Jump LinksThe Third Generation Mazda 3 Averages 30 Complaints Per Model YearWhat Will It Cost To Buy (And Maintain) A 2018 Mazda 3 In 2025?If you're shopping for a used car, it's really hard to go wrong with a Mazda, any Mazda. The top seller is currently the CX-5, but that's a crossover, so what are your options if you're not running with the SUV herd, and you just want a regular compact car? The Mazda 3 has been around for a couple of decades now, and you have four generations to choose from.It's hard to find an unreliable version of the Mazda 3, but it goes without saying that some model years will be more reliable than others. So let's go year-by-year and find out which Mazda 3 is the best used car to buy.The most and least reliable models were selected based on the models with the most, and most severe, mechanical issues, based on data sourced from car maintenance and reliability databases. In this case, the best-performing Mazda 3 was the 2010 model. J.D. Power Never Met A Mazda 3 It Didn't Like MazdaTo start out, let's take a look at the Mazda 3's J.D. Power Quality & Reliability ratings. The consumer watchdog website has kept records on the car dating back to the 2007 model. Note that these numbers are based on the frequency of issues with the car, not severity, so this is only giving us half of the picture.Some key takeaways: No model year Mazda 3 holds a Q&R rating below 74/100, so it's fair to say that the car has maintained a baseline of basic reliability dating back to at least 2007. J.D. Power rates the 2010 Mazda 3 as the most dependable model year. Second place is a three-way tie between the 2017, 2018, and 2020 model years. The second and third generations of the Mazda 3 are tied for most reliable generations overall. The first-gen Mazda three ranks last, but remember, we have three first-gen model years unaccounted for in J.D. Power's database. The 2010 Mazda 3 holds an early lead according to J.D. Power, but further research tells a very different story. The 2010 Mazda 3 Is The Least, Or Most Troubled, Depending On Whom You Ask MazdaGoing to CarComplaints for some more detailed breakdowns of, well, breakdowns, here's what we get:The 2010 Mazda 3 is J.D. Power's favorite version of the car, but it's generated more reports with CarComplaints than the next three most troubled models combined. Here are some key points: The 2010 Mazda 3 has 66 complaints for clutch failure on file, typically occurring at around 39,250 miles, with an average repair cost of $1,270. Drivers have reported that a relative lack of support from Mazda has only compounded the clutch issue. The 2010 Mazda 3 has generated 59 interior accessories complaints, including "melting" dashboards and broken seat brackets. If we're to select the most reliable model from this list, remember that newer Mazdas have fewer complaints on file in total simply because they haven't been around for long enough to develop as many major problems. With that in mind, the most reliable model that is five years old or older is the 2020 edition, with just three complaints on file, while the most reliable used model year dating back a decade or more is the 2009 Mazda 3, with 16 complaints, which is pretty good for a 17-year-old car. The Third Generation Mazda 3 Averages 30 Complaints Per Model Year MazdaWith 15 reports on file, the 2018 Mazda 3 is the least troubled of the last generation. Complaints for this model range in severity from minor to major, but they're relatively few and far between. One driver reported transmission failure at 57,000 miles. Two drivers report electric parking brakes failing to engage. One driver reported clutch failure at 5,800 miles. Third-gen Mazda 3s have the usual host of interior issues, as well. A melting dashboard here (the product of adhesive residue coming up through the porous trim materials), a loose panel there. But major issues are scarce. Which Mazda 3 Will Give You The Least Amount Of Trouble? MazdaIf we're looking for a model that scores highly with both J.D. Power and CarComplaints, that's the 2018 edition, with 15 complaints on file with CarComplaints, and an 82/100 rating with J.D. Power. Not counting the very newest Mazda 3s, which haven't been on the road long enough to develop many serious issues, the 2018 model is the least troubled according to the CarComplaints, and it's tied for second most reliable according to J.D. Power.Based on the CarComplaints data alone, we'd stay away from the 2010 Mazda 3, no matter what J.D. Power says, and we'd recommend just about any third-gen model, except the 2014 if you can help it, where they were clearly still working out those first-year kinks, resulting in 66 complaints. The first year of a new model is always the most dicy, especially if it also comes with a new engine design. What Will It Cost To Buy (And Maintain) A 2018 Mazda 3 In 2026? Heading over to Kelley Blue Book for some fair market pricing estimates, here's what we get for a 2018 Mazda 3.As for maintenance costs, we've got an annual estimate courtesy of RepairPal, and a ten-year estimate from CarEdge. And there are no surprises here, given Mazda's reputation for reliability:Finally, we should note that all the maintenance and reliability data we've cited here is relevant to both the hatchback and sedan versions of the Mazda 3. The only real difference between the two is the body type and some options. Everything under the hood is essentially the same.Sources: Kelley Blue Book, CarComplaints, RepairPal, CarEdge.