2018 Mazda Mazda3: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 138 complaints
138
Total Complaints
19,185mi
Median Mileage
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Top Issue
9
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

2,000 25th Percentile
19,185 Median Mileage
39,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
30
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
25
VISIBILITY/WIPER
15
ENGINE
12
BACK OVER PREVENTION
12
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
7
SERVICE BRAKES
6
POWER TRAIN
5
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
3
WHEELS
2

Severity Assessment

9
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"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."
"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!..."
"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!..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28