RoadVitals

2018 Mazda CX-3 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 8, 2026
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda CX-3, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Driver assistance535.7%
  • Electrical214.3%
  • Engine214.3%
  • Other / unspecified17.1%
  • Brakes17.1%
  • Suspension17.1%
  • Fuel system17.1%
  • Exterior lighting17.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID 11629810 · filed Dec 10, 2024

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 had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID 11534626 · filed Jul 26, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS NUMBER: TSB:15-004-18-3539. THE CONTACT WAS UPSET THAT THE TSB WAS NOT A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,440.

NHTSA ID 11397728 · filed Feb 24, 2021

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 HAVE VOLTAGE PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE THIS. MY DEALER COULD NOT REPLICATE THIS BUT IT HAS BEEN DONE IN A STUDY BY THE KOREAN NATIONAL FORENSIC SERVICE. SINCE ALL NEW CARS HAVE THE SAME ELECTRONIC THROTTLE SYSTEMS I AM UNABLE TO BUY A CAR THAT WON'T BE VULNERABLE TO THIS. I AM CURRENTLY STILL DRIVING MY CAR WITH. MY HAND ON THE GEAR HANDLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. AS SOON AS AUTO MAKERS ADMIT THAT SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS I WILL BUY A NEW CAR FROM THE COMPANY WHO FIXES THIS PROBLEM. IN MY RESEARCH OF THIS PROBLEM I FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH NEW CARS ALL BRANDS THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. I BELIEVE THAT HUMAN ERR COULD AT TIMES BE A CONTRIBUTOR TO THE PROBLEM BUT IN MY CASE I KNOW MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I LOVE MY NEW CAR AND WOULD NOT COMPLAIN OTHERWISE. PLEASE LOOK AT DR. RONALD L. BELTS RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HIS CONCLUSIONS. THANK YOU

NHTSA ID 11124027 · filed Sep 2, 2018

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11736705 · filed May 8, 2026

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 diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11504763 · filed Jan 31, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 TOLD ME ABOUT THE BAD CONDITION OF ALL FOUR TIRES. THE DEALERSHIP FIRST DID NOT BELIEVE ME BUT WHEN I SHOWED THEM A PICTURE THEY SAID THEY CAN SELL TIRES UP TO 8 YEARS OLD AS NEW IF THEY WERE NOT PREVIOUSLY ON A VEHICLE. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS TRUE BUT IF THE TIRES WERE STARTING TO DRY ROT IT SEEMS LIKE A BAD IDEA AND CERTAINLY UNETHICAL IF NOT ILLEGAL.

NHTSA ID 11290277 · filed Dec 20, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11504763 · filed Jan 31, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11504763 · filed Jan 31, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11736705 · filed May 8, 2026

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 11577723 · filed Mar 16, 2024

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .