Owners have filed 139 complaints
about the 2018 Mazda MAZDA3 with NHTSA between 2018 and 2026.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 13 of 21 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 37
Against the median year of the Mazda MAZDA3. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 52
10.1% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
71% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
918.8%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
1122.9%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
48.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
1327.1%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
24.2%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
36.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
48.3%
150,000+ miles
24.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 2018peak 10Jun 2026
Recalls on the 2018 Mazda MAZDA3
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2023391116,779 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: On certain vehicles, a problem with the rearview camera connector could cause distortion or flickering of the rearview camera image. Note: This recall only affects hatchback (5-door) models. Safety Risk: A rearview camera image that doesn't display correctly could reduce a driver's ability to see behind the vehicle while backing up. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect the rearview camera and install a seal for the wiring harness. The dealer will replace the rearview camera, if necessary.
Recall 202169620,762 units in Canada
Fuel System
Issue: On certain vehicles, the fuel pump could fail. If this happens, the engine may run rough or may not start and the check engine light may turn on. This could also result in a sudden loss of engine power while driving. Safety Risk: A sudden loss of engine power while driving could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the fuel pump.
Recall 201916951,682 units in Canada
Visual System
Issue: An electrical problem may cause the windshield wipers to stop working. Safety Risk: Windshield wipers that do not work could affect a driver’s visibility under certain conditions. This could increase the risk of a crash. Corrective Actions: Mazda will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the front body control module with an improved one.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
96813, HICrash
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
In 2023, the reverse camera would either flicker or completely shut off (displaying a blank screen) while the reverse gear is engaged. While reversing the vehicle to park onto the property the rear camera image failed to display in the vehicle, leading to a collision with the curb. The limited visibility out of the rear windshield for the Mazda 3 leads to a typical driver relying on the camera display to show obstructions not visible through the rear and side mirrors. This failure lead to the car impacting the curb and the passenger being shocked that the car was in an accident. If that was child or small animal, they would have been hit or run over. Luckily, this failure only resulted in property damage, a large dent in the bumper, and possible exhaust damage (see attached). A recall notice for this known Mazda camera issue was sent out in the mail by the manufacturer at the end of 2023. Mazda failed to address the issue when inquired over the phone, instead stating they "Would be in contact once a solution was found." Mazda did not reach out or notify me at any point with a solution until the incident above occurred. After contacting Mazda by phone to address the issue, they said there is still no solution found but to take the vehicle down for a diagnostic test that would be the owner's responsibility to pay for if it was found to be a "owner issue". After a brief discussion and multiple phone calls, Mazda stated they would make the repair as it was confirmed to be a Mazda issue that had just been solved. However, the car would need to be kept over the weekend and a loaner vehicle would be provided. Mazda also stated the collision was a driver issue and Mazda will not be responsible for anything that occurs while using the vehicle. At that point, the dealership was unwilling to assist me and I left. This seems to be a Mazda originating issue, if the rear camera functioned as intended, the curb would have been visible and the impact could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11603286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
96813, HICrash
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
In 2023, the reverse camera would either flicker or completely shut off (displaying a blank screen) while the reverse gear is engaged. While reversing the vehicle to park onto the property the rear camera image failed to display in the vehicle, leading to a collision with the curb. The limited visibility out of the rear windshield for the Mazda 3 leads to a typical driver relying on the camera display to show obstructions not visible through the rear and side mirrors. This failure lead to the car impacting the curb and the passenger being shocked that the car was in an accident. If that was child or small animal, they would have been hit or run over. Luckily, this failure only resulted in property damage, a large dent in the bumper, and possible exhaust damage (see attached). A recall notice for this known Mazda camera issue was sent out in the mail by the manufacturer at the end of 2023. Mazda failed to address the issue when inquired over the phone, instead stating they "Would be in contact once a solution was found." Mazda did not reach out or notify me at any point with a solution until the incident above occurred. After contacting Mazda by phone to address the issue, they said there is still no solution found but to take the vehicle down for a diagnostic test that would be the owner's responsibility to pay for if it was found to be a "owner issue". After a brief discussion and multiple phone calls, Mazda stated they would make the repair as it was confirmed to be a Mazda issue that had just been solved. However, the car would need to be kept over the weekend and a loaner vehicle would be provided. Mazda also stated the collision was a driver issue and Mazda will not be responsible for anything that occurs while using the vehicle. At that point, the dealership was unwilling to assist me and I left. This seems to be a Mazda originating issue, if the rear camera functioned as intended, the curb would have been visible and the impact could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11603286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
96813, HICrash
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
In 2023, the reverse camera would either flicker or completely shut off (displaying a blank screen) while the reverse gear is engaged. While reversing the vehicle to park onto the property the rear camera image failed to display in the vehicle, leading to a collision with the curb. The limited visibility out of the rear windshield for the Mazda 3 leads to a typical driver relying on the camera display to show obstructions not visible through the rear and side mirrors. This failure lead to the car impacting the curb and the passenger being shocked that the car was in an accident. If that was child or small animal, they would have been hit or run over. Luckily, this failure only resulted in property damage, a large dent in the bumper, and possible exhaust damage (see attached). A recall notice for this known Mazda camera issue was sent out in the mail by the manufacturer at the end of 2023. Mazda failed to address the issue when inquired over the phone, instead stating they "Would be in contact once a solution was found." Mazda did not reach out or notify me at any point with a solution until the incident above occurred. After contacting Mazda by phone to address the issue, they said there is still no solution found but to take the vehicle down for a diagnostic test that would be the owner's responsibility to pay for if it was found to be a "owner issue". After a brief discussion and multiple phone calls, Mazda stated they would make the repair as it was confirmed to be a Mazda issue that had just been solved. However, the car would need to be kept over the weekend and a loaner vehicle would be provided. Mazda also stated the collision was a driver issue and Mazda will not be responsible for anything that occurs while using the vehicle. At that point, the dealership was unwilling to assist me and I left. This seems to be a Mazda originating issue, if the rear camera functioned as intended, the curb would have been visible and the impact could have been avoided.
NHTSA complaint #11603286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 19,000 milesCoral Gables, FLCrash
SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE WAS OFF AND UNATTENDED IN PARKING LOT:MANUAL TRANSMISSION WHICH I'VE DRIVEN MY WHOLE LIFE & I'M NO SPRING CHICKEN. LIVE IN FLAT CITY WHERE HILL/ROLLING BACK HAS NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE. CAR HAS ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. 1 DAY A YEAR INTO THE LEASE, WAS PARKED @A PUMP@TGAS STATION &WHEN CAME OUT,CAR HAD MOVED/ROLLED BACK. SHOCKINGLY I THOUGHT I MESSED UP/MIGHT'VE FORGOTTEN2 ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE, DESPITE IT BECOMING 2ND NATURE. THANKED GOD DIDN'T ROLL BACK INTO ANYTHING/ANYONE, VOWED 2 BE XTRA MINDFUL/CAREFUL.TURNS OUT NO MATTER HOW CAREFUL/MINDFUL I'VE BEEN,JUST THE OTHER DAY IT HAPPENED AGAIN.THIS TIME, HUSBAND WAS IN THE CAR W/ME &SWORE SAW ME AS USUAL, AS 2ND NATURE, ENGAGE THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE. MIND U,HAVE NEVER PUT IT INTO 1ST YEAR 2 PARK BECAUSE NEVER NEEDED 2. I GUESS SHOULD HAVE THIS TIME AS BACK-UP 2 THE ELECTRIC PARKING BRAKE THAT DIDN'T ENGAGE. WE WERE ACROSS THE LOT AT THE ATM WHEN WE SAW CAR ROLLING BACK. HUSBAND RAN 2 TRY 2 STOP IT BEFORE IT COULD HIT SOMETHING BUT HE DIDN'T SUCCEED. IT WAS 2 HEAVY & ENDED UP CRASHING IN2 THE POSTS& HANDRAIL THAT I GUESS ARE THERE FOR THAT EXACT REASON. POSTS STOPPED CAR BUT HUSBAND HURT HIS WRIST & NECK IN HIS ATTEMPT 2BE SUPERMAN. POSTS OF COURSE HAD NO DAMAGE. CONTACTED MAZDA,THEY SAID THEY'D CHECK IT OUT. I REFERENCED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL IN PRIOR YEARS. THEY SAID NO RECALL HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THIS YEAR. DURING THIS WHOLE COVID-19 & HUSBAND BEING FURLOUGHED, THE LAST THING WE NEED IS AN EXTRA EXPENSE AS MY INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLE WILL BE. CAR IS @DEALER NOW & THEY'RE TESTING IT 2SEE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE IN THEIR SHOP.I HATE FOR THIS TO BE A FAULTY PART OR WARRANTY ISSUE BUT ALSO HOPING IT IS SO IT WILL BE ANNOUNCED &OTHER PEOPLE CAN LEARN ABOUT THIS HORRIBLE POSSIBILITY O GRATEFUL THAT CAR DID NOT ROLL BACK AND INJURE A PERSON OR AN ANIMAL! UGH! BEWARE!
NHTSA complaint #11330612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,500 milesGraham, NCCrash2 injured1 killed
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON 2/14/19 BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3 P.M., MY MOTHER (MELISSA DODSON) WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (A 2004 GMC ENVOY) THAT RESULTED IN BEING DOA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2018 MAZDA MAZDA3 SPORT FOUR DR AND TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON EAST HANOVER RD IN GRAHAM, NC AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE UNSUBSTANTIATED POLICE REPORT, IT STATED THAT MY MOTHER'S CAR VEERED/CROSSED THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE BEFORE IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE ENVOY WAS REPORTEDLY DOING 55 MPH UPON ENTERING THE "S" CURVE SECTION OF THE NARROW 35 MPH TWO-LANE ROAD (WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH). IN MY MUST HUMBLING OPINION, I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE TO THE ACCIDENT CAUSING MY MOTHER'S DEATH THAT GRAHAM POLICE IS NOT INVESTIGATING OR HAS NOT INVESTIGATED. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS STILL AN OPEN RECALL ON THE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE THAT MY MOTHER PURCHASED (LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT); HOWEVER, I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS CONCERN IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ENCLOSED I HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF (IN MY OPINION) INCOMPLETE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF MY MOTHER'S WRECKED VEHICLE AND ALSO I HAVE A LINK TO THE NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE ACCIDENT SITE TOO! HTTPS://WWW.THETIMESNEWS.COM/NEWS/20190215/BURLINGTON-WOMAN-KILLED-IN-THURSDAY-WRECK-POLICE-STILL-INVESTIGATING-CAUSE
NHTSA complaint #11191637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,500 milesGraham, NCCrash2 injured1 killed
ENGINE
ON 2/14/19 BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3 P.M., MY MOTHER (MELISSA DODSON) WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (A 2004 GMC ENVOY) THAT RESULTED IN BEING DOA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2018 MAZDA MAZDA3 SPORT FOUR DR AND TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON EAST HANOVER RD IN GRAHAM, NC AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE UNSUBSTANTIATED POLICE REPORT, IT STATED THAT MY MOTHER'S CAR VEERED/CROSSED THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE BEFORE IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE ENVOY WAS REPORTEDLY DOING 55 MPH UPON ENTERING THE "S" CURVE SECTION OF THE NARROW 35 MPH TWO-LANE ROAD (WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH). IN MY MUST HUMBLING OPINION, I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE TO THE ACCIDENT CAUSING MY MOTHER'S DEATH THAT GRAHAM POLICE IS NOT INVESTIGATING OR HAS NOT INVESTIGATED. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS STILL AN OPEN RECALL ON THE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE THAT MY MOTHER PURCHASED (LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT); HOWEVER, I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS CONCERN IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ENCLOSED I HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF (IN MY OPINION) INCOMPLETE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF MY MOTHER'S WRECKED VEHICLE AND ALSO I HAVE A LINK TO THE NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE ACCIDENT SITE TOO! HTTPS://WWW.THETIMESNEWS.COM/NEWS/20190215/BURLINGTON-WOMAN-KILLED-IN-THURSDAY-WRECK-POLICE-STILL-INVESTIGATING-CAUSE
NHTSA complaint #11191637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 200,000 milesSpokane, WA
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 complaint #11742263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 complaint #11726590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newark, DE
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The center dashboard information screen developed "spider cracks" and got opaque in the corners of the screen. The screen would change functions / jump around commands without being touched while driving ( from NAV to radio, change radio stations etc) - apparently called 'Ghost Touch". Mazda has been aware of the defect for some time and issued a TSB ( and settled a class action lawsuit) but we never received any notification. The dealer offered no assistance as the car was out of warranty . We paid several hundred dollars to replace the screen as the car was becoming undriveable.
NHTSA complaint #11714999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newark, DE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The center dashboard information screen developed "spider cracks" and got opaque in the corners of the screen. The screen would change functions / jump around commands without being touched while driving ( from NAV to radio, change radio stations etc) - apparently called 'Ghost Touch". Mazda has been aware of the defect for some time and issued a TSB ( and settled a class action lawsuit) but we never received any notification. The dealer offered no assistance as the car was out of warranty . We paid several hundred dollars to replace the screen as the car was becoming undriveable.
NHTSA complaint #11714999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 179,550 milesRoxbury, CT
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware of a strong fuel odor around the exterior of the vehicle and inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after refueling. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The dealer had to reschedule the appointment due to a scheduling issue. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a crack in the top of the fuel pump. The contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced, and the vehicle was being repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall with a similar failure; however, the VIN was not associated. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the vehicle needed to be taken to a dealer for a diagnostic test. The repair coverage was denied because the vehicle was not repaired by a dealer. The failure mileage was 179,550.
NHTSA complaint #11712940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grapevine, TX
POWER TRAIN
My 2018 Mazda 3 has an intermittent electrical failure on the high-speed CAN network that causes multiple safety-critical systems to fail while driving. When the fault occurs, the dash lights up with warnings for powertrain, ABS/traction, lane departure, collision-avoidance, TPMS, immobilizer, and the check-engine light. The car also hesitates or “lurches” between 15–30 mph during these events. At one point in 2024, the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway, creating a safety hazard. These failures are intermittent but repeatable. Diagnostic scans from 2023–2025 show multiple U-codes for lost communication between control modules; two later became permanent. The issue appears unrelated to any one component and affects many systems at once. The vehicle has been to every Mazda dealership in the North Texas region (Mesquite, Freeman, Hiley, Norm Reeves, Town North). All performed only basic scans; none completed a full CAN-bus or wiring-harness diagnostic. Town North kept the vehicle for six weeks (Sept–Oct 2025), replaced a coil and spark plugs, performed a camera calibration and a TCM update, but the network failures returned within 38 miles. We sought independent inspection only after dealerships repeatedly refused diagnosis whenever the warning lights were not on at the moment of arrival. In November 2025, a technician found significant internal corrosion inside the negative battery cable; touching the cable reproduced the full failure immediately. The corrosion extends deep into the wire sheathing. This appears to be an electrical defect affecting CAN communication and power/ground integrity. When the fault occurs, multiple safety systems disable at once and the vehicle behaves unpredictably. Mazda Corporate has declined further assistance, and the defect remains unresolved. I am filing this report because this is a recurring safety issue that may affect other vehicles of the same model and year.
NHTSA complaint #11700428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grapevine, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2018 Mazda 3 has an intermittent electrical failure on the high-speed CAN network that causes multiple safety-critical systems to fail while driving. When the fault occurs, the dash lights up with warnings for powertrain, ABS/traction, lane departure, collision-avoidance, TPMS, immobilizer, and the check-engine light. The car also hesitates or “lurches” between 15–30 mph during these events. At one point in 2024, the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway, creating a safety hazard. These failures are intermittent but repeatable. Diagnostic scans from 2023–2025 show multiple U-codes for lost communication between control modules; two later became permanent. The issue appears unrelated to any one component and affects many systems at once. The vehicle has been to every Mazda dealership in the North Texas region (Mesquite, Freeman, Hiley, Norm Reeves, Town North). All performed only basic scans; none completed a full CAN-bus or wiring-harness diagnostic. Town North kept the vehicle for six weeks (Sept–Oct 2025), replaced a coil and spark plugs, performed a camera calibration and a TCM update, but the network failures returned within 38 miles. We sought independent inspection only after dealerships repeatedly refused diagnosis whenever the warning lights were not on at the moment of arrival. In November 2025, a technician found significant internal corrosion inside the negative battery cable; touching the cable reproduced the full failure immediately. The corrosion extends deep into the wire sheathing. This appears to be an electrical defect affecting CAN communication and power/ground integrity. When the fault occurs, multiple safety systems disable at once and the vehicle behaves unpredictably. Mazda Corporate has declined further assistance, and the defect remains unresolved. I am filing this report because this is a recurring safety issue that may affect other vehicles of the same model and year.
NHTSA complaint #11700428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Grapevine, TX
ENGINE
My 2018 Mazda 3 has an intermittent electrical failure on the high-speed CAN network that causes multiple safety-critical systems to fail while driving. When the fault occurs, the dash lights up with warnings for powertrain, ABS/traction, lane departure, collision-avoidance, TPMS, immobilizer, and the check-engine light. The car also hesitates or “lurches” between 15–30 mph during these events. At one point in 2024, the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway, creating a safety hazard. These failures are intermittent but repeatable. Diagnostic scans from 2023–2025 show multiple U-codes for lost communication between control modules; two later became permanent. The issue appears unrelated to any one component and affects many systems at once. The vehicle has been to every Mazda dealership in the North Texas region (Mesquite, Freeman, Hiley, Norm Reeves, Town North). All performed only basic scans; none completed a full CAN-bus or wiring-harness diagnostic. Town North kept the vehicle for six weeks (Sept–Oct 2025), replaced a coil and spark plugs, performed a camera calibration and a TCM update, but the network failures returned within 38 miles. We sought independent inspection only after dealerships repeatedly refused diagnosis whenever the warning lights were not on at the moment of arrival. In November 2025, a technician found significant internal corrosion inside the negative battery cable; touching the cable reproduced the full failure immediately. The corrosion extends deep into the wire sheathing. This appears to be an electrical defect affecting CAN communication and power/ground integrity. When the fault occurs, multiple safety systems disable at once and the vehicle behaves unpredictably. Mazda Corporate has declined further assistance, and the defect remains unresolved. I am filing this report because this is a recurring safety issue that may affect other vehicles of the same model and year.
NHTSA complaint #11700428 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Riverside, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Infotainment system is cracking uncontrollably and will make the rear view camera unusable and a safety issue. It keeps resetting every minute. Mazda corporation wont pay for the repair that they are charging about 1,000 to fix it.
NHTSA complaint #11699812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
San Diego,Ca, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
No incidents
NHTSA complaint #11695885 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Clar, CA
POWER TRAIN
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The high-pressure fuel pump failed. This component failure prevents the car from starting or staying running. The check engine code confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. The failed component is currently at the Mazda dealership and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk The car suddenly stalled while driving on the roadway, creating a dangerous situation. If this had happened on the freeway or in fast-moving traffic, it could have led to a serious accident. Losing power and control of the vehicle at higher speeds poses a major safety risk to both the driver and surrounding vehicles. I was fortunate that the failure occurred on a city street rather than on the freeway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The Mazda dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, which was also verified by the check engine code. This failure caused the stalling and starting issues. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Mazda dealership, which diagnosed and confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Before the final failure, the car was hesitant to start, and after it stalled, the check engine light appeared. There were no prior warning messages or signs before the car suddenly stalled while driving. Additional details: The car is only seven years old with approximately 52,000 miles, and it is concerning that such a critical component would fail this early.
NHTSA complaint #11694610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Santa Clar, CA
ENGINE
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The high-pressure fuel pump failed. This component failure prevents the car from starting or staying running. The check engine code confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. The failed component is currently at the Mazda dealership and is available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk The car suddenly stalled while driving on the roadway, creating a dangerous situation. If this had happened on the freeway or in fast-moving traffic, it could have led to a serious accident. Losing power and control of the vehicle at higher speeds poses a major safety risk to both the driver and surrounding vehicles. I was fortunate that the failure occurred on a city street rather than on the freeway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The Mazda dealership inspected the vehicle and confirmed that the high-pressure fuel pump had failed, which was also verified by the check engine code. This failure caused the stalling and starting issues. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Mazda dealership, which diagnosed and confirmed the high-pressure fuel pump failure. It has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Before the final failure, the car was hesitant to start, and after it stalled, the check engine light appeared. There were no prior warning messages or signs before the car suddenly stalled while driving. Additional details: The car is only seven years old with approximately 52,000 miles, and it is concerning that such a critical component would fail this early.
NHTSA complaint #11694610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Perry, FL
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The touch screen in my car has developed a malfunction known as “ghost touch,” where the screen glitches and registers inputs I am not making. This failure involves the infotainment system, and the component is still available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the screen can suddenly change settings, including navigation, phone, and climate controls, while I am driving, which is distracting and dangerous. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, nor has the vehicle been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms before the failure—it began suddenly and recently without prior indication.
NHTSA complaint #11684878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Liberty, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
There is a infotainment display that sits on the center part of the dash that has touch screen capability that over time starts to fail and results in what is known as "ghost touch", where random screen settings change as though someone is using the touch screen on the infotainment screen. I had issues to where settings for screen brightness have changed causing my ability to see the controls being hindered and the radio sometimes turning up loudly and then off causing a scare distraction while driving. This screen is also used for the back up camera. There is currently a class action lawsuit for this.
NHTSA complaint #11671421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Centreville, VA
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
I got into my car and the infotainment screen was cracked. It had been parked in moderate weather (no extreme heat or cold) and just randomly had multiple small cracks across the screen. This makes the back up camera difficult to see which is a safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11666801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My screen ghost taps (goes into apps without me touching it) plus there is screen damage. I got into my car one day and it looked like the screen was cracked. But it’s on the inside. I never been into the car crash or had any accidents happen to my car or the display. It affects my driving when I am using my back camera
NHTSA complaint #11653054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hamtramck, MI
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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 complaint #11651688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vernon, NJ
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
The Infotainment system is cracking uncontrollably and will make the rear view camera unusable and a safety issue. Mazda corporation wont pay for the repair that they are charging close to 2k to do.
NHTSA complaint #11647964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chesapeake, VA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Touchscreen has the "ghost screen" problem. It has gotten progressively worse over the last year. The Mazda dealership did a firmware update about 2 years ago and that didn't help. Now the screen thinks it's being pressed constantly in the same spot so it just beeps over and over again. If I'm not on my radio, it will hit things like safety settings, emergency contacts, etc. so I have to leave my radio on all the time. I've researched this issue and it's well-known. A recall was issued for 2014-2016 models but not for anything after that.
NHTSA complaint #11647478 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Austin, TX
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mazda infotainment system center display screen with spider cracking. Cracking makes part of display unreadable.
NHTSA complaint #11645006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mazda had previously issued a Special Service Plan (SSP) to remediate issues with their Mazda Connect Center Display (infotainment system), specifically "ghost touches" and "spider cracking" of the screen: [XXX] This Special Service Plan only applied to 2014-2016 models of the Mazda3. I own a 2018 Mazda3 which has the exact same issue described in the above service plan. Searching online, I am far from the only person who is affected by this issue that continues to be present in newer models of the Mazda3. Mazda should replace my (and others) infotainment system, as it is unusable and distracting in it's current condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11641573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Baltimore, MD
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Mazda had previously issued a Special Service Plan (SSP) to remediate issues with their Mazda Connect Center Display (infotainment system), specifically "ghost touches" and "spider cracking" of the screen: [XXX] This Special Service Plan only applied to 2014-2016 models of the Mazda3. I own a 2018 Mazda3 which has the exact same issue described in the above service plan. Searching online, I am far from the only person who is affected by this issue that continues to be present in newer models of the Mazda3. Mazda should replace my (and others) infotainment system, as it is unusable and distracting in it's current condition. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11641573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Agoura Hills, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The entertainment/navigation screen randomly started developing spidering cracks on the inside of the screen and has grown exponentially. It is getting close to the point where the screen is not readable and becoming useless. I have done research and have seen that many other Mazda owners have experienced the same issue where their screens cracked from the inside rendering it useless but Mazda refuses to cover the cost of an issue that is not caused by any Mazda owner. Without this screen, I would need to hold my phone in order to use a navigation app to get around or attempt to find a phone holder so I can still get around successfully.
NHTSA complaint #11638019 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hemet, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I have a letter for an important safety recall, re: the backup camera. The letter is dated September 2023, and I called today, after experiencing worsening deterioration of my camera, and I was told that there is currently no fix. So, after 1.5 years, I have no fix for my camera? This is a safety issue
NHTSA complaint #11637155 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Coolidge, AZ
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Mazda has a warranty extension for the 2014-2016 Mazda 3 infotainment touch screen as it may malfunction and glitch. This glitch can be a distraction as the system believes that it is being touched and may cause many things to change in the car such as radio station, navigation setting, and even some vehicle setting accessible from the infotainment screen, causing distractions. However, this issue is also possible on newer 2017 and 2018 models, and there is currently no program to fix the issue. While Mazda may seem like this is not a safety as the touch screen is disabled above 5 MPH, it can still cause distractions when coming to a stop and while stopped which may result in an accident. I think this needs to be resolved and Mazda needs to acknowledge that this touch issue "Ghost Touch" can affect all Mazdas with Mazda Connect 1. Taking this to the dealership to fix is expensive as they want to replace the entire system at a cost of $1000, which I could see many people not doing leading to more dangerous vehicles on the road.
NHTSA complaint #11633634 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.