2018 Mazda Cx-3 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Back Over Prevention (2) · Wheels (1) · Vehicle Speed Control (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Mazda Cx-3 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera 2023-07-14 · campaign 23V487000 · 236,100 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
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 notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipa
Service bulletins (477)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Electrical System 2026-09-11 · SA-041-26a · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical con
Engine 2026-08-10 · 01-010-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 description some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2). this is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fittin
Engine 2026-06-19 · SA-041-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this sa supersedes the previously issued sa(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. sa-061/25 12/17/25 description if you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, dtc(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal mgss diagnosis by ask
Power Train 2026-05-01 · 01-008-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. the changes are noted in red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. this may be caused by insufficient sealing at the driv
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-30 · SA-031-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
description some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged vin plate or vehicle certification label. to obtain a replacement vin plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact dag (dealer assistance group) using vin plate request form available on
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-21 · SA-029-26 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service alert supersedes the previously issued sa listed below: the changes are noted in red. sa-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 description mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. mazda recommends dealers follow the sch
Showing the 6 most recent of 477 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-08 · Fuel/Propulsion System“fuel injector failed without warning. a lot of fuel leaked into the engine destroying a spark plug in one cylinder and ultimately ruining the catalytic converter when fuel got into it. independent mechanic and mazda dealership diagnosed. car cannot be driven.…”
2024-12-10 · Back Over Prevention“the contact owns a 2018 mazda cx-3. 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 wa…”
2024-03-16 · Exterior Lighting“heavy condensation is occurring inside the driver side headlamp. a quick google search shows this is a common problem among mazda owners and mazda will not cover the repair. i am unable to get a massachusetts state inspection sticker due to this. …”
2023-07-26 · Back Over Prevention“the contact owns a 2018 mazda cx3. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v487000 (back over prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 contact …”
2023-01-31 · Suspension“the contact owns a 2018 mazda cx-3. the contact stated that while driving, the vehicle was moving from left to right. the contact stated that the brakes were making an abnormal scraping sound. there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. the local dealer was not contacted. there were no warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was not diagnos…”
2021-12-16 · Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings“was driving my grandchildren home when an alarm that i had never heard before started sounding and brake! showed up on the heads up display. the car came to a stop out in the middle of the street even though there was nothing in front of or around the vehicle. it was a good thing there was not a car behind me or they would have rear-ended my vehicl…”
2021-02-24 · Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection · 22,440 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2018 mazda cx-3. the contact stated while driving 52 mph, the blind spot detection warning indicator was not working. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to olympia mazda (2201 carriage southwest olympia, wa 98502) where the failure was diagnosed as a blind spot monitoring system failure. the contact stated that the…”
2019-12-20 · Wheels · 45,000 mi“i was sold a vehicle with "new" tires. i've only had the vehicle about 6 months and found out the tires were made in 2011 and starting to deteriorate so i had to buy actual new tires. i did not have an accident but feel there could have been a tire blowout. luckily i had run over a bolt and was trying to get a tire repair when the tire place tol…”
2018-09-02 · Unknown Or Other · 3,500 mi“while i was parking my car and braking the throttle opened wide and i jumped the curb. i reapplied the brakes hard and the car came to a stop after skidding 4 feet. (tire marks measured). i had the car towed to the dealer where they could find nothing wrong. in researching this problem it appears the electronic throttle system can at rare times h…”
2018-08-31 · Vehicle Speed Control · 12,600 mi · 💥 crash“i was in a parking ramp, i rounded the corner going up and was pulling into a parking spot, my foot was on the break, and the car accelerated. i lurched forward into a wall of the ramp. it wasn't raining so pavement and ramp were not wet. the dealer has looked at the car, said they saw break and gas pedal active at the same time. they said nothing …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.