Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2026 3.
The 2026 Mazda 3 carries forward as a compact offering paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, returning EPA fuel economy of 27 mpg city, 36 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined. Reliability data for this model year is notably lean, with just a single owner complaint logged—centered on steering—and zero recalls on record. For a researcher tracking the Mazda 3's reliability trajectory, this near-clean slate suggests the 2026 model sits among the more trouble-free entries in the nameplate's recent history, though the lone steering complaint is worth monitoring as owner feedback accumulates.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic (S6) |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 27 / 36 / 30 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive |
| Passenger volume | 93 cu ft |
| Cargo volume | 13 cu ft |
| Recommended fuel | Regular Gasoline |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Owner complaints about the 2026 Mazda 3 dominate in one area — the steering, 1 of 1 reports (100%), well ahead of the next concern. NHTSA has issued no recalls for this vehicle, so these are owner-reported concerns only. 0 of the reports describe a crash and 0 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the steering pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 63 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-010-26 | 2026-07-01 | Electrical System | COMPLIANCE WITH NEW YORK STATE GENERAL BUSINESS LAW §399‑CCCCC (CONNECTED VEHICLE… |
| SA-042-26 | 2026-06-30 | Electrical System | This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are… |
| 16-009-26 | 2026-06-30 | Electrical System | UPDATED SOFTWARE RELEASE FOR CONCERNS WITH MAZDA CONNECT INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM DESCRIPTION… |
| SA-041-26 | 2026-06-18 | Electrical System | This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in… |
| SA-027-26a | 2026-06-16 | Electrical System | This SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 27 city / 36 highway / 30 combined mpg.