The 2018 Mazda CX-3 has 10 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.
0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2018 CX-3?
Generally reliable
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average
1 recall campaign on file
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model —
not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
NHTSA crash-test safety ratings
5 / 5 overall
Overall★★★★★5/5
Frontal crash★★★★★5/5
Side crash★★★★★5/5
Rollover★★★★★4/5
Driver-assist features on the tested model:
Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: No
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2018 Mazda CX-3 SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.
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What owners are saying
recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
2018 CX-3· wheels
I was sold a vehicle with "new" tires. I've only had the vehicle about 6 months and found out the tires were made in 2011 and starting to deteriorate so I had to buy actual new tires. I did not have an accident but feel there could have been a tire blowout. Luckily I had run…
While I was parking my car and braking the throttle opened wide and I jumped the curb. I reapplied the brakes hard and the car came to a stop after skidding 4 feet. (tire marks measured). I had the car towed to the dealer where they could find nothing wrong. In researching…
I was in a parking ramp, I rounded the corner going up and was pulling into a parking spot, my foot was on the break, and the car accelerated. I lurched forward into a wall of the ramp. It wasn't raining so pavement and ramp were not wet. The dealer has looked at the car, said…
Fuel injector failed without warning. A lot of fuel leaked into the engine destroying a spark plug in one cylinder and ultimately ruining the catalytic converter when fuel got into it. Independent mechanic and Mazda dealership diagnosed. Car cannot be driven.
Had a problem with your 2018 Mazda CX-3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Mazda3 and 2016-2021 CX-3 vehicles
A rearview camera that does not display properly can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera, as necessary. In addition, dealers will install a wiring harness fastening seal. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 13, 2023. Final owner letters for affected models and model years in the states of CT, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA and VA were mailed August 14, 2024. The remaining owner notification letters will be mailed at a future date, anticipated on or before May 1, 2025. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 6. Mazda's number for this recall is 6023G.
Common questions
Is the 2018 Mazda CX-3 reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.6 out of 10 based on 10 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2018 Mazda CX-3 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
On the NHTSA data, the 2018 Mazda CX-3 does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.6/10 — above the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2018 Mazda CX-3?
There isn't enough NHTSA complaint data on the 2018 Mazda CX-3 to flag a standout failure pattern. Run the VIN for open recalls — those are free to fix regardless of warranty — get a standard pre-purchase inspection, and ask the seller for service records.
Is the 2018 Mazda CX-3 a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.6 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 10 owner complaints. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2018 Mazda CX-3?
No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.
How do I check if my Mazda CX-3 has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2018 Mazda CX-3?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 10 complaints on file, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database, last synced 6 days ago. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Mazda/CX-3.
Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics.
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