What 131 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

Defective Driver's seat construction made by Mazda Mfg Corp. I was the first person to report this cheaply made driver's seat failure to Mazda Corp in Irvine, CA in early 2015 or 2016. Recall was finally issued a year afterwards because Mazda dragged their feet, and only after I threatened to sue them if I was ever in an accident, and the seat was to totally fall apart, and maim me for life did they finally take action. The Recall fix (cheap bandaid clamp that again failed because seat frame welds had failed as well) was never done right, and as a result the seat totally fell apart, and Ed Howard Lincoln Mazda of Sarasota, FL didn't want to do anything further at that point (cost out of pocket wise). I was told by a different Mazda Dealership in Ft Myers, FL that that defective seat should have been totally replaced if they would've handled it correctly. So Ed Howard Lincoln Mazda really screwed me on that one! As related to the 2.5L Mazda engine, I also had/have a engine failure part there as well. It's called the ENGINE COOLANT (WATER) OUTLET FLANGE, and the bottom left hand bolt (1 of 4 bolts total) that's suppose to hold this cheap plastic part in place was stripped (over-torqued) at the production assembly line time that the engine was made (put together). Now the cheap plastic replacement part is leaking again from the same lower left hand corner, and this is a well Known Ford & Mazda 2.5L engine failure design as stated in many a Mazda online forum! This also should have been recalled, as now my 2011 Mazda 3 is down again. Engine overheated again on Oct 13, 2023. Prior repair to replace this defective Flange was done in Feb or Mar of 2022. Cheap Plastic parts put on a Metal engine just don't work well at all. Common Physics would tell you that! I have documents in my storage unit if you need them.

NHTSA ODI 11567016

My seat lifter broke causing the driver's seat to rock back and forth. I brought my vehicle to my local dealer on 05/18/2022 to have an outstanding NHTSA recall 17V-082 performed to repair the issue. I was informed that the necessary part to repair the seat was on backorder and there was no ETA, but that I would be contacted when a part was available. Over the following nine months, I periodically followed up to see if they had received the part, culminating with being told by the dealer on 03/02/2023 that the part order was canceled and flagged as no longer available and that I needed to contact Mazda directly. I then called Mazda, who told me that the part was indeed marked as retired and advised that I seek an aftermarket replacement, of which none is available. They did check in my local area and found only one remaining part in a dealer's inventory, which I'll be driving to on 03/11/2023 to have the repair done. There has been no consideration made by Mazda for my safety while driving the vehicle, and for anyone still requiring this repair, the part is "retired" and no longer available from Mazda for an open recall.

NHTSA ODI 11509936

The contact owns a 2011 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V082000 (Seats) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted several times. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the front driver's seat was unsteady while driving and the failure had been recurring since 2017. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ODI 11458692

The seat height adjustment lifter link has broken and my driver seat wobbles tilting up and down during normal operation. There is a recall for this exact issue for this exact model of vehicle 2011 Mazda 3.

NHTSA ODI 11421476

My exact make and model and year was recalled in 2017 for a driver seat problem. My specific vehicle avoided recall because it was manufactured in November 2010, as the recall only included those manufactured up until September 2010. How is it that my vehicle had the same EXACT problem of those models but was not included? The seat lifter clamp BROKE-the same exact problem warned about in the recall. I can't afford the $800 repair and this is NOT even my fault.

NHTSA ODI 11420995

THE DRIVER SEAT IS CAUSING SERVER LOWER BACK PAIN REGARDLESS OF THE POSITION OF THE SEAT. I TRIED ALL WAYS I COULD ADJUST THE SEAT BUT THE CURVATURE IN THE SEAT IS PUSHING AGAINST MY LOWER BACK. I HAVE BEEN EASY ON THE ZOOM ZOOM EFFECT BUT IN ACCELERATION AND BREAKING, IT JUST HURTS MY LOWER BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11402520

SUNDAY NIGHT WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT-HAND TURN MY DRIVERSIDE SEAT COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE SEATS HARNESS THATS BOLTED INTO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. AS RESEARCH THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THAT EXACT SAFETY ISSUE HAD A RECALL. IVE MADE MULTIPLE UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS AT SCHEDULING MY CAR TO BE SERVICED BY MAZDA. THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT THEY WILL CALL ME BACK. THIS HAS YET TO HAPPEN.

NHTSA ODI 11352597

'TAKATA RECALL' THE DRIVER SEAT IS UNEVEN AND DEFINITELY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE LIKE THIS

NHTSA ODI 11217305

AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR PASSENGER SEAT. PASSENGER AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE WIRING AND WEIGHT SENSOR. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM THAT PUTS PASSENGERS AT RISK. IF YOU LOOK ONLINE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11156110

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V082000 (SEATS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WESTCOTT MAZDA (LOCATED AT 2800 NATIONAL CITY, NATIONAL CITY CA, 91950, TEL: (619)474-1591) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11019550

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V082000 (SEATS) WAS RECEIVED IN MARCH OF 2017. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER (SANTA MARIA MAZDA IN SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA) AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REMEDY WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11010338

LIFTER ON DRIVER SEAT BROKE AT THE WELD, DEALERSHIP'S REASON IS WEAR AND TEAR ON A NON MECHANICAL YET WELDED PART. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AS THE SEAT IS NOT STABLE NOR SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 10981745

WOBBLY DRIVERS SEAT. CLUNKY SOUND WHEN TRUING. SOME TIMES MOVES ON TRACK BY ITSELF.PERSISTENT PROBLEM SINCE DAY OF PURCHASE.

NHTSA ODI 10955452

SEAT TRACK-OCCUPANT SENSOR RIGHT BCN167SW0A LIGHT FLASHES ON DASHBOARD WHEN CAR IS TURNED ON. IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED IN 2012. MAZDA WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER THIS ANY LONGER, BUT IT SHOULD. I BELIEVE MAZDA HAS A LEGAL OBLIGATION TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST BECAUSE THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED IN FIVE YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 10954366

MY 2011 MAZDA 3 DRIVER SEAT HAS COME OFF TRACK WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. I WENT TO SLIDE MY SEAT BACK AND THE SEAT POPPED OFF THE TRACK, LUCKILY I CAUGHT MYSELF. MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THEY WOULDNT COVER IT. NOW, 3 WEEKS AFTER MY WARRANTY ENDED, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS LIT UP, ON THE DASH AND ABOVE THE RADIO. MAZDA SAID IT WAS MY SENSOR UNDER MY SEAT BUT STILL HAD TO CHARGE $105 DOLLAR FEE TO FIND THE PROBLEM??? THE AIRBAG SENSOR CAME ON ONE MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. NOBODY WAS IN THE CAR EXCEPT ME.

NHTSA ODI 10837051

THE DRIVERS SEAT WILL SOMETIMES COME OUT OF ITS TRACK, AND NOT LOCK IN SECURELY. WHEN THE SEAT IS LOCKED, IT SEEMS TO BE OK, BUT IF I SHOULD MOVE THE SEAT FORWARD TO ACCOMMODATE FOR A REAR PASSENGER ITS LIKE THE SEAT WILL NOT SIT SQUARELY IN THE TRACK, AND IT WILL EITHER SINK, OR ELEVATE AT ONE CORNER AND SLIDE FORWARDS OR BACKWARDS. ITS DANGEROUS IF I WERE TO HIT MY BRAKES, THE SEAT WOULD MOVE FORWARD INADVERTENTLY CAUSING ME TO SLAM ON MY BRAKES. ALSO, THERE APPEARS TO BE AN AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT THAT WILL FLASH ON MY DASHBOARD. THIS SEEMS OCCUR AT RANDOM TIMES, THE RED LIGHT WILL FLASH INDICATING SOME SORT OF ERROR WITH THE AIRBAG. I'M NOT SURE IF ITS A LOOSE CONNECTION, OR AN ACTUAL PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG. WHEN I ALERTED THE DEALER THEY TOLD ME I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR EITHER OF THESE ISSUES. I MENTIONED THAT THESE WERE MOST LIKELY SAFETY ISSUES, NOT LIKE I WANTED FREE TIRES OR A NEW WATER PUMP OR BATTERY OR SOMETHING. JUST ADDRESS WHAT COULD BE A HAZARDOUS CONDITION WITH MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 10825286

WHILE DRIVING MY 2011 MAZDA 3 GRAND TOURING HATCHBACK I HEARD A LOUD SNAPPING SOUND. UPON HEARING THAT SOUND. I PRACTICALLY WOUND UP IN THE BACK SEAT. IT APPEARS THAT EITHER A WELD BROKE OR A BOLT SNAPPED SOMEWHERE AT THE BOTTOM IN THE BACK OF THE SEAT ON THE RIGHT. I ALMOST LOST COMPLETE CONTROL OF MY CAR. LUCKILY I STILL HAD A FIRM HAND GRIP ON THE WHEEL TO PULL MYSELF UP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED.

NHTSA ODI 10824287

DRIVER SEAT GETS REALLY HOT AND BURNS YOUR BACK. HAVE TO TURN OFF AFTER 10 MINS. EVEN ON LOWEST SETTING. KEEPS GETTING TOO HOT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10512381

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO HIS FROM THE REAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BACKWARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK WOULD LIKELY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 10475341