AI Damage2018 Mazda CX-3: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Mazda CX-3 filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. The maker issued 291 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 291
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 20% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 10% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 10% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 10% of all complaints
- 7 Exterior lighting 10% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 10% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 91.
- Engine: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Backover prevention: 2 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 16.
- Wheels: 1 complaints (10% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 6-speed
Drive: FWD, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 91 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Backover prevention | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 7 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Lane departure | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 100 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 31 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 29 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I lurched forward into a wall of the ramp. It wasn't raining so pavement and ramp were not wet. The dealer has looked at the car, said they saw break and gas pedal active at the same time. They said nothing was wrong with the car.
A lot of fuel leaked into the engine destroying a spark plug in one cylinder and ultimately ruining the catalytic converter when fuel got into it. Independent mechanic and Mazda dealership diagnosed. Car cannot be driven.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Heavy condensation is occurring inside the driver side headlamp. A quick google search shows this is a common problem among Mazda owners and Mazda will not cover the repair. I am unable to get a Massachusetts state inspection sticker due to this.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.
Was driving my grandchildren home when an alarm that I had never heard before started sounding and BRAKE! showed up on the heads up display. The car came to a stop out in the middle of the street even though there was nothing in front of or around the vehicle.
The contact stated while driving 52 mph, the blind spot detection warning indicator was not working. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to olympia mazda (2201 carriage southwest olympia, [ZIP]) where the failure was diagnosed as a blind spot monitoring system failure.
I did not have an accident but feel there could have been a tire blowout. Luckily I had run over a bolt and was trying to get a tire repair when the tire place told me about the bad condition of all four tires.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,486 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 29% least complained about).
On average one model year of the CX-3 has 19 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 10, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),…
If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been…
- Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2)
This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high temperature environment and the seepage is…
- Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label
To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a…
- Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems
Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Services performed outside of Mazda's factory scheduled maintenance are not…
- If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake…
If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly…
- Some customers may experience one or more electrical malfunctions after a vehicle body repair
A newly painted fender stay (2) may be causing a poor front harness (1) ground connection. The front fender stay (2) newly painted surface at ground point (3), where attachment bolt (4) is seated, may create a poor…
- Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the rear seat after fuel fill
The concern will likely occur if the fuel tank is overfilled (more fuel is added after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off automatically) or filled up normally in high ambient temperatures and the fuel expands. No repair is…
- Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt…
Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto…
- There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very…
There is a concern that some water pumps are being replaced that are not faulty, due to signs of a very small coolant leak from the bleed hole. This Service Alert is to inform you about the water pump sealing mechanism…
- There are currently 2 methods for cutting a new auxiliary key blank
A. Auxiliary Key Trace Cut Method • B. Auxiliary Key Code Cut Method 2019 and newer models require a 10-digit key code to accurately cut keys • 5-digit codes CANNOT be provided for 2019 and newer vehicles (the…
- Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter…
Some customers may report an odor or water in the HVAC system and upon inspection, the cabin air filter may be found to be wet.
- If the right-side Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) control module is replaced for any reason, it is also…
If the right-side Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) control module is replaced for any reason, it is also necessary to replace the left-side BSM control module in order to complete the radar aiming procedure. If the…
NHTSA lists 291 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, backover prevention. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (10%), fuel system, fuel smell (10%), jerking, harsh shifts (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
NHTSA lists 291 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Mazda CX-3 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.