MazdaMAZDA32020Overview/mazda/mazda3/2020/base/

2020 Mazda MAZDA3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 MAZDA3.

Transmission Automatic (S6)

The 2020 Mazda3, equipped with a 6-speed automatic transmission, delivers an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, 35 mpg highway, and 30 mpg combined—figures that position it competitively in the compact sedan segment. Across its model complaint history spanning 2004 through 2024, the 2020 year falls well below the peak of 686 owner complaints recorded in 2010 and closer to the modern low of just 10 complaints in 2024, indicating this generation represents a notably more refined product in terms of owner-reported reliability. With 32 total owner complaints and 2 recalls—forward collision avoidance accounting for the top complaint area—the 2020 model sits comfortably in the middle-to-lower range of theMazda3's complaint distribution, suggesting prospective buyers can expect the improved build quality and dependability that this generation has demonstrated relative to earlier model years.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque80-108 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy26/35/30 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 Models built in Mexico · 520 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1WPE14302. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 Models built in Mexico · 520 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size215/45R18 89V; Sedan: 205/60R16 92HOEM · verified
Wheel / rimHatchback: 7; Sedan: 6.5; Optional Sedan: 7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1WPE14302
Engine air filterPAH9133A0A alt PAJ8133A0A
Fuel filterPAF313ZE0 alt PX0313ZE0
Spark plugPE5R18110A
BatteryPAF318520A9U alt 0000800035WB
Front wiper bladesBDTS67330 alt BDTT67330
Serpentine beltPX1315908 alt PEDD15908
ThermostatPYFA1516ZB alt PYFD1516ZA
Cabin air filterBDGF61J6X

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length175.6 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height56.7 in
Wheelbase107.5 in
Curb weight2945 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 35 / 30 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume93 cu ft
Cargo volume13 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the MAZDA3 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9–8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 2020 Premium 5-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Premium 5-door Hatchback 2.5L I-46.90 sec15.20 sec186 hpFWD
2020Premium 5-door Hatchback 2.5L I-47.40 sec15.70 sec186 hpFWD
2020Premium Sedan 2.5L I-48.10 sec16.20 sec186 hpAWD
2019Premium Sedan 2.5L I-47.00 sec15.40 sec186 hpFWD
2019Premium Sedan 2.5L I-47.00 sec15.40 sec186 hpFWD
2019Premium 5-door Hatchback 2.5L I-47.20 sec15.60 sec186 hpAWD
2019Premium 5-door Hatchback 2.5L I-47.30 sec15.50 sec186 hpFWD
2019Premium 5-door Hatchback 2.5L I-47.30 sec15.60 sec186 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 80-108 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 23.0 - 30.0 ft-lbs.

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug23.0 - 30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80-108 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts80-108 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.03-1.13 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.38 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.03-1.13 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Engine Oil Pressure34-75 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Engine Oil Pressure57-94 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.009-0.012 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.009-0.012 in
Intake Valve Lash0.009-0.011 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.011-0.012 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20.0-; Rear: 19.0 -
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 68.0 -; Rear: 83.0 -
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .906; Rear: .280
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: .937; Rear: .310
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .002; Rear: .004

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 80-100°20–23 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
167.0-81.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 55°-65°67–81 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
167.0-81.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 55°-65°67–81 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 75,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2020 Mazda3 marks a notable improvement in its first model year of the fourth generation, recording just 32 complaints and two recalls — a sharp drop from the 73 complaints and six recalls logged for the 2019 debut year, with technical service bulletins also declining from 815 to 714. This downward trajectory continues through 2021 (49 complaints, one recall) and 2022 (23 complaints, zero recalls), positioning the 2020 model as the inflection point where the new platform's early teething issues, particularly in forward collision avoidance systems (12 of 32 complaints), began to resolve. Across the full 2004–2024 federal record, complaint volumes peaked in 2010 (686) and have trended downward since the mid-2010s, with the 2020–2024 cohort representing the quietest five-year span on record. The data doesn't specify root causes for the forward collision avoidance reports, but the absence of crash or fire complaints in 2020 is reassuring. With low complaint density, minimal recalls, and a clear generational improvement curve, the 2020 Mazda3 is a strong candidate for a used purchase, especially if the advanced driver-assistance calibration has been verified.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
714
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
32
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Forward Collision Avoidance12
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Service Brakes,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Tires1
Power Train1
Suspension1
Steering,Suspension1
Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

19V907000Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency BrakingReported 19/12/2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Mazda3 vehicles. The Smart Brake System (SBS) can falsely detect an obstacle while driving, activating the automatic emergency braking system and… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will update the SBS software. In addition, vehicles with certain production dates will receive an instrument cluster software update or…

20V346000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:CaliperReported 12/06/2020

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2020 CX-30 and Mazda3 vehicles. The front brake caliper mounting bolts may not have been tightened properly during assembly, possibly allowing the calipers to… Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front brake caliper bolts, tightening them as necessary. If bolts are missing, the affected brake caliper will be replaced…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 714 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-042-262026-06-30Electrical SystemThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SAs listed below. The changes are…
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
09-019-262026-06-17Electrical SystemThis bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are…
SA-027-26a2026-06-16Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted…
SA-040-262026-06-15Electrical SystemThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific MAZDA3. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2020 MAZDA3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the MAZDA3 get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 35 highway / 30 combined mpg.