Mazda's last recall was for the CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid models, issued late in 2025, for front suspension bolts not tightened properly potentially causing loss of drive power. The total number of units affected? Just 1,007 cars across the 2025 model years. Mazda is generally regarded as one of the most reliable and safest automakers out there today, and it reflects positively on the brand when its biggest recall of the year so far affects fewer units than you'd need to fill up a grocery store parking lot.But, it also serves as a reminder that everyone gets recalled sooner or later, even Mazda. Which has us wondering: what's the most-recalled Mazda available on the market today? We have added up the recalls over the last ten years (looking at 2026 so far as well) to find out for ourselves. Here's what we turned up.Using primarily recall data available through the NHTSA, the most-recalled models were identified based on total recalls across a ten-year stretch; 2026 recall information is noted, but at the time of writing, no Mazda models had been recalled for that model year. Looking Back On Ten Years Of Mazda Recalls 2025 Mazda CX-70We're primarily focused on current models for this lineup, but we've included the recently-retired Mazda 6 and CX-9, as well. If we were to run these numbers a few years back, the Mazda 6 would likely come out as the most-recalled model, having scored nine recalls in 2010 alone. But we're focusing on just the last ten years for our purposes.Note that, since we're counting each model year individually, some of these recalls will be overlapping. That is, a recall affecting both the 2025 and the 2024 model Mazda 3 will be counted twice in the ten-year total, because it affects two model years. The Mazda3 Takes The (Dubious) Lead Here are our initial takeaways: The Mazda 3 takes a clear lead with 25 recalls over ten years. This has a lot to do with this car being the brand's affordable small car, with solid sales numbers across the full decade. While the CX-90 PHEV only has ten recalls in total, it's a three-year-old car, and all ten of those are for the debut model. With an average of five recalls per model year, the argument can easily be made for the CX-90 PHEV as the most frequently recalled, if not the most recalled overall. This data will favor newer models overall, especially first-year models like the CX-50 Hybrid and the CX-90, which haven't had much time to develop the kind of issues that lead to recalls. This will be taken into account when we tally up our winners and losers. What Is The Mazda 3 Being Recalled For, Anyway? 2025 Mazda 3 Hatchback Gray Front Angled ViewTo run down some of the more significant recalls that have struck the Mazda3 over the years: Unintended Emergency Braking In More Than 35,000 Units A December 19, 2019 recall for 35,390 Mazda 3s, all from the 2019 and 2020 model years, saw affected units falsely detecting objects in the road, engaging automatic emergency braking and bringing the car to a halt for no good reason. The fix involved updating the onboard software. More Than A Quarter Million Mazdas Suffered Potential Engine Stalls A June 27, 2019 recall covered 262,220 units, including a number of 2019 Mazda 3s, as well as some CX-5s and Mazda 6s dated 2018 and 2019, suffering from a powertrain control module software error that could cause the engine to stall. The fix involved reprogramming the PCM software. Fuel Pump Failure Affected More Than 120,000 Units A November 12, 2021 recall was issued for 121,038 Mazdas, including the 2018 Mazda 3, as well as a number of Mazda 6, CX-3, MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and Mazda 2 units, affected by cracks in the low-pressure fuel pump. The fix involved inspecting and replacing the fuel pump in affected units. Mazda 3 Models You Can Rely On If you're not buying a brand-new Mazda 3, and you're aiming for a used model, you'll want to look at the following models for being the most reliable. Early second-generation Mazda 3 models: These models earn the highest J.D. Power Quality and Reliability rating of the last two decades, with an 83/100 score. According to the NHTSA, these 16-year old models also have no recalls or complaints lodged with the authority, and no manufacturer bulletins or communications. 2011-2013 models have similarly high scores, with only two recalls issued across all three model years Late third-generation models from 2016 - 2018 also have high reliability ratings from J.D. Power (81 - 82 out of 100), despite various recalls listed. Of these models, 2017 models have the fewest issue reported, having resolved four of the previous model years' issues. The Most Popular Model Usually Takes The Lion's Share Of Recalls 2025 Mazda 3 Sedan Gray Rear Angled View PartialWhen we took a look at Ford, we found that the F-150 was the most-recalled Ford of the last decade. Taking a look at Mazda, we find that it's the Mazda 3. In both instances, this is no big surprise. In order for a recall to be issued, enough units need to sell for drivers to actually discover defects, and then report them in great enough numbers for the NHTSA to launch an investigation, and then initiate a recall. What Else Did We Learn? 2025 Mazda MX-5 ND Top Down Gray Overhead Rear Angled ViewIt's no surprise that the Mazda 3 turned out to be the most recalled Mazda, but we did turn up a few findings that might have been harder to guess: 2016 and 2024 were Mazda's worst year for recalls over the last decade, totaling 15 recalls across the nameplates we've listed. The Mazda CX-5 is the least-recalled Mazda for the last ten years, if we're counting models that have actually been present for all ten years. The fourth-generation Mazda 3 has generated fewer recalls on average than the third-generation, based on our data, producing eleven recalls in seven years, where the third-gen models produced twelve recalls in their last three years on the market alone. The outgoing CX9 and Mazda 6 were averaging below a single recall per model year in their final generations, so these would be some solid picks if you're looking for a used Mazda. While Mazda's low recall numbers are impressive, it's worth noting that a recall isn't necessarily bad news. Bad news is when you read that an automaker is suing the NHTSA instead of making the required changes. Automotive defects are inevitable, and an automaker actually doing its part and making the fix at their own expense means that they can be counted upon to make the safest, most dependable vehicle they can possibly produce.Sources: NHTSA, Mazda