What 132 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3 EQUIPPED WITH DUNLAP SB SPORT 250 225/40/R18 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WORE DOWN PREMATURELY AND TORE AWAY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT YOU COULD SEE THE WIRES ON BOTH TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A TIRE SHOP THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10454971

I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND MY CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. MY FOOT WAS SQUARELY ON THE BRAKE AT THE TIME BUT I WAS BEING PULLED SLOWLY FORWARD ON TO A BUSY ROADWAY. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE CAR SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALONG THE SHOULDER TO AVOID ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I SHIFTED INTO PARK, AND THEN SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. MY FOOT PLACEMENT WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR, AND THERE WERE NO OTHER OBSTRUCTIONS (I.E. CARPETS). WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. AS AN ENGINEER, I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT WHAT EVER HAPPENED WAS ELECTRONIC IN NATURE, NOT A MECHANICAL OBSTRUCTION OR STICKING LINKAGE (I DID NOT TOUCH THE GAS PEDAL WHEN I RESTARTED). PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I HAD BEEN DRIVING SLOW THOUGH A BUSINESS PARK AT 10 TO 15 MILES AND HOUR FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES, I WAS AT A DOCTOR APPOINTMENT. I HAVE NOT SEEN THIS ISSUE BEFORE OR SINCE. MAZDA HAS EXAMINED THE CAR AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. I LIKE THE CAR, BUT I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET THIS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FLAW ON RECORD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10436649

CLUNKING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROAD. DEALER FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK NUT IN THE LEFT REAR WAS LOOSE AND TIGHTENED IT. PREVIOUSLY FILED COMPLAINT 10411790 FOR SAME PROBLEM ON RIGHT REAR. ONLINE MAZDA FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10427014

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 MAZDA 3 FROM MAZDA OF ESCONDIDO. ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE POWER STEERING. ALSO, THE DSC BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN ON/OFF WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON. ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 THE SAME TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE LIGHTS AND THE ODOMETER READING SO WE COULD SHOW THE DEALER. DUE TO A PRIOR WRIST INJURY POWER STEERING IS A MUST FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10426834

CLUNKING NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR ROUGH ROAD STARTED AT ABOUT 500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR LINK NUT IN THE REAR WAS LOOSE AND TIGHTENED IT. AFTERWARDS READ ONLINE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TT

NHTSA ODI 10411790

APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THERE WAS A PASSENGER SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DIAGNOSE A FAILURE. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED BECAUSE THE PASSENGER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH BODY WEIGHT FOR THE VEHICLE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS SOMEONE IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 50. DS

NHTSA ODI 10402674

ON FRIDAY MY WIFE WAS DRIVING MY CAR (SHE LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE ON A MANUAL AND HAS NO PROBLEMS DRIVING IT) ON A BACK COUNTRY 2 LANE ROAD WITH OUR SON IN THE BACK AND OUT OF CELL PHONE COVERAGE. SHE WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH, IN 6TH GEAR WHEN THE RPS STARTED TO BOUNCE OFF THE REV LIMITER. SHE CHECKED TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS STILL IN GEAR. SHE TOOK IT OUT OF 6TH AND PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL THEN TRIED TO GO BACK INTO GEAR. NO DICE, IT WOULDN'T SHIFT. SO SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT DOWN. SHE TIRED TO START AGAIN, TRIED TO GET IT INTO FIRST, NOPE, TRIED TO GET IT INTO SECOND, AND NOTHING. AMAZINGLY SHE GOT SOME SIGNAL ON THE PHONE AFTER A PANICKED 20 MINUTES AND GOT ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE OUT TO TOW HER IN. NOW MAZDA IS SAYING THAT THE CLUTCH IS BURNED UP AND THAT IT IS NOT A DEFECT SO IT IS OUR FAULT AND IT WON'T BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10393754