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2018 Mazda Mazda3

Gas

Midsize Cars
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 4

Complaints6 crash · 5 injured · 1 died reported 110

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 32 mpg

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2018 Mazda Mazda3 is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize sedan with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the 3 5-Door, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 110 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2018 Mazda Mazda3

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
3 5-Door	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	37	32	$2,100
3 4-Door	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	38	31	$2,150
3 4-Door	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	28	37	31	$2,150
3 5-Door	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	37	31	$2,150
3 4-Door	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	27	36	30	$2,250
3 5-Door	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	26	35	30	$2,250
3 4-Door	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	34	29	$2,300
3 5-Door	Gas	FWD	2.5L 4-cyl	25	33	28	$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38874, 38866, 38867, 38873, 38868, 38875, 41259, 41260.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
3 5-Door	7 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV30 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door	7 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 / California LEV-III SULEV30	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
3 4-Door, 3 5-Door	3 / 10	California LEV-II ULEV125 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 125	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors	5
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	2 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

155 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Seating

Seating capacity

5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain	FWD/Front-Wheel Drive
Transmission speeds	6

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Automatic emergency braking, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control

Optional: Adaptive cruise control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Grand Touring, Sport, Touring). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	175.6–180.3 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	70.9 in
Height	57.5 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Track, front	61.4 in
Track, rear	61.4 in
Curb weight	2,926–3,051 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	59/41 to 60/40

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 4 configurations: GT 4-door Sedan, Gx/Gs 4-door Sedan, Sport GT 4-door Hatchback, Sport Gx/Gs 4-door Hatchback. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database

●moderate

Back Over Prevention

6023G

236,100 vehicles 42% reported repaired

Problem 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. Risk 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, anticipa

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF Chronology PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V487000 reported Jul 14, 2023 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

5321K

121,038 vehicles 86% reported repaired

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3, Mazda6, 2019 CX-3, 2018-2019 MX-5, CX-5, CX-9, and 2019-2020 Mazda2 vehicles. The impeller inside the low-pressure fuel pump may crack and deform, potentially causing the fuel pump to fail. Risk Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pumps, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 18, 2022. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 5321K.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 21V875000 reported Nov 12, 2021 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Visibility

3219D

187,880 vehicles 70% reported repaired built Jul 20, 2015 – Jul 18, 2017

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles. A defective windshield wiper relay may cause the windshield wipers to become inoperative, reducing the driver's visibility. Risk Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of crash. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front body control module with a new module which uses an improved wiper relay design, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 3219D.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V272000 reported Apr 4, 2019 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

1717K

144 vehicles 100% reported repaired built Oct 9, 2017 – Oct 18, 2017

Problem Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018 Mazda3 vehicles, equipped with an incorrect exhaust valve spring. The incorrect exhaust valve spring may fail while driving, potentially causing an engine stall. Risk An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Fix Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engines and replace any incorrect exhaust valve springs, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin January 20, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1717K.

Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 17V745000 reported Nov 21, 2017 Mazda North American Operations the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Mazda3

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2018 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Mazda publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Mazda’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

110complaints filed

6 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries · 1 deaths reported

12 per 10,000 built · Mazda reported 93,231 Mazda3 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2018: 5 · 2019: 11 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 6 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 43 · 2025: 16 · 2026: 7

Most-cited components

Electrical System 30

Unspecified 26

Visibility/Wiper 16

Back Over Prevention 16

Engine 14

Fuel/Propulsion System 11

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Front windshield wipers for my 2018 Mazda 3 stopped working without any warning while driving on the highway under heavy rain fall. I recently read online about a faulty wiper motor relay but I have not received any information from Mazda 3 about this

Visibility/Wiper Jul 8, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11423911

Only rear brakes severely corroded and near failure at 13200 miles despite routine washing and regular maintenance at dealership, while the front brakes are pristine. Rear brake noises began at 13200 miles and was mentioned to dealer during routine maintnenace at 13283 miles.

Service Brakes Jun 19, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11421470

On March 29, 2021, I had my 2018 Mazda 3 serviced, oil and filter chance, and inspection, at my local Auto repair shop. They indicated that the belt tensioner and belt needed replacement, due to oil leaking, from the tensioner, on to the belt.

Engine Jun 1, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11419256

The rear wiper stopped working during a drive in heavy rain conditions, similarly like it happen to the same vehicle for the front wipers 6 months after I got the vehicle. I tried to schedule an appointment with the dealer but with the pandemic it was not possible.

Structure at 29,850 miles Apr 26, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11413902

The charge warning system came on and then a few minutes later my car completely shuts down in the middle of traffic it happened on february 3rd and I had another incident on february the 9th 2021 I took the car in to get looked at my Mazda and they couldn't find anything wrong without having the indication when I clearly told them my…

Electrical System at 48,000 miles Feb 9, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11395489

Coming off the bqe in nyc, on a sharp turn exit ramp lost steering control. The car veered sharply to the left into the barrier causing all the side airbags to deploy. Lucky it was at a low speed so nobody was hurt and very minor body damage caused. I had my son in the car, the airbag saved him from hitting his head into the window.

Steering at 11,000 miles Mar 14, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11186935

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Mazda itself: 17 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 16 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 18 per 100,000 built. Every Mazda3 model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 32k

miles, typically

Half the 32 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 11,000 and 80,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 8

10k–20k 4

20k–30k 2

30k–40k 4

40k–50k 2

50k–60k 1

60k–70k 1

70k–80k 1

80k–90k 2

90k–100k 0

100k–150k 5

150k + 2

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
4 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%
5 HB FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension CSP13Mazda connect infotainment system limited warranty extension.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Mazda warranty extension CSP12DENSO LOW-PRESSURE FUEL PUMP CUSTOMER SERVICE PROGRAM WARRANTY EXTENSION: Attention ALL Mazda Dealers: This is a Warranty Extension and not a recall campaign.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Mazda warranty extension (9) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 462

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-11

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 441 service bulletins, 15 warranty extensions, 6 others

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Engine, Equipment Adaptive/Mobility, Power Train.

SA-041-26a Service bulletin
2026-09-11 · Electrical System
DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the electrical concern. Below are a few examples of unusual electrical concerns caused by aftermarket devices. Example
01-010-26 Service bulletin
2026-08-10 · Engine
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. 01-012/22 10/06/22 DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may exhibit accumulation of dried coolant (1) around the water pipe (2). This is caused by a gap between the housing and pipe due to a press fitting during the manufacturing process. The accumulated coolant is solidified and plugs the gap in high
SA-041-26 Service bulletin
2026-06-19 · Engine
This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. SA-061/25 12/17/25 DESCRIPTION If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...), interview the customer before proceeding with normal MGSS diagnosis by asking if any aftermarket devices have been installed. Aftermarket devices may be the cause of the elec
01-008-26 Service bulletin
2026-05-01 · Power Train
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red. 01-008/23 06/05/23 Some vehicles may exhibit rattling noises from the engine compartment and oil leakage from the drive belt auto tensioner. This may be caused by insufficient sealing at the drive belt auto tensioner damper when the auto tensioner fully operates under both high ambient temperat
SA-031-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-30 · Unknown Or Other
DESCRIPTION Some vehicles may require the replacement of a damaged VIN plate or vehicle certification label. To obtain a replacement VIN plate (bulkhead-mounted and visible through the lower-left area of the windshield), contact DAG (Dealer Assistance Group) using VIN Plate Request Form available on One Mazda. To obtain a replacement vehicle certification label (located on the B􀀀pillar or front do
SA-029-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-21 · Engine
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red. SA-011/24 02/12/24, 06/06/24, 07/29/24 DESCRIPTION Mazda has developed factory recommended scheduled maintenance services that support all major vehicle systems. Mazda recommends dealers follow the scheduled maintenance tables as cited in the vehicle-specific workshop manual or owner's manual. Servic
SA-026-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-16 · Engine
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-002/19 09/30/19 and 12/19/19 DESCRIPTION If an engine assembly is replaced after a catastrophic internal mechanical failure, clean the intake manifold internally before installing a replacement engine assembly. If the intake manifold is not cleaned properly, the replacement engine may f
SA-023-26 Service bulletin
2026-04-11 · Fuel/Propulsion System
This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued M-Tip(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text. MT-003/22 03/02/22 DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain about a tapping or knocking noise coming from the rear seat after fuel fill. The concern will likely occur if the fuel tank is overfilled (more fuel is added after the fuel pump nozzle shuts off automatically) or filled up normally

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
C1001 C1001 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Forward Collision Avoidance	7 bulletins · 2 owner reports
U3000 U3000 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	9 bulletins
B14F0 B14F0 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Forward Collision Avoidance	5 bulletins
P0780 P0780 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0842 P0842 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0847 P0847 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0872 P0872 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P0877 P0877 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
P1738 P1738 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Power Train	5 bulletins
B108E B108E on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Electrical System · Battery →	4 bulletins
P0126 P0126 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	4 bulletins
P2507 P2507 on Mazda →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	4 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.5%

failed emissions

2,340 initial inspections of 2,296 vehicles.

Measure	The 2018 Mazda3	Every 2018 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.5%	3.0%	2,334
Failed the safety inspection	3.8%	1.9%	2,340
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.17%	0.22%	2,340
Miles driven a year	9,007	10,002	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	74,580	82,833	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2018 vehicle” is every 2018 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Mazda3 by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2026 A 0 1 30 mpg 2025 A 1 8 31 mpg 2024 B 3 12 31 mpg 2023 A 0 12 31 mpg 2022 A 0 24 31 mpg 2021 A 1 54 31 mpg 2020 C 2 32 30 mpg 2019 D 6 74 30 mpg 2018 this page C 4 110 32 mpg 2017 B 2 84 32 mpg 2016 D 6 104 Do not drive

Common questions about the 2018 Mazda3

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 4 recall campaigns for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The most serious on file is 21V875000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

NHTSA gave the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (76/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

Across the 8 EPA-rated configurations of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, the best EPA combined figure is 32 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

Transport Canada measured it at 175.6–180.3 in long, 70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.5 in tall, on a 106.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,926–3,051 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, most often about electrical system, unspecified, visibility/wiper. Of those, 6 involved a crash, 5 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

The EPA smog rating for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 runs 3 to 7 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-II ULEV125, California LEV-III SULEV30, Federal Tier 3 Bin 125, Federal Tier 3 Bin 30 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

The manufacturer has filed 462 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3, most often covering equipment, electrical system, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-09-11. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 failed the emissions check on 1.5% of first inspections — lower than the 3.0% for every 2018 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 3.8% (every 2018 vehicle: 1.9%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	8 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	8 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	4	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	110	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	2 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	462	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	11 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2018 Mazda Mazda3

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Seating

Transmission

Driver assistance

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (4)

Back Over Prevention

Fuel System, Gasoline

Visibility

Engine And Engine Cooling

Whether any of this applies to one specific Mazda3

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

When owners reported it

miles, typically

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Mazda3 by model year

Common questions about the 2018 Mazda3

Does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 have any recalls?

How safe is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

What are the dimensions of the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

What do owners complain about on the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

How clean is the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

Are there service bulletins for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3?

How does the 2018 Mazda Mazda3 do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method