Compact cars · 4 model years, 2014 to 2018
Toyota Corolla vs Mazda3: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Mazda3 looks better on 4 and the Corolla on 2, with 1 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 22, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2018 | Corolla | Mazda3 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 26% | 6.0% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.1% | 0.9% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 16% | 3.7% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 35,000 | 40,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 1.0 | 2.2 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 1 |
| NHTSA investigations | 2 | 0 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Corolla owners complain about most is airbags; for the Mazda3 it is electrical. Complaints citing airbags make up 28% of all Corolla complaints, against 2.6% on the Mazda3. The Mazda3 leans the other way on backup camera: 11% of its complaints, against 0.6% for the Corolla.
Toyota CorollaMazda3
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Corolla is airbag problems (28% of its complaints). On the Mazda3 it is infotainment problems (30% of its complaints), against 4.0% on the Corolla.
| Problem | Corolla | Mazda3 |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 4.0% 32most in 2014 · 70k mi | 30% 138most in 2018 · 54k mi |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 28% 224most in 2014 · 38k mi | 1.3% 6 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 8.9% 71most in 2016 · 22k mi | 14% 67most in 2015 · 51k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 8.7% 69most in 2016 · 36k mi | 3.4% 1630k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 4.3% 3424k mi | 5.2% 2440k mi |
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 2.3% 1828k mi | 3.7% 1719k mi |
| Fuel pump failure | 1.8% 14 | 2.6% 1252k mi |
| Wheel bearing, tires or wheels | 4.2% 3327k mi | 0 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Corolla owners report problems earlier. Half the Corolla complaints that give a mileage come before 35,000 miles; for the Mazda3 the halfway point is 40,000. 63% of Corolla reports and 56% of Mazda3 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Toyota CorollaMazda3
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 478 for the Corolla and 232 for the Mazda3.
Worst and best years
The 2020 Corolla draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Corolla year for its age. No Mazda3 model year stands out from the rest.
Toyota CorollaMazda3
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Mazda3 draws more recalls: 2.2 campaigns per model year against 1.0 for the Corolla. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Toyota Corolla
4 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: visibility (1), airbags (1) and equipment (1).
- 20V-024 (airbags) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Mazda3
9 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: fuel system (4), parking brake (1) and electrical (1).
- Do not drive 15V-621 (fuel system), model years 2015 and 2016
- 23V-487 (backup camera) covers 4 model years
- 16V-684 (fuel system) covers 3 model years
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Corolla complaints report a crash: 26%, against 6.0% for the Mazda3. Fire reports: 9 for the Corolla and 4 for the Mazda3. Complaints on file report 2 deaths in the Corolla and 1 in the Mazda3 for these model years.
Toyota CorollaMazda3
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Toyota Corolla or the Mazda3 more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Mazda3 looks better on 4 and the Corolla on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Corolla has 794 complaints and the Mazda3 464 for the 4 model years from 2014 to 2018 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Corolla or the Mazda3?
The Corolla has 4 recall campaigns and the Mazda3 9 across the 4 model years from 2014 to 2018 that both have on file. The Mazda3 draws more recalls: 2.2 campaigns per model year against 1.0 for the Corolla.
What are the most common problems on the Corolla and the Mazda3?
The most reported problem on the Corolla is airbag problems (28% of its complaints). On the Mazda3 it is infotainment problems (30% of its complaints), against 4.0% on the Corolla.
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