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Kia Forte vs Mazda MAZDA3: reliability compared

From 2009 to 2024, owners filed an average of 160 complaints per model year about the Kia Forte and 128 about the Mazda MAZDA3.

Side by side

Kia ForteMazda MAZDA3
Model years compared2009-20242009-2024
Owner complaints2,5652,051
Complaints per model year160128
Recalls1826
Years to avoid201420172010
Best years202020212022201720192021
Most common problemEngineElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-34 mpg combined (2024)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

2009 Kia Forte: 12009 Mazda MAZDA3: 11520092010 Kia Forte: 2212010 Mazda MAZDA3: 6862011 Kia Forte: 1542011 Mazda MAZDA3: 13220112012 Kia Forte: 2932012 Mazda MAZDA3: 2262013 Kia Forte: 1952013 Mazda MAZDA3: 11720132014 Kia Forte: 4442014 Mazda MAZDA3: 1382015 Kia Forte: 2622015 Mazda MAZDA3: 13020152016 Kia Forte: 1372016 Mazda MAZDA3: 1042017 Kia Forte: 3052017 Mazda MAZDA3: 8420172018 Kia Forte: 1362018 Mazda MAZDA3: 1102019 Kia Forte: 1502019 Mazda MAZDA3: 7420192020 Kia Forte: 782020 Mazda MAZDA3: 322021 Kia Forte: 692021 Mazda MAZDA3: 5520212022 Kia Forte: 282022 Mazda MAZDA3: 242023 Kia Forte: 662023 Mazda MAZDA3: 1220232024 Kia Forte: 262024 Mazda MAZDA3: 12
Kia ForteMazda MAZDA3

Problems compared

ForteMAZDA3
Engine1,187167
Electrical326284
Airbags294124
Brakes220190
Transmission218168
Lights179117
Body81243
Visibility40182
Seats18167

Questions about the Kia Forte vs Mazda MAZDA3

Which is more reliable, the Kia Forte or the Mazda MAZDA3?

Between 2009 and 2024, the Kia Forte has 2 years to avoid and the Mazda MAZDA3 1. The Mazda MAZDA3 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda MAZDA3 drew fewer complaints per model year (128 vs 160), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Forte or the Mazda MAZDA3?

From 2009 to 2024, the Kia Forte was covered by 18 recalls and the Mazda MAZDA3 by 26.

What years of the Kia Forte and Mazda MAZDA3 should you avoid?

Kia Forte: 2014 and 2017. Mazda MAZDA3: 2010.

More compact cars comparisons

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