FaultScore

2012 Mazda MAZDA3 other reported problems

18 of the 328 complaints about the 2012 Mazda MAZDA3 are about the other systems — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 40,400 miles.

A

18

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Unknown OR Other 18 100.0%

Other & Unspecified across every Mazda MAZDA3 year

2008 11 3.3%
2010 133 40.2%
2011 18 5.4%
2012 18 5.4%
2013 10 3.0%
2014 27 8.2%
2015 26 7.9%
2016 21 6.3%
2017 27 8.2%
2018 25 7.6%
2019 15 4.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Austin, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The Mazda dealership reported to me the push rod was broken, that it ‘just snapped’. The car was towed by Zaben towing company courtesy of the auto insurance company associated with the vehicle to the Mazda dealership, however the towing company was on its way to another Mazda dealership per their app despite a clear address location given by the purchaser of the auto insurance. I found one of the hubcaps missing and placed in back seat of the Mazda after delivery and the Mazda not parked properly at Mazda dealership. The hubcap was not in back seat prior to the drop off. The clutch snap, as described by Mazda, did not happen while I was driving the vehicle. It was working perfectly fine two days prior to the discovery of collapsed clutch when I was driving around town. The clutch was found not working, collapsed after the car was parked for two days. Also, Texas Mazda dealership recommended another eight hundred dollar worth of work totaling near two thousand dollars yet I have between ninety and ninety six thousand miles on a twenty twelve Mazda three sport sedan. I mainly drive it in the city. The Mazda dealership recommended the valve cover and slave cylinder be replaced as well. They need to clean out air system, ‘bleed system’ too.

NHTSA complaint #11619491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Colbert, WA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My issue is with computer firmware updates the manufacturer (Mazda) needs to have done occasionally to help w/traction control and other issues, that the consumer is stuck paying for it, I had a check engine light come on and took it to the dealer. The dealer said that the TCM (traction control module)and the PCM (power control module)needed to be updated. And being the car was out of warranty that I was going to be responsible for paying $330. I would think that if a manufacturer decided to make new updates to help with safety and performance that it shouldn’t fall on the consumer as we bought the car thinking they had this stuff already figured out. Like our smart phones when there updates we the consumer don’t pay for the updates to help protect our phones from security issues and other things…. So why is it acceptable for consumers to pay for auto industry’s updates to help with safety.

NHTSA complaint #11585563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rocky Mount, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The dashboard of my 2012 Mazda 3 has separated from the instrument panel causing a gap between them. The dashboard has become very sticky leaving a black sticky film on the surface. This has caused a glare on the windshield making it hard to see at times while driving. There is a letter dated May 2017 from Mazda, Special Service Program (SSP) A9. The letter states that the warranty was extended 7 years (84 months) from the original warranty start date or April 30, 2018, whichever is later, with no milage limitation. As I read it, 7 years of 84 months from 2018 should extend the warranty for repair of replacement through 2025. Mazda refuses to make repairs, or replacement of this equipment that has an impact on the proper function of the airbag system and impairs the driver's vision because of the constant windshield glare. This is an issue. that needs to be addressed as an important safety.

NHTSA complaint #11581837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temple, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Dashboard melting and warping causing visibility issues, as well as the dashboard should never be melting. This should be recalled as it is a known and widespread issue.

NHTSA complaint #11443016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Dashboard is warping creating a gap between the instrument panel and information display. The dashboard was replaced once by the dealer under extended manufacturing warranty. The new dashboard that was installed now have the same issue.

NHTSA complaint #11423008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 110,000 miles Elizabeth, NJ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER VEHICLE AND THE FRONT CV AXLE COMPLETELY SNAPPED IN HALF. STILL NOT SURE WHAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OCCURED BEING THERE IS NO ACCIDENT REPORT ON THIS VEHICLE. PERHAPS THE PART WAS CORRODED OR FAULTY.

NHTSA complaint #11354377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakeland, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD IS LIFTING AND ITS SUPPOSE TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT PER MAZDA. BUT MAZDA DEALERS DECLINE TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY CLAIMING THE 10 YEARS ARE UP. THIS IS A LIE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2012. ITS 2020.

NHTSA complaint #11340319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Valley City, UT Crash

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY CAR IS AUTOMATIC, AND I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT OFF THE STREET IN FRONT OF A STORE, AND WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO THE PARKING SPOT, AND WAS PUTTING ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED, AND WENT FORWARD, STILL AS I AM PRESSING ON THE BREAK, AND WENT THROUGH A STORE WINDOW. THEN ONCE IT STOPPED INSIDE THE STORE I PUT IT IN PARK, AND STARTED TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, AND IT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, SO I PUT ON THE BREAK AGAIN. THEN TRIED IT AGAIN, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND IT MOVED AGAIN A BIT, AND STOPPED. SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #11280199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Temecula, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD PEELING OFF

NHTSA complaint #11153276 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,560 miles Santa Rosa, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WINDING ROAD WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND AND THEN COMPLETELY STALLED. PROR TO IT STALLING, IT WAS ACTING STRANGE, WOULD REV HIGH AND NOT KICK IN TO THE NEXT GEAR (NOT SURE IF THAT'S A CORRECT DESCRIPTION AS THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR). THREE LIGHTS CAME ON: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXILE LIGHT AND TCS/DSC INDICATOR LIGHT. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SMALL AUTO SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A COMPUTER CODE ISSUE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO MAZDA WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE GOOD POWER, ESPECIALLY ON INCLINES. IT SEEMS TO SHAKE AT TIMES AND RUNS ROUGH AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE PRIOR TO THE STALLING INCIDENT. I BELIEVE IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT SINCE MAZDA COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT, I'M NOT SURE.

NHTSA complaint #11099385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Okla City, OK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WENT TO THE MADZA PLACE ON AUGUST 22 I TAKED TO CLARK HE SAW MY DASH BOARD AND TOLD ME THAT I HAD A RECALL THAT HE WOULD NEED TO ORDER THE PART AND IT WOULD TAKE A MONTH TO GET IT IN. I HAVE CALLED MANY TIMES TO GET MY CAR FIX THEY TOLD ME THAT THEIR WAS NOT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I AM NOT VERY HAPPY THAT CLARK TOLD ME HE WOULD CALLED AND LET ME KNOW THAT THE PART WAS IN. I AM VERY NOT HAPPY AT THIS TIME TO WHAT I NEED TO DO. NO ONE AT THE DEALER SHIP IS HELPING ME AT ALL BOB MOORE MADZA (405) 775-7000. I NEED MY DASHBOARD FIX ASAP. PLEASE HELP

NHTSA complaint #11024895 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cicero, IL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH BOARD

NHTSA complaint #11018915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sanford, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IT WAS A RECALL ON THE DAMPERS ON MY MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK I RECIEVED ANOTICE IN OCTOBER 2016 FROM MAZDA AND ALL THEY DO IS GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND ON REPLACING THE DAMPERS,I CANT GET ANYWHERE WITH THEM

NHTSA complaint #10984814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,800 miles King George, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

IN THE MORNING OF MARCH 31, 2017 WHEN I'VE PROCEEDED TO VA 206 TO THE NAVAL LAB (25-MILE SPEED LIMIT ZONE), TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS/DSC) INDICATOR LIGHT SUDDENLY LIT UP, AND CAR STALLED. I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATED BUT RECEIVED NON RESPONSE FROM THE CAR. THE CAR STAYED AROUND 20- 25 MPH. I PULLED IN THE AUTO SHOP AND TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I RE-STARTED THE CAR AND THE TCS/DSC INDICATOR LIGHT WAS OFF AND CAR BEHAVED NORMALLY. HOWEVER I DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10969938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,524 miles Glen Burnie, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

GPS AUDIO GOES DEAD AND ENDANGERS DRIVER'S & OCCUPANTS ' SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THROUGH UNFAMILIAR ALLEGEDLY CRIME-RIDDEN PARTS OF STRANGE CITIES & NEIGHBORHOODS. NOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE LIGHTS AND WIPERS ETC WORK.. SEEMS LIKE DEFECTIVE GPS WITH POTENTIAL TO ENDANGER SAFETY OF DRIVER & PASSENGERS.

NHTSA complaint #10855551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,400 miles Fort Campbell, KY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON AUG 27TH 2014 AS A USED VEHICLE AND DID THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I DECELERATED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY (SPEED IS 55MPH) TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A 4 WAY INTERSECTION. THE MOMENT BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL FULLY STOPPED. I'VE TESTED THIS AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS AND ROAD TYPES AND IT HAPPENS EACH TIME. WE LIVE IN A HEAVILY POPULATED AREA WITH PLENTY OF CHILDREN AS WELL AS WILD LIFE AND THIS DECREASES MY CHANCES OF SEEING THEM IF THEY RUN OUT (EVEN WHILE BRAKING, SAY IF I WAS DOING SO SLOWLY A CHILD RUN OUT I CAN E-BRAKE OR APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKES TO STOP QUICKER...CAN'T DO THAT IF I DON'T SEE THEM IN TIME). IT ALSO IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. I'M SURE OTHER DRIVERS DON'T APPRECIATE IT WHEN IT'S IN THEIR REAR VIEW MIRRORS NOR WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING TOWARDS ME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HONESTLY I'M SURPRISED I HAVEN'T BEEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED FOR "ILLEGAL MODIFICATION TO HEADLIGHTS" ETC. I'M NOT SEEING A RECALL ON THIS, HOWEVER THERE IS SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THE PCM OR THE ALTERNATOR BEEN RECALLED? THIS PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS I'VE DEALT WITH SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT PROBLEMS ARE BEING FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURE MAKE IT TO WHERE I'LL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA complaint #10748270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,387 miles LA Puente, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD POPS OUT IN 85 DEGREE WEATHER

NHTSA complaint #10747281 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 34,200 miles Oshawa, NE

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. ONCE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PRESSED ON THE GAS AND THE CAR REVVED TO 3000 RPM BUT WAS BARELY MOVING AND WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. I LOOKED AT MY SPEED AND NOTICED THE TCS PROBLEM LIGHT WAS ON. BY THIS TIME OTHER MOTORISTS WERE HONKING AT ME AT CURSING I'M SURE BUT I COULDN'T GET ANY SPEED TO PULL OVER QUICKLY. I PUT THE CAR IN MANUAL MODE, BUT THERE WERE NO NUMBERS THAT INDICATED WHAT GEAR I WAS IN. I HAVE NO CLUE WHY THE TCS LIGHT CAME ON AND PRETTY MUCH DISABLED MY CAR. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A MALL PARKING LOT WHERE I TURNED CAR OFF AND CALLED FOR HELP. HOWEVER, WHEN HELP ARRIVED, AND WE STARTED THE CAR BACK UP, THE TCS LIGHT WAS OFF AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. I DROVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER READING THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME COMPLAINT AS I HAVE, I WILL MAKE SURE MAZDA WILL HAVE A LOOK AT MY CAR AND MAKE THEM AWARE THERE IS AN ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10568395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2012 Mazda MAZDA3 problems

← Full 2012 Mazda MAZDA3 report