2018 Mazda Mazda3: owner complaints and recalls

Complaints about the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 include 1 report of a fatality, alongside 6 crashes and 0 fires across 107 filings.

107
Complaints
4
Recalls
6
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
5
Injuries
97.2
Severity index

Severity index 97.2 - High. It weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints, so a vehicle attracting serious reports scores above one attracting many trivial ones (how this is calculated).

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 97.2p25 35p75 96cleanestworst
Where the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 sits against the quartiles of every vehicle we track.

Among the 121 2018 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 ranks 25 of 121 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 79% of its model-year peers. See the full 2018 ranking.

What actually fails

Electrical SystemElectrical System: 30 complaints (28.0%)30 28%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 25 complaints (23.4%)25 23%Visibility/WiperVisibility/Wiper: 16 complaints (15.0%)16 15%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 15 complaints (14.0%)15 14%EngineEngine: 12 complaints (11.2%)12 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 7 complaints (6.5%)7 7%Service BrakesService Brakes: 6 complaints (5.6%)6 6%Power TrainPower Train: 5 complaints (4.7%)5 5%
Systems named in complaints. One complaint can name several, so shares overlap.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3028.0%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2523.4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER1615.0%
BACK OVER PREVENTION1514.0%
ENGINE1211.2%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM76.5%
SERVICE BRAKES65.6%
POWER TRAIN54.7%

Complaints filed per year

022432018: 52019: 112020: 32021: 62022: 42023: 152024: 432025: 162026: 4 (partial year)18192021222324432526
Complaints filed per calendar year, not model year. The hatched bar is the current year and is still incomplete.
YearComplaints
20185
201911
20203
20216
20224
202315
202443
202516
2026 (year to date)4
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 5.7x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
19V27200004/04/2019VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHERMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility.
17V74500021/11/2017ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEMMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3 vehicles, equipped with an incorrect exhaust valve spring. The incorrect exhaust valve spring may fail while driving, potentially causing an engine stall.
21V87500012/11/2021FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail.
23V48700014/07/2023BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERAMazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.