Mazda Maintenance Schedule: Miata, CX-5, Mazda3, Mazda6

Mazda's US schedules for the MX-5 Miata, CX-5 and Mazda6 replace the engine oil and filter when the wrench indicator light comes on, and at least once every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km) since the last change. The Mazda3 does it at every maintenance, no later than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12 months after the previous one. Spark plugs are replaced every 75,000 miles (120,000 km), or every 40,000 miles (64,000 km) on the 2.5L Turbo, and the coolant is first replaced at 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 10 years (Mazda3: 120 months).

This hub covers four Mazda models: the ND MX-5 Miata (2019–2026), the second-generation (KF) CX-5 (2019–2021), the fourth-generation (BP) Mazda3 (2019–2025) and the third-generation (GJ/GL) Mazda6 (2018–2021). The figures come from Mazda's US owner's manuals and scheduled maintenance booklets for those models and years. Other Mazda models, generations and model years have no figures here.

Quick reference: Mazda schedules by item

Mazda marks items R (replace), I (inspect) or, for the 2019 CX-5 diesel air filter, C (clean), and these guides keep those verbs. The figures above are the normal values. Severe-service values are in each model guide.

MX-5 Miata (ND, 2019–2026)

For the 2.0L Miata, Mazda replaces the oil and filter when the wrench indicator light comes on, and at least every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km). The spark plugs are replaced every 75,000 miles (120,000 km), and the 6-speed manual's transmission oil every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 4 years. The engine air filter interval changes for 2026, and the convertible-top drains have their own cleaning schedule.

Full guide: Mazda MX-5 Miata maintenance schedule

CX-5 (KF, 2019–2021)

The CX-5 follows the same oil rule as the Miata: when the wrench indicator light comes on, and at least every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km). The cabin air filter is replaced every 15,000 miles (≈24,000 km) or 24 months. The spark plugs are every 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on the 2.5L but every 40,000 miles (64,000 km) on the 2.5L Turbo. The 2019 model year also had a 2.2L diesel with its own rows, which are in the full guide.

Full guide: Mazda CX-5 maintenance schedule

Mazda3 (BP, 2019–2025)

The Mazda3 counts services as maintenances. The oil and filter are replaced at every one, which comes due when the vehicle status monitor comes on and no later than 10,000 miles (16,000 km) or 12 months after the previous one. The engine air filter is replaced at every third maintenance, so at most every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 36 months. The spark plugs are every 75,000 miles (120,000 km), or every 40,000 miles (64,000 km) on the 2.5L Turbo, which is in the 2021–2025 model years covered here.

Full guide: Mazda Mazda3 maintenance schedule

Mazda6 (GJ/GL, 2018–2021)

The Mazda6 uses the same oil rule as the Miata and CX-5: when the wrench indicator light comes on, and at least every 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km). The cabin air filter is replaced every 15,000 miles (≈24,000 km) or 24 months. The spark plugs are every 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on the 2.5L and every 40,000 miles (64,000 km) on the 2.5L Turbo.

Full guide: Mazda Mazda6 maintenance schedule

Schedule 1, Schedule 2 and the wrench indicator

The Miata, CX-5 and Mazda6 manuals print two maintenance schedules. Schedule 1 is the normal one. Schedule 2 is for severe use and has its own fixed intervals for several items. Most are shorter, but some filter mileages are higher than Schedule 1's. For the oil on these three models, Mazda names the severe conditions: extended idling or low-speed operation, such as a police car, taxi or driving school car, and dusty conditions. The oil then moves to fixed maintenance, every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6 months.

The wrench indicator light is what normally triggers an oil change on these three models, with the 12 months or 7,500 miles (12,000 km) as the longest allowed gap. Mazda says to reset the oil data after every change.

The Mazda3's schedule is written differently, as numbered maintenances, with its own note on severe driving. Severe driving there means long idling or low-speed driving, as with police cars, taxis or driver's education cars, or driving mainly on mountain roads. The oil and filter then go every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6 months, and Mazda says to set the vehicle status monitor manually. Under severe driving only the oil and filter interval changes on the Mazda3.

What the four models share

• Coolant. All four models have a long first interval and a shorter repeat. The Miata, CX-5 and Mazda6 say first at 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 10 years, then every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 5 years. The Mazda3 says first at 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 120 months, then every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 60 months. Mazda recommends FL-22 coolant for all four and warns that other coolant may seriously damage the engine and cooling system.
• Spark plugs. The turbo engines have the shorter interval: 40,000 miles (64,000 km), against 75,000 miles (120,000 km) for the others. The turbo is in the CX-5, Mazda3 and Mazda6 only.
• Inspections. Drive belts, disc brakes, brake lines and hoses, and the steering and suspension are all I items, not replacements, on every one of the four models.

What Mazda does not schedule

These items have no interval in the US schedules for the four models in this hub:

• Brake fluid replacement. The Miata, CX-5 and Mazda6 schedules have no brake fluid replacement row and inspect the fluid level only under Schedule 2. The 2019–2021 Mazda3 schedules list a replacement only for cars with an electrical booster, and Mazda's US documents don't say any US Mazda3 has one. The Mazda3 inspects the brake and clutch fluid level at every maintenance.
• Automatic transmission fluid. No row on any of the four.
• Manual transmission fluid. The Mazda3 has no mileage interval. The Miata's 6-speed manual interval is in its guide.
• Rear differential oil and transfer oil. There is no mileage interval on the Miata, CX-5 or Mazda3. Where the 2019 and 2020 booklets list them, it is only with a note that the oil should be replaced if the component has been submerged in water.
• Battery. The Miata and CX-5 schedules have no battery interval.

If a shop quotes one of these as factory scheduled, ask which page of the owner's manual or maintenance booklet it comes from.