Complaint volume
106 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Mazda Mazda3 Complaints
106 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, grouped by component category.
106 Total complaints
6 Crash reports
0 Fire reports
2 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are electrical system, unknown or other, visibility/wiper. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 6 crash reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injury reports, and 1 fatality report. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 35 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 38,779 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to electrical system, unknown or other, visibility/wiper?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Mazda Mazda3?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Mazda Mazda3
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 complaints?
6 Crash
0 Fire
2 Injury
1 Fatality
5 Towed
2 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Mazda Mazda3 complaint categories?
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16
VISIBILITY/WIPER 14
BACK OVER PREVENTION 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5
SERVICE BRAKES 5
ENGINE 4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 3
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION 2
106 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | While I was driving on the highway, I went to use my front wipers and there was no response when trying to active them. The rear wiper, front and rear washer fluid sprayers all worked. 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. My VIN is out of the range of this recall but if I had the same issue as this recall, there might be other bad parts out there and that range might need to be increased. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The center dashboard information screen developed "spider cracks" and got opaque in the corners of the screen. The screen would change functions / jump around commands without being touched while driving ( from NAV to radio, change radio stations etc) - apparently called 'Ghost Touch". Mazda has been aware of the defect for some time and issued a TSB ( and settled a class action lawsuit) but we never received any notification. The dealer offered no assistance as the car was out of warranty . We paid several hundred dollars to replace the screen as the car was becoming undriveable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle and inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after refueling. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The dealer had to reschedule the appointment due to a scheduling issue. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the top of the fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced, and the vehicle was being repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer for a diagnostic test. The repair coverage was denied because the vehicle was not repaired by a dealer. The failure mileage was 179,550. | Crash: No Fire: No | 179,550 |
| Nov 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | My 2018 Mazda 3 has an intermittent electrical failure on the high-speed CAN network that causes multiple safety-critical systems to fail while driving. When the fault occurs, the dash lights up with warnings for powertrain, ABS/traction, lane departure, collision-avoidance, TPMS, immobilizer, and the check-engine light. The car also hesitates or “lurches” between 15–30 mph during these events. At one point in 2024, the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway, creating a safety hazard. These failures are intermittent but repeatable. Diagnostic scans from 2023–2025 show multiple U-codes for lost communication between control modules; two later became permanent. The issue appears unrelated to any one component and affects many systems at once. The vehicle has been to every Mazda dealership in the North Texas region (Mesquite, Freeman, Hiley, Norm Reeves, Town North). All performed only basic scans; none completed a full CAN-bus or wiring-harness diagnostic. Town North kept the vehicle for six weeks (Sept–Oct 2025), replaced a coil and spark plugs, performed a camera calibration and a TCM update, but the network failures returned within 38 miles. We sought independent inspection only after dealerships repeatedly refused diagnosis whenever the warning lights were not on at the moment of arrival. In November 2025, a technician found significant internal corrosion inside the negative battery cable; touching the cable reproduced the full failure immediately. The corrosion extends deep into the wire sheathing. This appears to be an electrical defect affecting CAN communication and power/ground integrity. When the fault occurs, multiple safety systems disable at once and the vehicle behaves unpredictably. Mazda Corporate has declined further assistance, and the defect remains unresolved. I am filing this report because this is a recurring safety issue that may affect other vehicles of the same model and year. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The Infotainment system is cracking uncontrollably and will make the rear view camera unusable and a safety issue. It keeps resetting every minute. Mazda corporation wont pay for the repair that they are charging about 1,000 to fix it. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | No incidents | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The high-pressure fuel pump failed. This component failure prevents the car from starting or staying running. The check engine code confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. The failed component is currently at the Mazda dealership and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk The car suddenly stalled while driving on the roadway, creating a dangerous situation. If this had happened on the freeway or in fast-moving traffic, it could have led to a serious accident. Losing power and control of the vehicle at higher speeds poses a major safety risk to both the driver and surrounding vehicles. I was fortunate that the failure occurred on a city street rather than on the freeway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The Mazda dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, which was also verified by the check engine code. This failure caused the stalling and starting issues. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Mazda dealership, which diagnosed and confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Before the final failure, the car was hesitant to start, and after it stalled, the check engine light appeared. There were no prior warning messages or signs before the car suddenly stalled while driving. Additional details: The car is only seven years old with approximately 52,000 miles, and it is concerning that such a critical component would fail this early. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The touch screen in my car has developed a malfunction known as “ghost touch,” where the screen glitches and registers inputs I am not making. This failure involves the infotainment system, and the component is still available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the screen can suddenly change settings, including navigation, phone, and climate controls, while I am driving, which is distracting and dangerous. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, nor has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the failure—it began suddenly and recently without prior indication. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | There is a infotainment display that sits on the center part of the dash that has touch screen capability that over time starts to fail and results in what is known as "ghost touch", where random screen settings change as though someone is using the touch screen on the infotainment screen. I had issues to where settings for screen brightness have changed causing my ability to see the controls being hindered and the radio sometimes turning up loudly and then off causing a scare distraction while driving. This screen is also used for the back up camera. There is currently a class action lawsuit for this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | I got into my car and the infotainment screen was cracked. It had been parked in moderate weather (no extreme heat or cold) and just randomly had multiple small cracks across the screen. This makes the back up camera difficult to see which is a safety concern. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My screen ghost taps (goes into apps without me touching it) plus there is screen damage. I got into my car one day and it looked like the screen was cracked. But it’s on the inside. I never been into the car crash or had any accidents happen to my car or the display. It affects my driving when I am using my back camera | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Wiper stopped functioning, in the rain. Started with the wipers making 2 wipes rapidly, then not functioning. Next day, wipers partially functioned erratically before being stuck in the up position. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The Infotainment system is cracking uncontrollably and will make the rear view camera unusable and a safety issue. Mazda corporation wont pay for the repair that they are charging close to 2k to do. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Touchscreen has the "ghost screen" problem. It has gotten progressively worse over the last year. The Mazda dealership did a firmware update about 2 years ago and that didn't help. Now the screen thinks it's being pressed constantly in the same spot so it just beeps over and over again. If I'm not on my radio, it will hit things like safety settings, emergency contacts, etc. so I have to leave my radio on all the time. I've researched this issue and it's well-known. A recall was issued for 2014-2016 models but not for anything after that. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Mazda infotainment system center display screen with spider cracking. Cracking makes part of display unreadable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Mazda had previously issued a Special Service Plan (SSP) to remediate issues with their Mazda Connect Center Display (infotainment system), specifically "ghost touches" and "spider cracking" of the screen: [XXX] This Special Service Plan only applied to 2014-2016 models of the Mazda3. I own a 2018 Mazda3 which has the exact same issue described in the above service plan. Searching online, I am far from the only person who is affected by this issue that continues to be present in newer models of the Mazda3. Mazda should replace my (and others) infotainment system, as it is unusable and distracting in it's current condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The entertainment/navigation screen randomly started developing spidering cracks on the inside of the screen and has grown exponentially. It is getting close to the point where the screen is not readable and becoming useless. I have done research and have seen that many other Mazda owners have experienced the same issue where their screens cracked from the inside rendering it useless but Mazda refuses to cover the cost of an issue that is not caused by any Mazda owner. Without this screen, I would need to hold my phone in order to use a navigation app to get around or attempt to find a phone holder so I can still get around successfully. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I have a letter for an important safety recall, re: the backup camera. The letter is dated September 2023, and I called today, after experiencing worsening deterioration of my camera, and I was told that there is currently no fix. So, after 1.5 years, I have no fix for my camera? This is a safety issue | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Mazda has a warranty extension for the 2014-2016 Mazda 3 infotainment touch screen as it may malfunction and glitch. This glitch can be a distraction as the system believes that it is being touched and may cause many things to change in the car such as radio station, navigation setting, and even some vehicle setting accessible from the infotainment screen, causing distractions. However, this issue is also possible on newer 2017 and 2018 models, and there is currently no program to fix the issue. While Mazda may seem like this is not a safety as the touch screen is disabled above 5 MPH, it can still cause distractions when coming to a stop and while stopped which may result in an accident. I think this needs to be resolved and Mazda needs to acknowledge that this touch issue "Ghost Touch" can affect all Mazdas with Mazda Connect 1. Taking this to the dealership to fix is expensive as they want to replace the entire system at a cost of $1000, which I could see many people not doing leading to more dangerous vehicles on the road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The driver side if the door handle metallic wrap has begun peeling, I reached for my door handle and was cut by the wrap as it had torn away from the glued seems. It is small enough to cut my hand but barely visible to the naked eye. I had to put tape over the door handle to prevent further cuts from happening on my fingers. I took 2 photos as soon as the injuries happened and I realized what it was that was causing me to bleed from my scrape. The vehicle currently has a class action suit for the gas fuel pump and i contacted mazda to fix the pump and replace the door handle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | NHTSA: #23V-487 This recall has not been resolved yet despite it being established in July 2023. States no remedy available, and this is very frustrating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while reversing, the rearview camera image was flickering and occasionally failed to display an image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer recommended that the rearview camera be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Oct 2024 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Recall 23V-487 has been un-remedied for over a year. And it sounds like a zip tie would fix it. That's too long. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was parked in a downtown garage, and the vehicle would not start after many attempts, after about 45 minutes of trying (waiting 5 minutes between tries). The engine would turn normally and sounded like it was trying to start, but didn't fully engage. It finally did after 45 mins, and I drove it to the local Mazda dealer in Honolulu. I noticed the check-engine light was on at that time (but not before the incident). They ran a diagnosis, and couldn't replicate the issue, and said it may be a battery problem with low voltage, due to the engine's error codes. But I questioned that since the engine was able to turn normally and adequately at all starting attempts. And the battery was only 2 years old. So I replaced the battery at their recommendation. About 2 hours after picking up the car from the dealer, the same issue happened again. I recorded the issue on my phone this time, and gave it to the dealer. And this time I didn't want to chance it, so had the car towed back to the same dealer. They couldn't replicate the issue immediately, but after several attempts (over a day), they finally experienced it. They said the issue is the fuel pump. I am the original owner, and had purchased the car new from a Mazda dealership, and it has less than 26K miles on it. I researched previous recalls with this same issue on Mazdas, even the same year and model, and it appears to related: [XXX] [XXX] No one was physically harmed due to this issue, but it was certainly a safety risk. If the fuel pump fails while driving, the driver could lose control of the vehicle while in motion. I have attached the invoices for the repairs. I have contacted Mazda Customer Experience and they assigned a case number # [XXX]. However, I was informed that the repairs are unlikely to be covered as there is no open recall on the VIN regarding this issue. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while reversing, the camera was flickering on and off and the camera was fuzzy. There were no warning lights illuminated. 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 60,000 |