Our data shows that brake, engine, and fuel system issues are the most widely reported.
There’s no question that the 2020 Mazda CX-30 offers a sleek design and stands out in the crowd. The automaker claims that it “inspires confidence.” However, once customers with brake, engine, or fuel problems get behind the wheel, their confidence quickly diminishes.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2021 2022 2023
The most common complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2020 Mazda CX-30 relate to issues with the brakes, engine, and fuel/propulsion system. In many cases, issues relate to at least two of these components — and issues are varied.
In addition, there are also complaints that relate to forward collision avoidance, seat belts, steering, structure, and the wheels of the car.
Thousands of 2020 CX-30 and other Mazda vehicles are also the subject of recalls.
An owner from Pennsylvania tackles the recall issues head-on in an NHTSA complaint. Sitting with a new 2020 model-year vehicle, the owner cites several issues including the:
The complaint states that these issues began in January 2020, adding, “This is not a safe vehicle anymore.” After sending a letter to Mazda headquarters with a cc to the dealership and getting no response, the complaint requests: “I want a lifetime bumper-to-bumper warranty on this vehicle or full reimbursement toward a 2021 model.” The complaint continues, “I should not have to worry about the safety of my vehicle with a new model. It is a Mazda experiment, not mine.”
The general consensus amongst owners who have experienced brake problems is, quite simply, that the 2020 CX-30 brakes are not safe! A big issue relates to the forward collision avoidance system.
An owner from Colorado tells how the emergency assist brake engaged and brought the car to a complete stop. “There were no cars or objects ahead of me and fortunately the cars behind me were able to stop.”
The automatic emergency braking system was also an issue for an owner from New Jersey. Another owner states that the car has stopped on its own 11 times because of this problem. “I can get hit from behind since the car is suddenly and unexpectedly braking. The dealership has not been able to reproduce the problem. The local dealership told me that Mazda is aware of the problem, but does not know what is causing it or how to fix it.”
A Florida owner who also identified the brake problem as an engine problem reported that the dealership had needed to use an alternator to restart the vehicle. This was after the dealership hadn’t found anything wrong with the car. “There is something wrong with this car involving the engine and brakes.” But, at the time of the complaint, no one could say what exactly was to blame.
Then there was an owner from California who stated that after braking while preparing to exit the highway, “the car hesitated for 2 seconds before brakes engaged.” This had been an issue for a while since ownership. Another problem was the vehicle accelerating spontaneously.
While several of the problems relating to 2020 CX-30 engines also relate to the brakes, there are also several that relate to the battery and/or oil consumption. Similarly, a large number of engine problems are also identified as fuel/propulsion problems.
An owner from Georgia states, “Every 1,000 miles the low oil light comes on. I have 24,000 miles on the car and this only started about 4,000 miles ago. I have to add a quart of oil every 1-2,000 miles.”
An owner from California describes a brake issue that also appeared to relate to the engine and fuel system. “I was driving (the) car on the highway, and as Iprepared to exit, I braked and the car hesitated for 2 seconds before brakes engaged. The car has also had hesitation upon acceleration periodically.” The complaint also states that this has been an issue since just a few weeks after owning the CX-30. According to the complaint, the local dealership hadn’t been able to solve the issue.
One of the complaints worth noting is from an owner in New York who identified the problem as a fuel/propulsion system issue. It was an “absolute nightmare.”
It’s a long story that started with a flooded engine. “But (they) never took any action to release any of the water, repeatedly saying I was not covered.” After being serviced three times, the owner discovered that there had been a manufacturer safety recall. This included a note that the “fuel tank may leak”.
After issuing a claim via the insurance company, he discovered that the Mazda dealer hadn’t followed through with evidence that the owner had asked him to submit. Unsurprisingly, the Mazda dealer “ignored my calls, and messages and failed to take part in any repair towards my week-old vehicle.”
Even though many owners experience enormous problems with their vehicles, this doesn’t mean that they are all lemons. But, if you have recurring problems that impact your use and/or value of your Mazda CX-30, then you might be one of the unlucky ones! You don’t have to live with your problem. There may be a way out! After all, every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of lemon owners.
All you have to do is call the Lemberg Law Helpline or fill out a contact form. We’ll assess your problems free of charge and get back to you. At the end of the day, the law will make Mazda pay the charges for vehicle lemon law legal fees.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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