Home · 2012 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan · Complaints

What 226 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (226)Crash / fire / injury (10)Transmission & drivetrain (40)Engine (32)Lights (31)Electrical system (25)Fuel system (22)Speed control (20)Airbags (17)Body & structure (17)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (16)Seats (16)

40 of 226 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 1 of 2

Jun 23, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

Car started jerking and on the way home, the car lost all power to the transmission. The check engine light came on as well as the AT and traction lights. Absolutely no power to the transmission. codes P0780 and P0751.

NHTSA ODI 11596026

Oct 17, 2023Transmission & drivetrain

The car started to stall, hesitate and even stop completely for no apparent reason. The mechanic first recommended a new ECU/TCU which did not help the problem and in the course of duplicating the problem check engine light has come on for the transmission with problems shifting/sticking in a gear and not returning to first gear. My mechanic has stated that there is a known problem with Mazda3 transmission, and I should reach out to Mazda. They indicate there is no recall, but mechanic provided me TSB reference number 0500814 from a service bulletin. The car is a death trap and I have stalled while driving on the streets and freeway so obviously I can't drive the car. The car is still at the mechanics since parts cannot be found. Please help any way possible. Thank you.

NHTSA ODI 11550320

Jun 29, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted from 5th gear to 3rd gear with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle started to slide and the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V072000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11471629

Jul 16, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the automatic trans-axle warning light illuminated and the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred for a second time that day and she was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery cables had detached. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 85,598.

NHTSA ODI 11425120

Sep 11, 2020SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

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

Dec 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

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

Jul 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

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

Jul 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

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

May 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

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

Feb 11, 2019Transmission & drivetrainLights

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

Feb 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

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

Jan 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

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

NHTSA ODI 11171737

Dec 3, 2018Transmission & drivetrain

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

Jun 6, 2018Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

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

Dec 14, 2017Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTES DIAL FLUCTUATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN HINE MAZDA (45 CAMINO DEL RIO S, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108 (888) 714-7925) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO DRIVER ABUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11054753

Jun 28, 2016Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

WHEN DECELERATING, I'LL PUSH IN CLUTCH, APPLY BRAKE, AND SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. AS I LET OUT THE CLUTCH, CAR WILL SOMETIMES LURCH FORWARD (AS IF I'M DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT). I MUST IMMEDIATELY DEPRESS CLUTCH AGAIN AND LET OUT SLOWLY TO PREVENT THE SUDDEN SURGE IN ACCELERATION. MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN I AM COMING OUT OF A TURN AND BEGIN TO LET OUT CLUTCH. ALSO, AT 3 1/2 YEARS OLD, WITH 95,000 MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED POPPING OUT OF 4TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I'LL BE DRIVING ALONG AND FOR NO REASON SHIFTER WILL POP OUT OF GEAR. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID CAUSE IS LIKELY BAD BEARINGS INSIDE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT WITH MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 MAZDA 5 WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE REPORTED PROBLEMS TO MAZDA SERVICE AND OF COURSE THEY CAN NEVER GET PROBLEM TO REPEAT ITSELF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 10877168

Feb 25, 2015Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I DROVE OVER BUMPY RAIL ROAD TRACKS, WENT TO GIVE IT GAS TO GO AND ENGINE REVVED BUT NO ACCELERATION. DASH LIGHT THAT NORMALLY SAYS 'D' WAS BLANK. SHIFTED TO MANUAL MODE AND ATTEMPTED TO UP OR DOWN SHIFT BUT DASH LIGHT STILL BLANK AND NO SHIFTING POSSIBLE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING IN NUETRAL BUT THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS IN DRIVE OR IN MANUAL MODE. HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. NOTED TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT WAS ON WHILE SHIFT SELECTOR INDICATOR WAS BLANK. I PUT THE CAR INTO PARK, TURNED CAR OFF AND THEN ON AGAIN AND SEEMED TO DRIVE OK AT THIS POINT AFTER THIS. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED AND HAD ROOM TO GET OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD GOTTEN STUCK ON THE TRACKS THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. AND THE DEALER SAYS THEY CAN DO NOTHING UNLESS THERE IS A CODE STORED. NO CODE SO NOTHING I CAN DO. THIS RANKS UP THERE IN LEVEL OF DANGER YET MAZDA CAN DO NOTHING?

NHTSA ODI 10690511

Jan 31, 2015Transmission & drivetrain

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND AS I WAS SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEAR I CAME UP TO A SPEED ZONE SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND AS SOON AS I PRESSED MY FOOT ON THE GAS THE SHIFTER POPPED OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL I HAD TO QUICKLY PUT IT BACK INTO 4TH GEAR SO I WOULDN`T GET HIT FROM BEHIND AFTER IT HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIME I TOLD MY HUSBAND AND HE CALLED THE DEALER WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR THE DEALER CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THEY COULDN`T FIND ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE IT SO I TOOK IT BACK AS A SAFE CAR. THE CAR NOW HAS ABOUT 60000 MILES ON IT AND CONTINUES TO POP OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING ON MAJOR HIGHWAYS WE HAVE TOLD THE DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BUT WHEN THEY HAVE THE CAR IT DOESN`T DO IT BUT THEN AGAIN THEY D. ..RIVE IT ON A TWP ROAD NOT A HIGHWAY. I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW FROM WEISLEIDER FORD IN BRICK NJ

NHTSA ODI 10680155

Nov 24, 2014Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR A WEEK; THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND TO BRING IT IN AT ANY TIME. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ONE DAY AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FUEL INJECTOR AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, NOW, FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM -- THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN GETTING THE MAXIMUM MPG (ABOUT 10 PERCENT LESS) AND THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HESITATION WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS. I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SAME COMPLAINT OF OTHERS REGARDING THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER -- THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10660499

Aug 27, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WE WERE JUST RETURNING FROM A TRIP OF 9 DAYS WHICH CONTAINED MANY HIGH SPEED HIGHWAY HOURS AND MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN. CAR HAS 20000 MILES ON IT. AS WE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND ONTO A CITY STREET, ALL THREE LIGHTS ( ENGINE, AUTOTRANSMISSION, AND SLIPPAGE ICON) WENT OFF AND THERE WAS A BARE MINIMUM OF POWER TO MOVE CAR FORWARD. MAYBE 5 MPH. WE DRIFTED INTO PARKING LOT, RESTARTED CAR AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO DEALERSHIP WITHOUT INCIDENT ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE PASSING A TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY IT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS. IN SHOP OVER A WEEK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10628691

May 19, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW FROM CLASSIC MAZDA OR ORLANDO, FLORIDA IN DECEMBER OF 2012. ALL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATIONS AT CLASSIC MAZDA OF ORLANDO, FLORIDA. VEHICLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE WITHIN THE PREVIOUS TWO DAYS AND HAD BEEN DRIVING NORMALLY WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED AFTER INSPECTION. ON SATURDAY MORNING, MAY 17, 2014, VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AND NOTED NO PROBLEMS. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR A FEW HOURS, VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AND IT ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, ONLY TO BE STUCK AND UNABLE TO MOVE WHEN IN GEAR AND RELEASING THE CLUTCH. I CALLED MAZDA ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE WHO TOWED IT TO CLASSIC MAZDA ON 5/18/14. ON 5/19/14, MAZDA FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED, AND WITH ONLY 17000 MILES ON VEHICLE. MAZDA IS ONLY WILLING TO PAY FOR PARTS AND LEAVE THE BIGGER EXPENSE OF LABOR TO THE OWNER OF APPROXIMATELY $600. THIS CLUTCH SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 17000 MILES AND I BELIEVE IT TO BE DEFECTIVE AS THERE ARE MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO MINE EVERYWHERE. I BELIEVE MAZDA HAS DESIGNED A LESS THAN ACCEPTABLE CLUTCH TO BE IN USE ON THESE VEHICLES, AND SHOULD BE 100% LIABLE FOR REPAIR COSTS. I REQUEST A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CONCERN AS IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN FAULT OCCURS. *JS

NHTSA ODI 10592394

Apr 22, 2014Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DOWNSHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 3RD AND/OR 5TH TO 4TH TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL (ONLY ON THE CLUTCH) MY 2012 MAZDA 3 TOURING 6 SPEED MT ACCELERATES VERY RAPIDLY AND JERKS ABOUT. IT HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN STOPS. IT'S ALMOST EVERY TIME I DOWNSHIFT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MAZDA DEALER ON THE FIRST SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 5000 MILES IN APRIL 2013. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT MECHANIC CHECKED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10584101

Mar 24, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

HAD EXITED THE HIGHWAY, AND WAS ON THE SURFACE STREETS TO GO HOME. ROADS WERE DRY, MIDDLE OF DAY, TANK WAS 1/4 FULL, CAR WAS IN DRIVE (NOT IN TRIPTONIC MANUAL). STOPPED AT LIGHT, AND WHEN TRIED TO ACCELERATE CAR, IT ACTED FUNNY. AS APPROACHED 30 MPH, THE "TRACTION CONTROL" LIGHT CAME ON, CAR'S RPM WENT UP TO NEARLY 4000, AND LOST ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. FELT LIKE CAR WAS IN HYDROGLIDE OR SLIDING ON ICE. SEEMED LIKE ONLY IN 2ND GEAR. IN RESPONSE, I PUT CAR INTO MANUAL TRIPTONIC MODE, BUT NO GEARS WERE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND BASED ON RPM METER, AND LACK OF CHANGE IN CAR'S RESPONSE, THIS MANUAL SHIFT COULD NOT FORCE SHIFT TO HIGHER GEAR EVEN THOUGH I TRIED TWICE. SLOWED AND PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH BLINKERS FLASHING. LIMPED CAR THE 1/2 MILE HOME AT 20 MPH, AND LET IT SIT FOR 90 MINUTES. RESTARTED CAR AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. TOOK IT AROUND BLOCK, AND AGAIN WHEN APPROACHED 30 MPH, THE CAR LOST ALL ACCELERATION, RPMS WENT HIGH, AND NOW 3 WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, "ENGINE", "AT" AND "TRACTION CONTROL". PARKED IN FRONT OF HOUSE AND CALL MAZDA ASSISTANCE FOR A TOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10574411

Mar 8, 2014Transmission & drivetrainEngine

HELLO, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 30-40 MPH IN THE PASSING LANE. I WENT TO ACCELERATE PAST A TRUCK WHEN I NOTICED I WASN'T GAINING ANY SPEED. I LOOKED DOWN AND THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. THINKING THAT I MIGHT BE IN A LOWER GEAR AND MY AUTO TRANSMISSION WASN'T SHIFTING WELL I CHANGED IT OVER TO MANUAL. THERE WERE NO GEAR LIGHTS INDICATED ON THE DASH. I COULD NOT GET ANY POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE TO PULL OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHILE STILL KIND OF ON THE ROAD CONSIDERING I HAD NO POWER. IN A DESPERATE ATTEMPT I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE RESET. I CALLED MAZDA TODAY AND THEY SEEMED ALMOST LIKE IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. WELL I CONSIDER THIS A BIG DEAL, LOSING TRANSMISSION POWER ON A HIGHWAY IS A BIG DEAL. ANYWAYS I SAW A POST A FEW DAYS AGO WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN! *TR

NHTSA ODI 10567932

Feb 19, 2014Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING ON FOUR LANE HIGHWAY, CAR SLOWED AND FAILED TO RESPOND TO GAS PEDAL. COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS IN MANUAL TRANSMISSION. PULLED TO SIDE OF ROADWAY AND CALLED FOR TOW TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND FRONT SURFACE OF CLUTCH DISK TO BE COMPLETELY WORN AWAY, THUS ALLOWING CLUTCH TO SLIP. DANGER WAS INABILITY TO MAINTAIN FLOW WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC. DUE TO LOW MILEAGE, SUSPECT DEFECT IN PARTS OR ASSEMBLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10565016

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Working with the data? Download all 226 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 18, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan verdict →