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Ford Focus vs Mazda MAZDA3: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2018, owners filed an average of 1,070 complaints per model year about the Ford Focus and 195 about the Mazda MAZDA3.

Side by side

Ford FocusMazda MAZDA3
Model years compared2006-20182006-2018
Owner complaints13,9112,533
Complaints per model year1,070195
Recalls2416
Years to avoid20122013201420082010
Best years2006200820092017
Most common problemTransmissionSteering
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy22-34 mpg combined (2018)No data

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Ford Focus: 2052006 Mazda MAZDA3: 16620062007 Ford Focus: 3912007 Mazda MAZDA3: 2222008 Ford Focus: 2502008 Mazda MAZDA3: 30320082009 Ford Focus: 2292009 Mazda MAZDA3: 1152010 Ford Focus: 2872010 Mazda MAZDA3: 68620102011 Ford Focus: 1132011 Mazda MAZDA3: 1322012 Ford Focus: 3,7722012 Mazda MAZDA3: 22620122013 Ford Focus: 2,1122013 Mazda MAZDA3: 1172014 Ford Focus: 2,6062014 Mazda MAZDA3: 13820142015 Ford Focus: 1,0222015 Mazda MAZDA3: 1302016 Ford Focus: 1,1852016 Mazda MAZDA3: 10420162017 Ford Focus: 9002017 Mazda MAZDA3: 842018 Ford Focus: 8392018 Mazda MAZDA3: 1102018
Ford FocusMazda MAZDA3

Problems compared

FocusMAZDA3
Transmission6,317198
Engine2,549222
Fuel system1,827120
Steering1,673350
Electrical1,407307
Acceleration74285
Body652259
Brakes245217

Questions about the Ford Focus vs Mazda MAZDA3

Which is more reliable, the Ford Focus or the Mazda MAZDA3?

Between 2006 and 2018, the Ford Focus has 3 years to avoid and the Mazda MAZDA3 2. The Mazda MAZDA3 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda MAZDA3 drew fewer complaints per model year (195 vs 1,070), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Focus or the Mazda MAZDA3?

From 2006 to 2018, the Ford Focus was covered by 24 recalls and the Mazda MAZDA3 by 16.

What years of the Ford Focus and Mazda MAZDA3 should you avoid?

Ford Focus: 2012, 2013 and 2014. Mazda MAZDA3: 2008 and 2010.

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