What 226 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER IN LINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARDINALEWAY MAZDA - PEORIA (8424 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382; (623) 738-0755) WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK AND ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE PARTS BEING ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ODI 11375923

AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT FLASHING IN DASH, MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING AN AIRBAG RECALL AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11355721

MY MAZDA3 HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME MANUAL SEAT LIFTER FAILURE ISSUE AS ADDRESSED IN NHTSA RECALL 17V-082. I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 WHICH CAUSED ME TO EXPERIENCE WHIPLASH DUE TO THE SEAT BECOMING LOOSE. THE COLLISION CENTER FOUND THE SEAT IS MISSING THE PUSH NUTS AND THE LIFT BRACKET HAS BROKEN AT THE WELDS WHICH IS IDENTICAL DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES STATED IN THE ABOVE RECALL. MAZDA STATES THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED DUE TO THIS. MY CAR WAS GOING SLOWLY BEFORE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD ON A STANDARD CITY STREET IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR.

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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 ODI 11354377

WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD.MY CAR SPEEDS UP AND I DON'T PRESS ON THE EXCILERATOR ANY HARDER. THE CARS IDOL GOES UP AND DOWN WHEN DRIVING AND AT PARK. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL TYPES OF ROAD WAYS. SOMETIMES IT SPEEDS UP ON ME SO FAST I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11351699

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY, DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11348747

SMELL OF FUEL IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THERE IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE NEAR/AROUND THE TANK BUT NOT ON TOP WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS. IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE LEAK HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FILLED UP FULL AND MORE SO IF PARKED UPHILL. IF FILLED UP FULL, THE LEAK SEEMS TO STOP IF CAR IS PARKED DOWNHILL. RESEARCH INDICATES SEVERAL OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS. FOR A PART THAT IS NOT MOVING OR WEARING OUT, WHETHER THE TANK OR ATTACHED HOSE, TO BREAK FOR A 7-8 YEAR OLD CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION LEADING TO DEATH.

NHTSA ODI 11342720

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 ODI 11340319

WHILE DRIVING I HAD NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT OR A STOP SIGN OR TO EVEN SLOW DOWN BY RELEASING MY FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR, MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD START TO FLASH. I STARTED TO DIN INTO THE PROBLEM BY DOING RESEARCH ONLINE TO SEE IF IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLES MAKE AND MODEL. UPON READING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION I FOUND ON THE ISSUE I WAS HAVING WITH MY CAR. IT ALL SEEMED TO BE LINKED TO AN ALTERNATOR ISSUE THAT MAZDA KNEW ABOUT RELEASED A RECALL ON IT THEN TOOK THE RECALL AWAY. MY CAR IS HAVING THE ISSUE FOR THE RECALL THEY TOOK AWAY. IT POSES A DANGER AND A RISK WHILE DRIVING. IT CAUSES A DISTRACTION TO THE ON COMING TRAFFIC AS WELL AS DISTRACTS THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF YOU. I HAVE HAD CARS BREAK HARD IN FRONT OF ME THINKING I WAS SIGNALING THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON. ONE EARLY MORNING I HAD BEEN DRIVING TO WORK ON THE FREEWAY AND MY WHOLE CAR SEEMED TO HAVE SHUT OFF AND AS SOON AS IT WENT OFF IT CAME BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11309640

I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD AND HITTING THE BACK OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11309258

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN YOU BRAKE THE HEADLIGHTS DIM SIGNIFICANTLY AND FLICKER UNTIL YOU GO BACK TO THE GAS OR STOP. I NOTICED THIS WHEN I DROVE THE CAR I BOUGHT FOR MY DAUGHTER ONE NIGHT IN OCTOBER 2019.

NHTSA ODI 11301866

GAS LEAKING FROM BACK OF FUEL TANK AFTER FILLING IT UP. IT I ONLY FILL UP HALF WAY NO LEAK

NHTSA ODI 11300829

POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE AT FIRST, CHECKED FLUID, AND LINES, ALL WAS OK, THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, COULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT ALL STARTED, ON A PUBLIC ROAD.

NHTSA ODI 11289403

A HOT AND HUMID NIGHT WAITING IN LINE AT A DRIVE THROUGH WITH A SLIGHT UP HILL SLOPE, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT WENT INTO 3RD GEAR WITH AND ENGINE LIGHT, HAZ ROAD AND AT LIGHT. PO751 01/02, PO780 02/02 CODES. TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED: TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS BAD AND SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. FLUID WAS BROWN, CAR WAS ONE OWNER 233K ..POSSIBLE FLOOD DAMAGED FROM 4 MO EARLIER.

NHTSA ODI 11288590

HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN BRAKING CAUSING DIMINISHED VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM AND SAFETY HAZARD. KNOWN ENOUGH TO HAVE A SERVICE BULLITEN. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES THAT MAZDA WANTS CUSTOMERS TO PAY FOR IN ORDER TO BE FIXED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD

NHTSA ODI 11281618

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 ODI 11280199

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT NOW WOBBLES BACKWARD. THE SEAT IS NOT SECURELY IN PLACE, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2010-2011 VERSIONS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS THAT OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/MAZDA3/SEATS-PROBLEMS.PHP I HAVE EMAILED MAZDA TODAY ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ARE AWAITING THEIR REPLY, BUT I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AT THE MOMENT, IF NEEDED I CAN HAVE THE SHOP TAKE PHOTOS.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS POPPING OUT OF THE DISPLAY PANELING. THE FAILURE HINDERED THE VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND OIL LEVELS. JOHN HINE TEMECULA MAZDA (42050 DLR DR, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 553-2000) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11258163

WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN OR I HIT THE BRAKES, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CAMBER WAS SET AT A NEGATIVE ANGLE, WHICH MADE THE REAR TIRES WEAR OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD AND THE DESIGN WAS SET UP FOR RACING RATHER THAN NORMAL DRIVING. AN UNKNOWN DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL THEM BACK WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11245193

AT 41K MILES HAD TO HAVE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIPTRONIC FAILED TO CHANGE GEARS WHEN USING THE "MANUAL" MODE. AT 64K MILES, EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE (APPROX 3 YEARS AFTER INITIAL REPAIR).

NHTSA ODI 11228972

THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY (TIPTRONIC) FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS WHEN USING THE "MANUAL" MODE. VEHICLE HAS 64K MILES. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR SAME ISSUE 3 YEARS PRIOR.

NHTSA ODI 11228976

DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND CHAIR FELL BACKWARDS. I SEE A SIMILAR RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2011 MAZDA 3 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED A PART USED IN 2011 WAS USED FOR THIS 2012 CAR. THE ELECTRONIC BASE OF THE CHAIR WORKS, BUT THE SEAT WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI 11221342

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPED GEARS AND THE RPMS ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHANGED THE OIL AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11210466

HIGH BEAM LIGHTS BLINK/FLASH WHEN BREAKING LOW BEAM LIGHTS DIM WHEN BREAKING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DIM SLIGHTLY WHEN BREAKING WITH BOTH CONDITIONS MENTIONED. ALSO I HAD THE ALTEERNATOR CHECKED AND IT IS WORKING LIKE IT SHOULD. I FOUND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM WITH SAME YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. I AM 2ND OWNER THE PERSON WHO BOUGHT IT NEW DIDNT DRIVE IT MUCH AND DIDNT DRIVE IT AT NIGHT SO THEY NEVER KNEW IT HAD ISSUES. THE PEOPLE WITH THE ISSUES WAS ABLE TO GET IT FIXED FREE SINCE THEY BOUGHT IT NEW AND HAD THE ISSUE HAPPEN TO THEM. SEAMS THERE WOULD OF BEEN A RECALL OUT TO HAVE THIS FIXED AND MOST DEALERS KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. BUT NOT THE ONE I TOOK MY CAR TO SINCE IT IS A NEWER DEALER.

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