2018 Mazda Mazda3 Problems, Recalls & Reliability
139 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, alongside 4 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 18/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Electrical leads the reports.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2018 sits among all Mazda3 years
What owners report
“The infotainment screen has begun cracking and causing a ghost touch issue. This is distracting and dangerous.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Mazda3
“Mazda infotainment system center display screen with spider cracking. Cracking makes part of display unreadable.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Mazda3
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 39 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 31,321 miles. Half of those reports fall between 8,200 and 60,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (4)
Mazda 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.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim…
Mazda 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…
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for…
Mazda 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.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners…
Mazda 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.
Fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace any incorrect exhaust valve springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact…
Technical service bulletins
460 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2018 Mazda3 TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
The 2018 Mazda Mazda3 drew 139 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 18/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).
What are the most common 2018 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 are electrical (30 complaints), other (25), and driver assistance (24).
At what mileage do 2018 Mazda Mazda3 problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Mazda Mazda3 problems around 31,321 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 8,200 and 60,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 have recalls?
4 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Mazda Mazda3. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.