2018 Mazda Mazda3 Visibility & Wipers Problems
NHTSA lists 16 Visibility & Wipers complaints for the 2018 Mazda3, 15% of that year's 108 total complaints, with 1 crash and 3 injuries reported. Mazda issued recall 19V272000 for a defective windshield wiper relay that can leave wipers inoperative.
- Visibility & Wipers complaints
- 16
- 15% of 108
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 16,883 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical visibility and wiper symptoms owners report
- Windshield wipers stop responding on the interval setting and require the driver to cycle them off and on to restart.
- Front wipers cut out entirely while driving in heavy rain or snow, leaving the windshield unclear with no warning beforehand.
- A cloudy film builds up on the windshield while wipers are running, obstructing the driver's view even after fluid and blade replacement.
- The rear wiper stopped working during heavy rain, echoing a similar front-wiper failure reported on the same vehicle months earlier.
- Owners describe the body control module or wiper motor relay as the cause, with the front body control module needing replacement to restore function.
- Some owners report the recall remedy has not been completed on their vehicle despite repeated requests to the dealer.
When 2018 Mazda Mazda3 visibility and wiper complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 25, 2018, latest Jun 5, 2026.
Visibility & Wipers recalls for the 2018 Mazda Mazda3
- NHTSA 19V272000Apr 4, 2019Visibility & Wipers187,880 vehicles
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility & Wipers complaints by Mazda3 model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
- 2010106 (16%)
- 20118 (6%)
- 20129 (4%)
- 20133 (3%)
- 20144 (3%)
- 20156 (5%)
- 20167 (7%)
- 20175 (6%)
- 201816 (15%)
- 20198 (11%)
- 20201 (3%)
- 20210 (0%)
- 20221 (4%)
- 20230 (0%)
- 20241 (8%)
- 20250 (0%)
Frequently asked questions
- How many 2018 Mazda3 owners reported windshield wiper or visibility problems?
- NHTSA lists 16 complaints in the Visibility & Wipers category for the 2018 Mazda3, which is 15% of the 108 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Mazda3 windshield wipers?
- Yes. Recall 19V272000 covers 2016-2018 Mazda3 vehicles for a defective windshield wiper relay that can make the wipers inoperative and reduce visibility. Mazda's remedy is to replace the front body control module.
- Did the 2018 Mazda3 wiper problems cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2018 Mazda3 shows 1 crash and 3 injuries among the reported complaints.
- At what mileage do 2018 Mazda3 wiper failures typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure for Visibility & Wipers complaints on the 2018 Mazda3 is 16,882.5 miles, though several owners did not report a mileage figure.