FaultScore

Mazda MAZDA3 stability control problems

61 of the 4,006 complaints filed about the Mazda MAZDA3 are about the stability control — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2012.

61

Complaints

2%

Share of all complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

Stability & Traction Control complaints by model year

2005 MAZDA3 1 1.6%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2006 MAZDA3 2 3.3%

Median failure at 109,912 miles

2007 MAZDA3 8 13.1%

Median failure at 111,500 miles

2008 MAZDA3 2 3.3%
2009 MAZDA3 4 6.6%

Median failure at 10,825 miles

2010 MAZDA3 12 19.7%

Median failure at 123,100 miles

2011 MAZDA3 5 8.2%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2012 MAZDA3 18 29.5%

Median failure at 17,124 miles

2013 MAZDA3 2 3.3%

Median failure at 59,665 miles

2014 MAZDA3 3 4.9%

Median failure at 51,000 miles

2016 MAZDA3 1 1.6%

Median failure at 41,000 miles

2017 MAZDA3 1 1.6%

Median failure at 4,200 miles

2019 MAZDA3 2 3.3%

Median failure at 7,077 miles

What owners said

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 at 150,000 miles Nacogdoches, TX

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2010 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the brake failed with the ABS warning light, traction control, and emergency brake light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal was engaged and failed to bring the vehicle to a stop. The brake pedal was depressed twice before the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the traction control module and ABS module needed to be replaced. Additionally, the brake fluid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The failure mileage was 150,000.

NHTSA complaint #11427148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 at 156,000 miles Mesquite, TX

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

SOFT BRAKE PEDAL. ABS BRAKES NOT FUNCTIONING. STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. BRAKING PROPORTIONING NOT FUNCTIONING. ALL RELATED TO ABS MODULE ISSUE THAT MAZDA IS AWARE OF BUT WON?T RECALL. SEVERELY AFFECTS THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AS THE STOPPING POWER AND STABILITY ARE DECREASED WHEN ABS UNIT FAULT OCCURS. PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE AND IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, EVEN ON LOW-MILEAGE CARS. SERVICE BULLETIN HAS EXISTED FOR YEARS AND NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED TO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11330196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Mazda MAZDA3 at 9,500 miles Malvern, PA Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THESE ISSUES BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE SECOND MONTH I OWNED MY 2019 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK. 1- SUSPENSIONS, THEY'RE VERY ROUGH & HARSH., THEY BOUNCE SO MUCH FOR NO REASON, I DAMAGED ONE TIRE ALREADY WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON I476 NORMAL HIGHWAY WHERE I STEPPED ON NORMAL POTHOLE ENDED UP DAMAGING MY TIRE, SUSPENSIONS ARE REALLY DANGERS ON ALL ROADS. 2- "ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL" THIS FEATURE MANY TIMES ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT, REAR END SPECIALLY ON HIGHWAYS. FOR SOME REASON IT DOESN'T DETECT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN I HAVE AUTO CRUISE ENABLED, NO RAIN CLEAR WEATHER, THIS BEEN REPORTED MORE THAN 5 TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP & ITS HARD FOR THEM TO TELL WHAT HAPPEN. THEY EVEN HAD SPECIALIST CAME FROM CA TO CHECK UP THE CAR HOWEVER IT WAS DECLARED THE CAR HAS NO ISSUES, YET I STILL HAVE ISSUES EVERY DAY, S 3- EMERGENCY BREAKING, SOMETIMES IT ENABLES FOR NO REASON & THE CARS BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR ENDED ME, THEY THINK I DID BREAK CHECK BUT I DON'T THE BRAKES! 4- PERUZZI MAZDA, WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR, SAID THEY WILL NEVER WORK ON MY CAR AGAIN BECAUSE "IT WASTED ENOUGH OF THEIR TIME". I HAVE VIDEO OF ME PICKING UP THE CAR FROM PERUZZI MAZDA, DEALERSHIP & IT WON'T START UP OUT SIDE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT & I CALLED THE MANAGER & HE SAID LEAVE FOR NEXT DAY, HE CALLED ME DAY AFTER SAYING IT WAS MY IPHONE CHARGER... I ASKED HIM HOW THE TECH WAS ABLE TO BRING IT OUTSIDE TO THE FRONT DOOR WITHOUT NO ISSUES? HE REFUSED TO ANSWER. I WORK AT A HOSPITAL & I DAILY MY CAR TO WORK, ITS NOT SAFE FOR ME OR TO ANYONE ON THE ROAD TO DRIVE IT AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #11325706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Mazda MAZDA3 at 94,160 miles EWA Beach, HI

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE I'M DRIVING

NHTSA complaint #11315740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Mazda MAZDA3 at 194,000 miles Norwalk, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MAZDA HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE TCM. MINE GOES IN AND OUT AND I CAN'T PULL IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC WHEN THE ACCELERATION GOES DOWN. IT'S AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN AND IT KNOWN THE THIS PARTICULAR PART IS KNOWN TO GO OUT. IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. THE FIRST PICTURE IS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MANUEL MODE AS YOU CAN SEE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A 5 FOR FIFTH GEAR WHICH U CAN SEE THAT IT'S HARD TO TELL AND THAT IS WHEN IT'S WORKING WHEN IT GOES OUT THE CARS ACCELERATION SLOWS DOWN AND THERE'S NO DIGITAL DISPLAY AT ALL. THE SECOND PICTURE IS WHEN IT'S IN AUTOMATIC THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A D LETTER LETTING YOU KNOW AS THE DRIVER THE GEAR IS IN DRIVE. THIS A FREQUENT PROBLEM AND I'M NOT WILLING TO RISK MY LIFE AND POSAR HE LIVES OF OTHERS FOR A MISTAKE THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED BY MAZDA.

NHTSA complaint #11311429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Mazda MAZDA3 at 105,000 miles Weatherford, TX Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

AIRBAGS: DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT OF A STREETLAMP POLE ON THE FRONT DRIVERSIDE QUARTER. FRONT FARRING DAMAGED AND REPLACED. I WAS TURNING LEFT, IT WAS RAINING, THE GLARE OF THE LIGHT BLINDED ME ENOUGH TO GO UP ON THE CURB AND IMPACT THE STREETLAMP POLE. I REPLACED THE FARRING AND HAD MY MAZDA3 FULLY ALIGNED. ELECTRICAL: PURCHASED VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2016. REPLACED BATTERY 4 TIMES, ALTERNATOR 3 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE. SEAT HEATERS HAVEN'T WORKED EVER. DRIVERSIDE SEAT STARTED WIGGLING AFTER CONTACT WITH STREETLAMP POLE.

NHTSA complaint #11310455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Dresden, OH

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHEN MY USED 2008 MAZDA 3 CAR IS PARKED OVER A DAY OF MORE WITHOUT BEING PLUGGED TO A CHARGER IT WILL NOT START. NOTHING WILL WORK EVEN THE REMOTE TO OPEN THE DOOR. NOTE THE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WITH HIS PROBLEM. CHECK THE WEB FOR THIS PROBLEM. I SPENT $870.00 TO HAVE THIS FIXED TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #11303011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Mazda MAZDA3 at 4,655 miles Carlsbad, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH OR SLOWER IN A LIGHT RAIN ON A CITY STREET WHEN MY VEHICLE SAID THAT THE FRONT RADAR FAILED/UNABLE TO FUNCTION, ALL SAFETY SYSTEMS ARE NOW DISABLED. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES AND THEN IT STARTED TO FUNCTION AGAIN BUT ONLY FOR 2 MINUTES AND THEN IT GAVE THE SAME MESSAGE AND DISABLED ALL MY SAFETY SYSTEMS WHILE AGAIN. IT STARTED TO FUNCTION AGAIN AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH IS WHY I WAS UNABLE TO GET A PHOTO. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH LANE DEPARTURE WARNING AND WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SENSOR AND THE DOORS AND TRUNK LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. I THINK THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE AND MOST OF THE PROBLEMS COME FROM THE FRONT RADAR BUT THERE ARE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRONICS THAT I THIS THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON. THE LANE-KEEP ASSIST IS SO BAD IT HAS ALMOST MADE ME CRASH ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS SO I HAVE DISABLED IT.

NHTSA complaint #11286494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Mazda MAZDA3 at 41,000 miles Springfield, OR

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CAR WAS SMOKING AFTER I DROVE IT NOT VERY FAR TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE CLAIMING SOFTWARE ISSUE MY CAR BATTERY IS ALMOST COMPLETELY DRAINED AND I JUST GOT THIS CAR SOMETIME KEYS WON'T WORK OR MY CAR WON'T START

NHTSA complaint #11280729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 at 103,667 miles Alabaster, AL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ABS AND DSC HAS BEEN DISABLED DUE TO A FAULTY ABS MODULE AND THE DEALER DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED PER THE AMOUNT OF INTERNET TRAFFIC ALONE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT A NICE TO HAVE FEATURE THIS IS A MUST HAVE AS IT COULD SAFE A LIFE. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS WHEN THE WHOLE SYSTEM FAILS. I WAS TOLD I COULD DRIVE WITHOUT IT EVEN THOU TOTAL BREAK FAILURE COULD OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #11241404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda MAZDA3 at 15,000 miles Marietta, GA Crash 2 injured

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAD JUST GOT MY GRANDSON AND WAS TRAVELING DOWN I75 IN GA I WAS GOING TO MERGE INTO THE NEXT LANE FROM THE FAST LANE, I LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR AND SIDE MIRROR AND THEN BACK IN FRONT, I HAD PLENTY OF TIME AND ROOM, AS I STARTED TO MERGE IT WAS LIKE I COULD HARDLY TURN THE WHEEL AND LIKE I WAS BREAKING INSTEAD OF SPENDING UP TO GET INTO THE OTHER LANE, IT HAPPENED SO FAST I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE BECAUSE I NEVER SHOULD HAVE HIT THE CAR, SUV. IN FRONT OF ME, I HIT HIM WITH MY LEFT FRONT HEADLIGHT, BUT IF MY CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING AS IT SHOULD HAVE I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT OF THE LANE AND PASSING HIM I WAS STUNNED, AND I DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ANY OF THE RECALLS ON MY CAR, AND I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BROUGHT IT, NEW FROM TIME TO TIME AND HAD WORK DONE, MAINTENANCE AND WAS NEVER TOLD BUT I SURE KNEW WHEN MY TRANSMISSION WAS GOING OUT AND THEY SAID I WAS PASSED WARRANTY ON IT SO I ORDERED A NEW ONE AND HAD THEM INSTALL IT BUT NEVER TOLD ANYTHING ABOUT THE 2 RECALLS AND WHEN I WAS IN THE COLLISION I TOLD MY FRIEND WHO CAME TO GET ME SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, IT DIDN'T WANT TO TURN AND IT SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKES. I GUESS THAT'S WHAT SAVED OUR LIVES BUT IF IT HAD NOT HAPPENED I WOULD NEVER HAVE HAD THE WRECK MY CAR WAS TOTALED, I WAS NOT HURT NOT BAD JUST BRUISED BY THE AIRBAG AND MY GRANDSON HAD SEATBELT MARKS ON HIS NECK AND WAIST. OF COURSE I TOOK PICTURES AND I WILL UP LOAD THEM FOR YOU

NHTSA complaint #11228455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 at 9,650 miles Rome, ME

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD KEEPS TURNING ON AND OFF. SEEMS TO DEPEND ON THE WEATHER, IE, RAIN AND HIGH HUMIDITY

NHTSA complaint #11222872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2006 Mazda MAZDA3 at 180,000 miles Orlando, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

DRIVING MY WAY TO WORK THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP AND JERK FROM TRANSMISSION GEAR ALSO ON REVERSE I RUN DIAGNOSTICS AND CAME OUT TO BE TCM (TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE) I BOUGHT ANOTHER ONE FROM LKQ USE, AND REPLACED AND THE CAR START WORKING FINE AGAIN THEN AFTER ABOUT ALMOST 2 YEARS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY AND THE AT LIGHTS CAME ON AND ALMOST HAVE AND ACCIDENTS THIS TIME.MY MECHANIC RUN A TEST WITH SAME RESULTS TCM NOT COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION. I RESEARCH THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF PROBLEM WITH TCM OUT THERE BUT I GUEST THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T COMPLAINT , THIS IS ISSUE THE MAZDA KNOW AND THEY HAVEN'T DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU AND HOPE THE MAZDA OPEN RECALL ON THE TCM. MAZDA 3 2006

NHTSA complaint #11218662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 Cidra, PR

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE TRANSMISSION MODULE (TCM) IS DAMAGED QUICKLY BECAUSE IT MELTS THE SILICONE THAT PROTECTS IT, SINCE THE HEAT EMITTED BY THE ENGINE IS VERY DIRECT, WHICH CAUSES THE TCM TO BE DAMAGED AND THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON IN THE MAZDA3-2010 THEREFORE IT IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT

NHTSA complaint #11210363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 at 100,000 miles Wylie, TX

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ABS, AND TRACTION CONTROL DASH BOARD LIGHTS ARE ON. THE ABS RELAY IS FAULTY, SO THE ABS MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA complaint #11207353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda MAZDA3 Margate, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

WHILE DRIVING THE SPEED GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OF MY 2008 MAZDA 3 SHIFTS DOWN FROM THE 5TH TO THE 3RD GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO JERK VIOLENTLY AND THE CONTROLS TO ILLUMINATE INCLUDING CHECK ENGINE, NO TRACTION AND AT. MY MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE OF THIS, AND HE SERVICED THE TRANSMISSION BY CHANGING THE FILTER AND TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. ONE MECHANIC SAID IT IS THE SPEED SENSOR ANOTHER THE TRANSMISSIONS COMPUTER I HAVE SPEND ABOUT 1,800 AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT IS VERY SCARY FOR MY KIDS AND MYSELF WHILE DRIVING AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO GET ANOTHER CAR. WHAT IS THE PROBLEMS WITH MAZDA WITH MY CAR? CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP?! ALSO ALL THE ELECTRICAL STOP WORKING ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, ANOTHER THING IS THE STEERING WHEELS PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING A TURN IT REALLY TIME FOREVER AND IT IS REALLY SLOW AND HEAVY.

NHTSA complaint #11197231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Mazda MAZDA3 at 51,000 miles Miami, FL

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

TCS MALFUNCTION. 'TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' SYMBOL IS CAR WITH SKID MARK ON THE BOTTOM. TAKE TO DEALER RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA complaint #11196611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Mazda MAZDA3 at 65,000 miles SAN Diego, CA Crash

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ON APRIL 8 WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON NAUTILUS STREET IN LA JOLLA, POINTED DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE, MY IDLING VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDBRAKE, THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO STEP INTO THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF, THE DOOR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BREAKING HER TAIL LIGHT, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN BACK OVER.

NHTSA complaint #11196467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda MAZDA3 at 75,000 miles Beverly Hills, CA

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

THE POWER STEERING CUTS OUT WHILE DRIVING AND THE ELECTRICITY FOR THE CAR CUTS OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO AND THEN IT COMES BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #11165693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda MAZDA3 at 141,000 miles Wolfeboro, NH Crash 1 injured

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY STEERING LOCKED UP SO I COULDN'T STEER MY STEERING WHEEL . I ROLLED MY CAR AND NEARLY WAS KILLED

NHTSA complaint #11103069 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda MAZDA3 problems