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#BS-2018-MAZCX3-4190

2018 Mazda CX-3Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 15 owners and 1 recall for this exact model.

Data updated ·checked October 21, 2026 · NHTSA complaints through October 19, 2026

Complaints
15
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Recalls
1
TSBs
477
✅

Preliminary Verdict

Green Light

Based on 15 complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, and 1 recalls.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

turn signal stays on after turning

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX
2

no armrest or center console

1 complaints • Severity 8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the Back Over PreventionHIGH

2 owners reported back over prevention issues — failures commonly reported around 22K miles.

!Inspect the ElectricalMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Back Over Prevention (2 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Back Over Prevention2 (13%)
Electrical2 (13%)
Engine2 (13%)
Lights1 (7%)
Collision Avoidance1 (7%)
Fuel System1 (7%)
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection1 (7%)
Brakes1 (7%)

2018 Mazda CX-3: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Back Over Prevention Issues

Back Over Prevention complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mazda CX-3, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 22,440 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 22K-mile mark.

Electrical Issues

Electrical complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mazda CX-3, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to electrical-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mazda CX-3, with 2 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Lights Issues

Lights complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2018 Mazda CX-3, with 1 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to lights-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

3
18
1
19
3
21
4
23
2
24
2
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2018 Mazda CX-3. Recent trend: stable.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (1 recall)

23V487000Aug 2024

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display properly by showing a flickering or distorted image.

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2018 Mazda CX-3 NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

The worst model year for the Mazda CX-3 is the 2016 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is engine.

2018 Mazda CX-3 vs. Class Average (Compact Cars)

This vehicle

15

Class avg

39

Below the class average — fewer complaints than typical compact cars vehicles. A good sign.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 15 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 1 recall found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated (checked October 21, 2026). NHTSA complaints received through October 19, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Mazda CX-3 Model Years

2021202020192018201720162014
View all Mazda CX-3 years →

2018 Mazda CX-3: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2018 Mazda CX-3 is related to the back over prevention, with 2 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2018 Mazda CX-3 reliable?
The 2018 Mazda CX-3 has 15 complaints, 1 crash reports, and 0 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is below the class average — a positive sign for reliability.
How safe is the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
NHTSA rates the 2018 Mazda CX-3 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2018 Mazda CX-3 problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2018 Mazda CX-3 have any recalls?
Yes, the 2018 Mazda CX-3 has 1 recall on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Mazda CX-3 problems start?
Based on 6 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 22,440 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2018 Mazda CX-3 data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 21, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 19, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins. Its numbers last changed on October 4, 2026.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
100% money-back guarantee. If the report doesn’t help you make a more informed decision, we’ll refund you — no questions asked.
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