2018 Mazda Mazda3 Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

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.Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 40,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.Owner complaint, filed 2025

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.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 17,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact called on behalf of a customer who owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the windshield wipers had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the contact's auto repair shop, Tire-Rama, where the windshield wiper switch was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Upon investigation, the contact associated the…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 200,000 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 66,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the abnormal sound would increase. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who listened to the engine and ended up removing…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 118,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at 65 MPH, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that his girlfriend was able to safely drive the vehicle to her destination. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 105,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 179,550 miles

The contact’s sister owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that while attempting to depress the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a defective fuel pump.…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 51,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The rear brake pads on my 2018 Mazda 3 have worn out prematurely, thinning to as little as 2MM in just 40,000 miles, while my front brakes are still 6MM. Brand new brakes are 10MM. I have heard the exact same complaint from the owner of a 2016 Mazda 3, which is the same generation. In the majority of cars, front brakes are supposed to…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Only rear brakes severely corroded and near failure at 13200 miles despite routine washing and regular maintenance at dealership, while the front brakes are pristine. Rear brake noises began at 13200 miles and was mentioned to dealer during routine maintnenace at 13283 miles. Dealership refuses to accept this is a manufacturing defect…Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

I was driving on the highway in sixth gear and went to down shift to get on to the off ramp and was unable to get it out of sixth gear. I had it towed to the dealer where they were going to charge 4 grand just to tear down the transmission to tell me what might be wrong. So I towed it home and once I was able to get the transmission…Owner complaint, filed 2024

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…Owner complaint, filed 2025

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 11,000 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 3,800 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 34 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 34 miles

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

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.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 74 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 18 miles

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The rear wiper stopped working during a drive in heavy rain conditions, similarly like it happen to the same vehicle for the front wipers 6 months after I got the vehicle. I tried to schedule an appointment with the dealer but with the pandemic it was not possible. When I went for the actual appointment on march 2021, they told me the…Owner complaint, filed 2021, at 29,850 miles

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…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 8,200 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

The TPMS light goes off when traveling over 50 MPH, indicating low air pressure on one or more tires. I pulled over, assuming I had a flat; upon visual inspection, everything looked normal. I drove to the nearest air station, checked all four tires, had the proper psi, and reset the TPMS; the light turned off. Then, 10 minutes into the…Owner complaint, filed 2024

I purchased a car over a year ago for my son from crystal auto mall in greenbrook, nj, a mazda 3,2018. The day after I got the car the tire pressure light came on. I took it in for service and they advised that nothing was wrong with the tire or rim. On the way home from that service visit the tire light came on again. My son commutes so…Owner complaint, filed 2019