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Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda MAZDA3: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 319 complaints per model year about the Hyundai Elantra and 131 about the Mazda MAZDA3.

Side by side

Hyundai ElantraMazda MAZDA3
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints6,7002,752
Complaints per model year319131
Recalls3827
Years to avoid20122013201720082010
Best years200620212022201720192021
Most common problemEngineSteering
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-54 mpg combined (2026)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 Hyundai Elantra: 1552006 Mazda MAZDA3: 16620062007 Hyundai Elantra: 2672007 Mazda MAZDA3: 2222008 Hyundai Elantra: 3152008 Mazda MAZDA3: 30320082009 Hyundai Elantra: 2552009 Mazda MAZDA3: 1152010 Hyundai Elantra: 3802010 Mazda MAZDA3: 68620102011 Hyundai Elantra: 4332011 Mazda MAZDA3: 1322012 Hyundai Elantra: 6542012 Mazda MAZDA3: 22620122013 Hyundai Elantra: 1,3172013 Mazda MAZDA3: 1172014 Hyundai Elantra: 3862014 Mazda MAZDA3: 13820142015 Hyundai Elantra: 2622015 Mazda MAZDA3: 1302016 Hyundai Elantra: 2932016 Mazda MAZDA3: 10420162017 Hyundai Elantra: 7712017 Mazda MAZDA3: 842018 Hyundai Elantra: 2842018 Mazda MAZDA3: 11020182019 Hyundai Elantra: 2532019 Mazda MAZDA3: 742020 Hyundai Elantra: 2552020 Mazda MAZDA3: 3220202021 Hyundai Elantra: 1322021 Mazda MAZDA3: 552022 Hyundai Elantra: 1022022 Mazda MAZDA3: 2420222023 Hyundai Elantra: 1042023 Mazda MAZDA3: 122024 Hyundai Elantra: 572024 Mazda MAZDA3: 1220242025 Hyundai Elantra: 222025 Mazda MAZDA3: 92026 Hyundai Elantra: 32026 Mazda MAZDA3: 12026
Hyundai ElantraMazda MAZDA3

Problems compared

ElantraMAZDA3
Engine1,697257
Steering1,063359
Electrical889341
Brakes886243
Airbags747210
Transmission448222
Body354272

Questions about the Hyundai Elantra vs Mazda MAZDA3

Which is more reliable, the Hyundai Elantra or the Mazda MAZDA3?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Hyundai Elantra 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 (131 vs 319), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Hyundai Elantra or the Mazda MAZDA3?

From 2006 to 2026, the Hyundai Elantra was covered by 38 recalls and the Mazda MAZDA3 by 27.

What years of the Hyundai Elantra and Mazda MAZDA3 should you avoid?

Hyundai Elantra: 2012, 2013 and 2017. Mazda MAZDA3: 2008 and 2010.

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