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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2019 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON 1/25/2019 IN THE MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO TAKE MY DOG OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF ON MY 2018 MAZDA 3 WAS CRACKED AND HAD A FAIRLY LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ON MY STREET OUTSIDE MY HOME OVER NIGHT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN FROM SOMEONE TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY CAR. HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS ACTUALLY BUBBLED UP AND AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND NOT INWARDS. BASED ON THIS I WAS ABLE TO RULE OUT SOMEONE STRIKING THE GLASS WITH FORCE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE GLASS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AS THE CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE WHILE THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,100 |
| Sep 2018 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2018, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE STATE, DURING A ROAD TRIP ON MY WAY FROM CANNON BEACH TO PORTLAND IN THE STATE OF OREGON AROUND 9PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 MAZDA 3 ON NORTH OF HIGHWAY I-5 WHEN RAIN BEGAN DURING RUSH TRAFFIC. I HAD THE AUTOMATIC FRONT WIPERS ON AND THEY BEGAN PERFORMING THEIR FUNCTION FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT OFF. 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. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND I COULD BARELY SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND BEGAN HONKING TO TRY TO STOP IN THE LEFT SHOULDER. HOWEVER, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY BEGAN TO STOP AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, BUT ANOTHER TRUCK MANAGED TO BARELY EVADE ME HOWEVER IT DID SCRAPE ME AND THE REAR OF THE CAR, I COULD NOT SEE THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE TRUCK DUE TO THE WIPERS NOT WORKING DURING THE DOWNPOUR. I HAD TO WAIT ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED, TRIED CALLING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BUT THE RAIN EASED. THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE GOT DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE WIPERS FAILURE, HOWEVER THE SAFETY CONCERN COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE SUCH AS THE VEHICLE GETTING ME INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT WHERE MORE THAN ONE CAUSALITY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. OTHER THAN THAT, THE TIME WASTED DURING MY VACATIONS AND RESOURCES TO PUSH HOTEL STAYS IS MINIMAL YET TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. BUT NOW THE DISTRESS OF THE INCIDENTS HAS LED TO MENTAL REPERCUSSIONS. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 3 Medical attention | 14,580 |
| Jul 2018 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PLEASE HELP ME I HAD PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM OURISMAN MAZDA IN LAUREL MD. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT I HAD AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT AS LONG AS THE ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON ITS HOW IT WAS DESIGN. WELL IT KEEPS THE SAME SPEED AND RPM WHEN YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I GUESS YOUR AGENCY HAS CONTACTED MAZDAUSA FROM MY LAST EMAIL. THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD PURCHASED A 2016 AND ALL ABOUT THE WARRANTY. I HAD PURCHASED A 2018 MAZDA 3 SPORT SEDAN. VIN : (XXXX). I HAD BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT WORKED AT A DEALER THAT THEY HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER I HAD LET THE LEAD MECHANIC DRIVE MY CAR AND HE SAID LOOK IT KEEPS THE SAME SPEED (AFTER HE TOOK HIS FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR) I TOLD HIM ITS NOT CRUSE CONTROL. HE THEN SAID THAT'S HOW IT WAS DESIGN. I BELIEVE IT'S IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | 34 |
| Jul 2018 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN I LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR IT STILL MAINTAINS THE SPEED IT WAS GOING BEFORE I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT'S HOW ITS DESIGN. HE EVEN TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND SAID SEE IT STILL KEEPS THE SPEED I SAID ITS NOT CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MAZDAUSA. MAZDAUSA IGNORES ME. I JUST NEED TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. WHEN I GO TO PASS IT STAYS FOR A WHILE AT THE SPEED I HIT BEFORE I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34 |
| May 2018 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY QUIET BOULEVARD IN NIAGARA FALLS, NY. I WAS THERE ON A FAMILY TRIP WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEARD MULTIPLE VERY LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE TOP OF OUR CAR, ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE SUNROOF OR OUR 6-MONTH OLD 2018 MAZDA 3 HAD JUST EXPLODED! WE PARKED TO CHECK WHETHER AN OBJECT HAD FALLEN INTO THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, THANKFULLY THE INSIDE SUNROOF BLIND WAS SHUT BECAUSE MANY OF US COULD HAVE GOTTEN INJURED FROM GLASS PIECES FLYING EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE CAR OTHERWISE. NOW, TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, OUR MAZDA DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING THAT AN OBJECT MUST HAVE HIT THE CAR AND SAY THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO OUR INSURANCE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHEN IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT COULD GET OTHER PEOPLE INJURED IN THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE REASONS I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IS BECAUSE WE HEARD ANOTHER VERY LOUD NOISE AND THE HOLE GOT SUBSTANTIALLY BIGGER WHILE PASSING BY THE SAME BOULEVARD LATER THAT NIGHT, MY WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A MOMENT AS IT HAPPENED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY SITUATION, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY EVEN WHEN THERE IS A CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE ON THIS AND 9 DIFFERENT REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE FOR MAZDA3 VEHICLES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,200 |
| May 2018 | SEATS | HEADRESTS TIP TOO FAR FORWARD. THEY CAUSE GREAT PAIN TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. PEOPLE HAVE RESULTED IN REMOVING THE HEADRESTS ALTOGETHER. IF THE VEHICLE CAUSES A PERSON PAIN, THEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 74 |