2018 Mazda Mazda3 Visibility Problems

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 failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V272000 (VISIBILITY); and referred the customer to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the owner that the vehicle was not covered under the recall because the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID

11742263

Incident

May 26, 2026

Mileage

200,000 mi

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 the module was replaced and reprogrammed, the wipers worked as intended. Safety Recall 3219D describes the issue I had perfecly. My VIN is out of the range of this recall but if I had the same issue as this recall, there might be other bad parts out there and that range might need to be increased.

NHTSA ID

11726590

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

Wiper stopped functioning, in the rain. Started with the wipers making 2 wipes rapidly, then not functioning. Next day, wipers partially functioned erratically before being stuck in the up position.

NHTSA ID

11651688

Incident

Mar 29, 2025

Recall 23V-487 has been un-remedied for over a year. And it sounds like a zip tie would fix it. That's too long.

NHTSA ID

11617536

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

The wipers randomly stopped working. No matter which wiper setting was chosen, the windshield wipers would not activate. I took my car to the nearest Mazda dealer and they fixed it by replacing the Body Control Module.

NHTSA ID

11611866

Incident

Jul 22, 2024

My car has a faulty Front Body Power Module, a known issue with these cars, but Mazda keeps saying my model is not in the bracket for recalls, they say it's manufactured a day after the cutoff for the recall, so they won't give me recall repair. My windshield wipers aren't working and it's pouring rain, so this is a HUGE danger. I can't afford the $1500+ repair and don't think it's right this is a known issue for this car model and because mine is supposedly 1 day late I don't qualify for the recall care. They expect me to go to a dealership and pay more money for a diagnostic for something that is an issue, and then I have to call corporate again and they'll "Decide" if they'll cover my car or not.

NHTSA ID

11564467

Incident

Jan 7, 2024

Windshield wipers stopped working in every mode including auto rain detection mode.

NHTSA ID

11521884

Incident

May 13, 2023

My car's rear backup camera has been having issues for the last several thousand miles. I took the car in for repair, and the Mazda dealership informed me that the wiring for the backup camera has corroded. After searching various online forums, it appears that this issue is pretty common with this generation Mada3. I noticed today that Ford issued a recall for a similar problem with Mustangs.

NHTSA ID

11453738

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

The body computer experienced a malfunction leading to the wipers becoming inoperable. This can be made available for inspection. I was driving through a snow storm, my wipers stopped working without warning causing severe loss of visibility endangering myself and those around me. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. It has not, however the model of car has a recall for this, it does not extend to my specific VIN. There were no warnings. The wipers worked and halfway through a drive they stopped.

NHTSA ID

11453210

Incident

Feb 10, 2022

Front windshield wipers for my 2018 Mazda 3 stopped working without any warning while driving on the highway under heavy rain fall. I recently read online about a faulty wiper motor relay but I have not received any information from Mazda 3 about this.

NHTSA ID

11423911

Incident

Jul 7, 2021

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 VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD, AND JUST FOR A DIAGNOSTIC THEY WILL CHARGE $160 PLUS TAX. THE POTENTIAL REPAIR WOULD BE EXTRA, RANGING FROM A NEW BCM TO A NEW MOTOR, OR BOTH, SCALING UP TO $450 REPAIR BILL. THE ISSUE IS EXTREMELY SIMILAR TO A SAFETY RECALL THAT THE VEHICLE HAD FOR THE FRONT WIPER WERE THEY HAD TO CHANGE THE RELAYS FREE OF CHARGE. I CONSIDER THIS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE AS IF YOU'RE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY AT 55MPH DURING THE HEAVY RAIN AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO SEE AND VEHICLE THAT COMES AT HIGH SPEED, SUCH TRUCK THAT LOOSE THE BRAKES IN A ROUNDABOUT EXIT, THAT POSES A SAFETY RISK TO DRIVERS AND OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE. A RECALL SHOULD BE MADE FOR THIS REAR WIPER ISSUE LIKE FOR THE FRONT ONE.

NHTSA ID

11413902

Incident

Jul 25, 2020

Mileage

29,850 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLOUDY FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD THAT OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS, WIPER FLUID, AND BUFFED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A WINDSHIELD SPECIALIST WHO STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GLOBAL AUTO MALL (1099 RT. 22 WEST, NORTH PLAINFIELD, NJ 07060, (866) 233-6719) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND FLUID NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 12263978563. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO THE DEALER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,185. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. *BF CONSUMER STATED THERE REMAINS A CLOUDY FILM THAT MUST BE BUFFED TO CLEAR WINDSHIELD IN WINTER WHEN WIPERS ARE ACTIVATED IT LEAVES A FILM AS IN A SUMMERTIME BUT THE FILM, FLASH FREEZES AND OBSTRUCTS VIEW COMPLETELY. IN RAINY WEATHER - THERE IS A FILM ON WINDOW WHEN WIPERS USED. I SENT PICTURES TO NHTSA WEBMASTER.*JB

NHTSA ID

11243531

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

19,185 mi

MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS HAVE JUST STOPPED WORKING WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. I TRIED TO PULL OVER, TURN OFF MY CAR AND TURN IT BACK ON BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT WORKING. THE WIPER FLUID STILL SPRAYS.

NHTSA ID

11240932

Incident

Jul 31, 2019

THE WINDOW WIPERS STOP WORKING ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN ON THE INTERVAL SETTING. I HAVE TO TURN THEM OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN FOR THEM TO BEGIN WORKING ONCE MORE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES, USUALLY AFTER THE WIPERS HAVE SWIPED ONCE OR TWICE ON THAT SETTING WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11217116

Incident

Apr 30, 2019

Mileage

2,000 mi

ON 1/25/2019 IN THE MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO TAKE MY DOG OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF ON MY 2018 MAZDA 3 WAS CRACKED AND HAD A FAIRLY LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ON MY STREET OUTSIDE MY HOME OVER NIGHT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN FROM SOMEONE TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY CAR. HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS ACTUALLY BUBBLED UP AND AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND NOT INWARDS. BASED ON THIS I WAS ABLE TO RULE OUT SOMEONE STRIKING THE GLASS WITH FORCE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE GLASS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AS THE CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE WHILE THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID

11172322

Incident

Jan 25, 2019

Mileage

2,100 mi

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 AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO SEE THROUGH TO GO STOP AND PARK IN A SHOULDER. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND I COULD BARELY SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND BEGAN HONKING TO TRY TO STOP IN THE LEFT SHOULDER. HOWEVER, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY BEGAN TO STOP AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, BUT ANOTHER TRUCK MANAGED TO BARELY EVADE ME HOWEVER IT DID SCRAPE ME AND THE REAR OF THE CAR, I COULD NOT SEE THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE TRUCK DUE TO THE WIPERS NOT WORKING DURING THE DOWNPOUR. I HAD TO WAIT ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED, TRIED CALLING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BUT THE RAIN EASED. THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE GOT DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE WIPERS FAILURE, HOWEVER THE SAFETY CONCERN COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE SUCH AS THE VEHICLE GETTING ME INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT WHERE MORE THAN ONE CAUSALITY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. OTHER THAN THAT, THE TIME WASTED DURING MY VACATIONS AND RESOURCES TO PUSH HOTEL STAYS IS MINIMAL YET TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR. BUT NOW THE DISTRESS OF THE INCIDENTS HAS LED TO MENTAL REPERCUSSIONS.

NHTSA ID

11131123

Incident

Sep 13, 2018

Mileage

14,580 mi