AI Damage2018 Mazda Mazda3: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 filed 110 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and visibility. The maker issued 263 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 110
- involving a crash
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 263
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 27% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 15% of all complaints
- 3 Backover prevention 15% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 6% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Forward collision avoidance 5% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 30 complaints (27% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 87.
- Visibility: 16 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 13.
- Backover prevention: 16 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Engine: 12 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 17.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 7 complaints (6% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 7.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 110 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 | 30 | 1 | 87 |
| Visibility | 16 | 1 | 13 |
| Backover prevention | 16 | 1 | 5 |
| Engine | 12 | 1 | 17 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Service brakes | 6 | 1 | 19 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 23 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Lane departure | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 28 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Steering | 2 | 2 | 11 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
In 2023, the reverse camera would either flicker or completely shut off (displaying a blank screen) while the reverse gear is engaged. While reversing the vehicle to park onto the property the rear camera image failed to display in the vehicle, leading to a collision with the curb.
Car has electric parking brake. 1 day a year into the lease, was parked @a pump@tgas station &when came out,car had moved/rolled back. Shockingly I thought I messed up/might've forgotten2 engage parking brake, despite it becoming 2nd nature.
Coming off the bqe in nyc, on a sharp turn exit ramp lost steering control. The car veered sharply to the left into the barrier causing all the side airbags to deploy. Lucky it was at a low speed so nobody was hurt and very minor body damage caused.
According to her, the car lurched left at almost 90 degrees and it was as if she had no control over the steering and the wheel was not turning like normal power steering turns the wheel.
Rain got heavier and even after trying to actuate the wiper lever to high speed, the front wipers failed to start working again. I was in the middle lane of a three-way road and was having a hard time trying to see through to go stop and park in a shoulder.
The contact stated that while reversing, the rearview camera displayed a distorted image, nearly resulting in a collision with a parked vehicle. Several unknown warning lights illuminated, creating a driver distraction.
The contact stated that while driving uphill at 45 MPH, the vehicle sputtered, hesitated to accelerate, and the check engine warning light illuminated. When the contact firmly depressed the accelerator pedal, the engine made a knocking noise, and the vehicle stalled.
No warning lights or other signs of failure were present. I took the car to a local repair shop and they diagnosed it as a bad Body Control Module. Once the module was replaced and reprogrammed, the wipers worked as intended. Safety Recall 3219D describes the issue I had perfecly.
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 536 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Mazda3 has 46 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 110, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Backover prevention. Rear camera and parking sensors after a rear impact.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
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.
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
It is most noticeable when the A/C is first turned ON. This odor is the result of mold growth in the A/C evaporator/cooling unit which is caused by condensation, dust, and pollen within the cooling unit. This condition…
NHTSA lists 263 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, visibility, backover prevention. Total complaints: 110. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: infotainment or screen glitches (25%), warning lights, check engine (17%), rear-view camera (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?
NHTSA lists 263 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 Mazda3 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.