2018 Mazda MAZDA3 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
108 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
27,425 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 108 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 12 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 10.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 6.5% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 6.5% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 16 |
| Back Over Prevention | 12 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Power Train | 5 |
Electrical System: 30; Unknown Or Other: 26; Visibility/Wiper: 16; Back Over Prevention: 12; Engine: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Service Brakes: 6; Power Train: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 72 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 15 |
| 2024 | 43 |
| 2025 | 16 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2018: 5; 2019: 11; 2020: 3; 2021: 6; 2022: 4; 2023: 15; 2024: 43; 2025: 16; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11131123 · 2018-09-25 (September 25, 2018)
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 A…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11268307 · 2019-10-14 (October 14, 2019)
I HAD A SCARY SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2018 MAZDA 3 YESTERDAY. I HAD LEFT THE CAR RUNNING SO THAT MY DOG WOULD HAVE A/C. MY CAR IS HAS STANDARD TRANSMISSION. I PULLED UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON BUT AS I WAS EXITING THE CAR MY DOG ACCIDENTALLY PUT HER PAW ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON AND THE CAR STARTED GOING BACKWARDS. THANK GOODNESS I WAS ABLE TO REACH IN AND PULL THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUTTON BACK UP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY, NOT ONLY POTENTIALLY DAMAGING MY CAR AND OTHER PEOPLE'S PROPERTY BUT GOD FORBID MY CAR ROLLED INTO A PERS…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11240844 · 2019-07-31 (July 31, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS EXPERIENCING DIFFERENT ELECTRICAL FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WARNING CHIME SOUNDED WHEN THE SEAT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE CONTACT HAD TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BEAT TO STOP THE WARNING SOUND. IN ADDITION, BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS FAILED TO ROLL UP AFTER BEING DOWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM SECOND INT…
Owner-reported narrative. 18 miles reported. Look up ODI 11240844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11325490 · 2020-05-21 (May 21, 2020)
THE BATTERY IN MY 2018 MAZDA 3 (TOURING) HAS DIED 3 TIMES IN ABOUT YEAR'S TIME. AFTER THE FIRST TIME, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS JUST A FLUKE--THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY ANYTHING. THEY PUT A BRAND NEW BATTERY IN. AFTER THE SECOND BATTERY DIED, THE DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS BECAUSE WE WEREN'T MAKING LONG DRIVES IN THE CAR. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A BRAND NEW ONE--AND THEY ASSURED ME IT WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE INCLUDING THE ALTERNATOR (I ASKED ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR SPECIFICALLY). NOW, THAT BATTERY HAS DIED. I WILL CALL THE DEALER TOMORROW TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11325490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11507490 · 2023-02-15 (February 15, 2023)
The contact's daughter owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at an unknown speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failur…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11507490 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11529167 · 2023-06-27 (June 27, 2023)
I have a 2018 Mazda 3 hatchback 2.5l with a faulty fuel pump. I bought the car 1 year old with 2k mikes on it in 2019 from Jake Sweeney Mazda in Cincinnati ohio. They tell me the issue with power loss and stalling I need a new fuel pump it's failing cost is $1600 to repair. Then I learn a few days later on my own 121,000 2018-2109 Mazda 3 and others were recalled due to a faulty fuel pump with the exact problem I have manufactured by Denso. But I'm told my vin # isn't on the recall. The Denso fuel pump is the brand. However no one at the deal…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11529167 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11202646 · 2019-04-20 (April 20, 2019)
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 MAZDA 3 2.5L TOURING HATCHBACK. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AS ITS NEW OWNER ONCE, FROM THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO MY HOME, WHICH WAS LESS THAN 20 MILES, WHEN THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED: I STARTED THE ENGINE FOR MY SECOND TRIP WITH THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY UNUSUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SO I DROVE TO MY INTENDED DESTINATION WHICH WAS ONLY 7 MILES AWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE TO M…
Owner-reported narrative. 34 miles reported. Look up ODI 11202646 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11499959 · 2023-01-03 (January 3, 2023)
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The contact was unaware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's husband added fuel to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted 15 minutes later. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated because there was …
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11499959 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181686 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE IN THE RIGHT LANE ON 3 LANE WIDE I-95 SOUTH IN CONNECTICUT AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, APPX 55-60 MPH. 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. SHE CROSSED OVER ALL THREE LANES, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER SO THAT THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM FRONT TO BACK. SHE SAID IT WAS AS IF SHE HAD NO STEERING CONTROL AT ALL. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT INJURED…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11181686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11186935 · 2019-03-14 (March 14, 2019)
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. I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR, THE AIRBAG SAVED HIM FROM HITTING HIS HEAD INTO THE WINDOW. THE TOWTRUCK DRIVER SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE THE STEERING COLOM DETACHED.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11186935 at NHTSA ↗