What 226 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

HIGH BEAM LIGHTS BLINK/FLASH WHEN BREAKING LOW BEAM LIGHTS DIM WHEN BREAKING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DIM SLIGHTLY WHEN BREAKING WITH BOTH CONDITIONS MENTIONED

NHTSA ODI 11208455

WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND PUTTING ON BRAKES OR SLOWING DOWN, HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM NOTICEABLY

NHTSA ODI 11206154

UPON DOWNSHIFTING OR BRAKING FROM NORMAL DRIVING SPEED THE 2012 MAZDA3 I HEADLIGHTS FLICKER LIKE A STROBE LIGHT CREATING DISTRACTION FOR BOTH THE DRIVER AND OTHER DRIVERS. MAZDA HAS NO RECALLS ON A SOFTWARE UPDATE FOR PDM TO EASILY CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS ONLY OCCURRING ON SKYACTIVE MODELS

NHTSA ODI 11204455

STEERING GETS REALLY STIFF WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN SPEED IS LESS THAN 5MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11202950

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NELSON MAZDA MURFREESBORO (1214 FORTRESS BLVD, MURFREESBORO, TN 37128) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11181615

WHEN DRIVING THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER/DIM WHEN I TOUCH THE BRAKES. I AM DRIVING BACK ROADS AND HIGHWAY. NIGHT TIME WITH HEADLIGHTS ON. HAPPENS PRETTY CONSISTENTLY AND IS DISTRACTING AND GREATLY REDUCES MY VIEW OF THE ROAD!! HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AT LEAST 4 MONTHS. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11181238

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ACTIVATED, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKERED AND PULSATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AOXMOOR MAZDA (7913 SHELBYVILLE RD, LOUISVILLE, KY) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A SOFTWARE MALFUNCTION. THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE WAS UPDATED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11176142

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNSPECIFIED SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JENKINS MAZDA OF OCALA (352-815-2425, LOCATED AT 1740 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471) WHERE THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED SIX MOTHS LATER. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSMISSION AXLE. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED TO PROVIDE A DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE OFFER WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,740.

NHTSA ODI 11175707

CODE U0101 DESCRIPTION LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CODE SCAN DASHBOARD LIGHT

NHTSA ODI 11171737

FUEL FILLER LINE LEAK. WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL FUEL LEAKS FROM SMALL WHOLE IN LINE THAT GOES INTO GAS TANK. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS WHERE THE LINE IS WELDED TO GAS TANK HAS BROKEN THE MAZDA SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT MAZDA WILL FIX, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2013 MODELS, SO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO A 2012 MODEL WHY IT NOT BE REPAIRED BY MAXDA?

NHTSA ODI 11164272

WHEN DRIVING, THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER SEVERELY ANYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. AT NIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE I'M FLASHING MY LIGHTS. THIS HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES, ANY ROADWAY. WE HAD THE CAR SERVICED AFTER FINDING A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (SB-01-019-13). THE ISSUE WAS FIXED FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT HAS RETURNED.

NHTSA ODI 11160646

THE LINK CONNECTING THE FRONT LEFT OF THE SEAT SHEARED OFF. IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE RECALL FOR THE 2011 MODELS.

NHTSA ODI 11160654

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS SLIPPED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN ANY GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM WARRANTY CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NUMBER: O5-OO8/16 DUE TO BEING UNDER MILEAGE; HOWEVER, THE STATUTE FOR THE DATE TO RECEIVE SERVICE WAS ALSO EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYERS MAZDA (2455 BILLINGSLEY RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43235, (614) 792-2455) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ODI 11155744

DASHBOARD PEELING OFF

NHTSA ODI 11153276

THE REAR SHOCKS HAVE AN UPPER ATTACHMENT THAT IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. AFTER ONLY 49000 MILES THE SHOCK MOUNT CORRODED AND BROKE. IT ALSO CAUSED THE SHOCK ROD TO BEND.

NHTSA ODI 11151770

AS I WAS ENTERING MY VEHICLE ON A SATURDAY MORNING A METAL PIECE UNDER THE SEAT SNAPPED. THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER STABLE AND I BROUGHT IT TO A MAZDA DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE PART NUMBER FOR THE BROKEN PART IN MY VEHICLE. THAT PART NUMBER, BBM4-88-H50A, IS THE SAME ON ALL MAZDA3S FROM 2010-2012. IT IS ALSO THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2010-2011 MAZDA3S BUT NOT THE 2012 MODEL. THIS PART SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE RECALLED ON 2012 MODELS SINCE IT IS THE SAME PART AND I AM EVIDENCE THAT THE PART WAS STILL FAULTY ON THE 2012 MODELS. I HAVE ATTACHED 4 PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOW PROOF OF THE INSPECTION, THE PART THAT WAS BROKEN, THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS THE SAME FROM 2010-2012 MODELS, AND THE NHTSA DOCUMENT SHOWING THE RECALL OF THAT PART. I AM NOT A LARGE PERSON, ~145 LBS, AND THERE IS NO REASON A METAL PIECE HOLDING MY SEAT IN PLACE SHOULD HAVE SNAPPED IN TWO.

NHTSA ODI 11130666

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREEN MAZDA (217-391-2400, LOCATED AT 3760 S 6TH ST, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CHARCOAL CANISTER FILTER WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.

NHTSA ODI 11128743

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILED AT 38,000 MILES CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND WOULDN'T RESTART.

NHTSA ODI 11121993

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SYSTEM CAUSING REDUCED ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL ON MAZDA3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2011 AND NOVEMBER 2011. THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND A VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED MY VEHICLE. FOR SOME REASON MAZDA IS NOT RECOGNISING THE RECALL ON LATER MODELS AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. MAZDA RECALL REFERENCE IS 6511K. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ADDITIONAL VINS

NHTSA ODI 11121663

EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS FUELED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE CLICKED THE FUEL CAP SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE CAP REPLACED. THERE IS AN EVAP CODE SHOWING. THE CAR CANNOT PASS ANY STATE INSPECTION

NHTSA ODI 11101564

I PURCHASED MY 2012 MAZDA 3 ONE YEAR AGO (2017). I FIRST NOTICED THE ISSUE ABOUT A MONTH AFTER OWNING MY CAR. I TURNED ON MY AIR CONDITIONER AT FIRST LOW, THEN ALL THE WAY UP, IT FELT SLIGHTLY COOL, BUT ONLY AS IF MY FANS WERE BLOWING AND NOWHERE NEAR WHAT AN AIR CONDITIONER SHOULD PROPERLY FEEL LIKE. THIS WAS AFTER LETTING THE CAR WARM UP, AND DRIVING ON BACK ROADS OR HIGHWAYS AS WELL AS WHEN PARKED. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THE TECHNICIAN HAD SOME TROUBLE FIGURING OUT HOW TO FIX IT. THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED, AND YET I AM STILL NOW DEALING WITH A CAR THAT WILL NOT BLOW COLD AIR! ONLY SEMI COOL ON THE HIGHEST FAN SETTING ! ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING AND HAVING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON MY CAR DOES NOT ACCELERATE AS WELL OR FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS DRIVING AS WELL AS IT DOES WITHOUT NEEDING THE AIR CONDITIONER ON. MY CAR REALLY FEELS LIKE IT IS WORKING EXTRA HARD TO PUT OUT SEMI COOL AIR. I HAVE HAD THE AIR CONDITIONER CHECKED AGAIN AND IT SAYS ITS NOT AS COOL AS IT SHOULD BE. I NEED A RESOLUTION TO THIS PLEASE.

NHTSA ODI 11100181

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 ODI 11099385

HEADLIGHTS PULSATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED. IT IS A SOFTWARE ISSUE INVOLVING THE ALTERNATOR AND RE-CALIBRATING THE PCM. IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON.

NHTSA ODI 11081443

TOLD BY MAZDA TECHNICIAN THAT RIGHT REAR SWAY BAR LINK IS DEFECTIVE- FAILING, AND CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT, NOTICED THE NOISE AROUND 52K MILES

NHTSA ODI 11075508

HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY DIM WHEN SLOWING DOWN. COULD BE FROM LETTING OFF ACCELERATOR OR APPLYING THE BRAKES. IT IS DISTRACTING AND MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE INCLUDING THE FIX YET HAS NOT MADE COMMINICATIONS TO OWNERS.

NHTSA ODI 11064786