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Mazda MAZDA3 vs Toyota Corolla: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2026, owners filed an average of 131 complaints per model year about the Mazda MAZDA3 and 378 about the Toyota Corolla.

Side by side

Mazda MAZDA3Toyota Corolla
Model years compared2006-20262006-2026
Owner complaints2,7527,945
Complaints per model year131378
Recalls2740
Years to avoid200820102006200720092010
Best years201720192021201720182022
Most common problemSteeringAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economyNo data22-50 mpg combined (2026)

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 Mazda MAZDA3: 1662006 Toyota Corolla: 84020062007 Mazda MAZDA3: 2222007 Toyota Corolla: 8362008 Mazda MAZDA3: 3032008 Toyota Corolla: 31420082009 Mazda MAZDA3: 1152009 Toyota Corolla: 1,4592010 Mazda MAZDA3: 6862010 Toyota Corolla: 1,24420102011 Mazda MAZDA3: 1322011 Toyota Corolla: 5852012 Mazda MAZDA3: 2262012 Toyota Corolla: 44620122013 Mazda MAZDA3: 1172013 Toyota Corolla: 2012014 Mazda MAZDA3: 1382014 Toyota Corolla: 27120142015 Mazda MAZDA3: 1302015 Toyota Corolla: 2202016 Mazda MAZDA3: 1042016 Toyota Corolla: 21620162017 Mazda MAZDA3: 842017 Toyota Corolla: 1782018 Mazda MAZDA3: 1102018 Toyota Corolla: 13620182019 Mazda MAZDA3: 742019 Toyota Corolla: 2052020 Mazda MAZDA3: 322020 Toyota Corolla: 31320202021 Mazda MAZDA3: 552021 Toyota Corolla: 1882022 Mazda MAZDA3: 242022 Toyota Corolla: 10320222023 Mazda MAZDA3: 122023 Toyota Corolla: 742024 Mazda MAZDA3: 122024 Toyota Corolla: 6620242025 Mazda MAZDA3: 92025 Toyota Corolla: 322026 Mazda MAZDA3: 12026 Toyota Corolla: 182026
Mazda MAZDA3Toyota Corolla

Problems compared

MAZDA3Corolla
Steering3591,063
Electrical341641
Body272287
Engine257810
Brakes243644
Transmission222468
Airbags2103,281
Acceleration90844

Questions about the Mazda MAZDA3 vs Toyota Corolla

Which is more reliable, the Mazda MAZDA3 or the Toyota Corolla?

Between 2006 and 2026, the Mazda MAZDA3 has 2 years to avoid and the Toyota Corolla 4. 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 378), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda MAZDA3 or the Toyota Corolla?

From 2006 to 2026, the Mazda MAZDA3 was covered by 27 recalls and the Toyota Corolla by 40.

What years of the Mazda MAZDA3 and Toyota Corolla should you avoid?

Mazda MAZDA3: 2008 and 2010. Toyota Corolla: 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010.

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