on mountain grades unless the driver shifts manually.
The car brakes hard when nothing is in the way. Adaptive cruise control slows down for vehicles in other lanes, especially where turn lanes or lane lines are missing. The automatic braking system can also bring the car to a sudden full stop on an empty freeway exit. Owners warn that this kind of braking could get the car rear-ended. Neither report mentions an actual crash, and one owner says repeated complaints to the dealer and the automaker have not fixed it.
Excerpts from complaints 3 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
It has an oil consumption issue. Every 3,000-3,500 miles is will give the oil low light. It will be 1 quart low. The car takes 6 quarts of 5w30 synthetic oil and requires oil changes every 7,500-8,000 miles. I have had to put a quart in every time. I have taken it into the dealership and a third party oil service as well. The dealership has no idea why it keeps running through the oil. They state that it's a known issue but no recall.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2024
At around 26,528 miles my 2022 CX-30 2.5s (not the turbo) developed a "Low Oil Pressure" warning while driving between 55-65mph on 07/06/2025. The car has had regular oil and filter changes about every 5K miles. The last oil and filter change was at 25,259 mileage on 05/25/2025. There aren't any visible oil leaks. I have read that this is a common problem for other Mazda CX-30 years 2021- 2022.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
car was put on rear and it leaped forward and crashed and caused property damage and driver was shocked. faulty system, Collison system failure, reverse gear failure. on two different occasions car initiated warning like misuse of pedals when car was rolling down which was errored warning. false lane assist warnings.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2022
The steering wheel seems to prematurely wear on newer Mazda vehicles including my Mazda CX-30 from 2022. Mazda claims hand sanitizer to be the main culprit but I suspect quality issues and materials to play a factor. Many can be found with wear on the steering wheel even starting with less than 50 thousand miles. Some have received warranty claims while others are denied.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
While exiting the freeway there were no cars in front of my vehicle. The vehicles “smart braking system” triggered seemingly at random and brought the vehicle to an immediate stop. This is incredibly dangerous.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2023
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2022 ranks joint second for owner complaints among 7 3 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2022 is the fourth model year of the 3's fourth generation (2019–2023).
Recall repairs are free at any Mazda dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2022-2023 CX-30 and 2023 CX-50 vehicles. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) Hydraulic Control Unit (HCU) may be damaged, which can result in reduced braking ability.
Risk: Reduced braking ability can increase the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the ABS HCU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 12, 2023. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 5823D.
Cars shoppers compare with the Mazda 3, with their own 2022 checklists.
2022 owner complaints, side by side
