Watch for ghost touch
The 2018 Mazda3 drew more complaints than nearby years, mostly the infotainment screen pressing itself and changing stations.
Updated November 2026 · based on 110 owner complaints and 4 recalls
170 1.3x the Mazda3 average
4 free to fix at a dealer
Every Mazda3 year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Top problems and what they cost
Infotainment ghost touch
The screen selects things on its own.
Fix: Screen $400 to $800
Electrical
Backup camera recall
Back-over prevention recall.
Fix: Free under recall
Backup camera
Recalls
Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash.
An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Complaints by part
Before you buy a 2018 Mazda Mazda3
- Use the infotainment screen on the drive.Infotainment screens on these cars can freeze, reboot or go black. On many cars the backup camera and climate controls run through the same screen.30 of the 110 owner complaints about the 2018 Mazda3 involve the electrical system (27%).
- Check by VIN for open backup camera recalls.A recall is a safety fix the carmaker must do for free, even for later owners. Typing the 17-character VIN (on the dashboard and driver door) into nhtsa.gov/recalls shows any that were never done. Codes like 18V332 are recall numbers.The 2018 Mazda3 has 4 recalls on record, listed below.
Questions
Is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 reliable?
Watch for ghost touch. The 2018 Mazda3 drew more complaints than nearby years, mostly the infotainment screen pressing itself and changing stations.
How many recalls does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 have?
4 recalls. Recall repairs are free at any Mazda dealer, even for later owners. Enter the VIN on the free government recall lookup to see which are still open on a specific car.
What are the most common 2018 Mazda Mazda3 problems?
Infotainment ghost touch; Backup camera recall.
Crash rating shown for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 4 DR FWD. Repair costs are typical U.S. ranges for parts and labor, not quotes. How we score.