What 138 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Mazda Mazda3 Sedan

About a month ago I got into my vehicle and noticed a corner of my infotainment screen was cracked. The cracking is internal and seems to spider around the corner. It cannot be felt externally in any way. Doing some research, I came across multiple other owners displaying similar problems. I was also able to find Service Alert No. SA-008/18 which pertained to the same issue even labeling it as (spider cracking). Calling Mazda's customer experience department, I was informed (and knew) that a service alert is not a recall. While this is true it is something that occurs due to normal temperature changes in a product (vehicle) that should be able to withstand such conditions. I was also informed that the Service Alert did not include my VIN even though my vehicle is inside the year, make, and model the service alert pertains to. I was encouraged to reach out to NHTSA if I had further concerns. While the spider cracking was more of an aesthetic issue since then I have noticed the infotainment will often rapidly change through various menus and apps. This causes both a sudden distraction to the driver as well as potentially making unknown changes to the vehicle systems maintained through the infotainment package. While my wife was driving the vehicle last week and trying to use the navigation, she was consistently having the directions break up and display change causing her to need to pull over. Given that both the aesthetic cracking and the menu/apps changing problems began at the same time it seems that the internal crack may have thrown off some pressure/contact the display relies on. The vehicle is available for inspections upon request. Aesthetic problem was seen by the dealer on July 7, 2021 however the function changes were not observed until just after.

NHTSA ODI 11427735

My 2014 Mazda 3 had very bad wear on the rear brakes, but not on the front. I took them apart, and both calipers were frozen. I contacted the dealership and they told me that there was a recall, but only for the cars manufactured in Mexico, not in Asia. The recall needs to be expanded, as Mazda denied there was any problem with these calipers. Clearly there is a more widespread problem than Mazda will admit.

NHTSA ODI 11425638

ACCORDING TO THE DEALER, THE STEERING SENSOR AND ABS MODULE HAVE GONE BACK. THE CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT. I SPOKE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE MODULES ARE FLYING OFF THE SHELVES RIGHT NOW BECAUSE SO MANY OF THEM ARE GOING BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11415010

MY IN CAR MONITOR IS CRACKING AT THE SCREEN AND WILL NOT TURN ON. IT HAS BEEN THIS WAY FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WOULD COST THOUSANDS. I DID NOTHING TO THE SYSTEM IT JUST DOES NOT WORK. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM. I SEE THERE ARE RECALLS FOR CANADA VEHICLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED.

NHTSA ODI 11405267

I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD EXPLOSION. I LOOKED UP AND THE CENTER OF MY SUNROOF WAS GONE. THERE WAS A LITTLE GLASS IN THE CAR, BUT MOST OF THE GLASS EXPLODED OUTWARD. THE GLASS IN THE CAR CONSISTED OF SMALL SHARDS. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS WITH ME SO NO INJURIES.

NHTSA ODI 11405129

AROUND 68,000 MILES, I BEGAN TO HEAR A SUBTLE WHINING NOISE COMING FROM MY 2014 MAZDA MAZDA3. I WAS UNSURE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM AND ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE TIRES. AS TIME PASSED, THE NOISE BECAME LOUDER, EVENTUALLY TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT I NEEDED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT. A MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE SOUND WAS EMITTING THERE. HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN POSTED BY MAZDA THAT DESCRIBED THE EXACT ISSUE, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S SURE IT IS. I GOT A SECOND OPINION FROM ANOTHER MECHANIC AND HE EXPLAINED THE SAME THING. THE COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH A REMANUFACTURED MODEL IS SOMEWHERE IN THE BALLPARK OF $2,000 - $3,500. THE SECOND MECHANIC I WENT TO SHOWED ME THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. AFTER THE DESCRIPTION, THE BULLETIN STATES, "THIS IS CAUSED BY A DAMAGED BEARING IN THE TRANSAXLE DUE TO IMPROPER CONFIGURATION OF THE TRANSAXLE CASE." THIS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY; UNFORTUNATELY, THE ISSUE IS KNOWN ONLY TO HAPPEN RIGHT AROUND 65,000 + MILES, AFTER THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. BECAUSE THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN STATES THE ISSUE IS "DUE TO IMPROPER CONFIGURATION", TELLS ME THAT IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT ONLY HAPPENED BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO THE MAZDA SERVICE CENTER, AND BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT, AS WELL AS SPEAKING WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND EXPLAINING THE SITUATION, MAZDA WAS UNWILLING TO HELP BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE THIS ISSUE WAS DUE TO 'IMPROPER CONFIGURATION' MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL. THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TO REFERENCE FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS BULLETIN NO: 05-005/15 OR NHTSA TSB # 10105626.

NHTSA ODI 11367068

WHEN DRIVING ON CITY STREETS ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT, THE CAR EMITS POPPING AND SQUEAKS FROM THE SUSPENSION. WHEN GETTING IN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR PRODUCES A CLUNKING NOISE THAT EMANATES FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. ALSO WHEN WINDING AND UNWINDING THE STEERING WHILE PARKING THE CAR OR MOVING SLOWLY, AGAIN THE VEHICLE EMITS CLUNKING NOISES FROM THE SUSPENSION. TODAY IS 10/7/2020, I HAVE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM MY NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR WHO WAS THE FIRST OWNER OF THIS CAR. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED REGULARLY AT THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND HAS NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THEY INFORMED THAT THERE IS A TSB SINCE 2016 ON THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE AND WILL COST $600 TO REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11363263

IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN 6 YEARS AND 5 MONTHS. ROAD HAZARD LIKE A TORN WHEEL FROM OTHER CAR OR DIVIDER ON ROAD. IF WHEN DRIVING IT GOES OVER IT DURING NIGHT TIME THE COMPUTER WITHIN THE MAZDA 3 TRIGGERS AUTOMATIC DEFLATION OF THE CAR TIRES.

NHTSA ODI 11342919

IT APPEARS THE MAZDA COMPUTER ELECTRONICS TRIGGER AUTO DEFALTION OF TIRES AFTER HITTING A ROAD HAZARD ON THE ROAD. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE AND I HAD TO REPLACE MY TIRES MULTIPLE TIMES.. ONCE AT 35 MPH AND OTHER AT 44 MPH APPROX

NHTSA ODI 11342807

MY CAR HAS BEEN STALLING WHILE I'M DRIVING

NHTSA ODI 11315740

THE GLASS SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING 65MPH IN LANE ON A STRAIGHT SECTION OF I-476 BETWEEN ALLENTOWN AND QUAKERTOWN PA AT 11AM ON DECEMBER 31, 2019, CONSTANT 40 TEMP, NO RECENT CHANGE IN ALTITUDE, NOT NEAR AN OVERPASS OR CLOSE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. NO INDICATION THAT ANYTHING STRUCK THE VEHICLE FROM ANY DIRECTION. SOUNDED LIKE A SHOTGUN BLAST. MY WIFE AND I WERE SHOWERED WITH BROKEN GLASS.TERRIFYING AND EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, BUT WE WERE ABLE TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. SUBSEQUENTLY READ THE 2017CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE ON SUCH EVENTS - TURNS OUT THIS IS A THING. INSURANCE COVERED REPAIR, WE WERE OUT ONLY THE DEDUCTIBLE. REPAIR TOOK THREE WEEKS. WE CAN PROVIDE DOCUMENTS IF YOU LIKE.

NHTSA ODI 11302238

CAN PARKING BREAK WILL NOT FULLY ENGAGE OR BECOMES DISENGAGED EVEN THOUGH PARKING BREAK HANDLE IS LIFTED. CAR WILL OCCASIONALLY ROLL FWD ON A HILL OF BREAK DOES NOT ENGAGE.CAR ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND EVEN JUMPED THE PARKING SPACE CURBS. DRIVER WAS NOT IN THE CAR BUT BREAK APPEARED TO BE SET.

NHTSA ODI 11288784

THE INFOTAINMENT SCREEN HAS SPIDER CRACKS IN 2 CORNERS THAT ARE STARTING FROM THE SEALED INSIDE OF SCREEN. IT IS SPREADING AND ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET BLOGS HAPPENING TO OTHER MAZDA'S. SEE ATTACHED PHOTOS. THE SCREEN HAS NOT BEEN DAMAGED AND MOST OF THE CHANGES HAPPEN WHEN I USE THE COMMAND KNOB AND NOT TOUCHING THE SCREEN.

NHTSA ODI 11266431

ISSUES WITH BRAKING WHEN COMING TO A STOP. PASSENGER SIDE REAR CALIPER STICKS, MAKING A LOT OF NOISE AND CAUSING THE PADS TO WEAR DOWN WAY TOO QUICKLY. HAD TO CHANGE MY ROTOR AND PAD THREE TIMES IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. NOW MY MECHANIC SAYS IT'S THE CALIPER. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY TOLD ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IMPACTED BY THE 2017 RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S A 5 YEAR OLD CAR, IT SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11258566

THERE ARE REPORTS ONLINE THAT MAZDA3 2014-2016 HAS A DEFECTIVE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM. SCREEN BLACKS OUT AND PLAYS ONE RADIO STATION OR TOUCHSCREEN MALFUNCTIONS. ALL MAZDA DEALERS IN HOUSTON DO NOT SPEAK OF FIXING THIS FOR FREE . BUT THROUGHOUT MAZDA FORUMS ACROSS THE U.S. SOME PEOPLE HAVE THIS EQUIPMENT REPLACED FOR FREE AS MAZDA KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM ON SUCH VEHICLE MODELS AND YEARS.

NHTSA ODI 11258323

THE CAR'S CMU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED SO THE CAR HAS NO FUNCTIONING RADIO, GPS OR BLUETOOTH. THE SCREEN ON THE DASH CONSTANTLY TRIES TO REBOOT, WHICH IS A DISTRACTION AND HAZARD WHILE DRIVING, PARTICULARLY AT NIGHT. MAZDA HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO GIVE ME ANY TIMELINE FOR THE REPAIR AND CLAIMS IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTEE THAT IT ISSUED FOR THE TOUCH SCREEN IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR MAZDA3.

NHTSA ODI 11256241

MY 2014 MAZDA3 IS LEAKING FROM A SEAM IN THE FUEL TANK. THERE IS AN EXISTING CAMPAIGN FOR OTHER 2014 MAZDA3S #16V684000 BUT MY VIN APPARENTLY IS NOT CAUGHT IN THAT CAMPAIGN. SEEMS HIGHLY SUSPECT THAT SOME VEHICLES OF THE SAME YEAR WERE MISSED WHEN DEVELOPING THE CAMPAIGN. MY VEHICLE IS ON THE LIFT NOW AND MY MECHANIC IS WATCHING FUEL DRIP FROM THE SEAM IN THE TANK. NOTE THIS IS HAPPENING WITH A FULL TANK OF FUEL, WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY. AFTER PARKING THERE IS DISTINCT FUEL ORDER EMANATING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11254420

JULY 2018 I NOTICED THE REAR PASSENGER WHEEL GETTING REALLY HOT AND MAKING A POPPING SOUND AFTER DRIVING IT ON HOT PAVEMENT. THE BRAKE CALIPER WAS STUCK AND I HAD TO GET A NEW ROTOR, REAR DRIVER'S BRAKE CALIPER AND NEW BRAKE PADS. I HAD TO WAIT 3 WEEKS FOR THE CALIPER TO COME IN. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS ODD ALL THE OTHER CALIPERS WERE AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY EXCEPT THE REAR PASSENGER ONE. WE LOOKED ONLINE AND NOTICED A RECALL BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. FAST FORWARD 1 YEAR - AUGUST 2019, I WAS SMELLING FUEL AROUND THE DRIVER'S WHEEL WELL AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER FILL UP. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND THERE IS A FUEL LEAK COMING FROM THE SEEM OF THE GAS TANK. THE WHOLE TANK HAS TO BE REPLACED AND POSSIBLY THE FUEL PUMP. ONCE AGAIN I HAVE ANOTHER WAIT FOR THE PARTS FROM MAZDA - AT LEAST A WEEK. THESE ARE 2 VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIRS IN THE MATTER OF A LITTLE OVER A YEAR FOR A CAR WITH 30,000 MILES ON IT. HE SAID WHEN HE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT HE COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW MUCH FUEL LEAKED OUT. HE SAID FROM LOOKING ONLINE, MY CAR SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BOTH OF THESE INCIDENTS SINCE OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR WERE. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE ABOUT EACH OF THESE ISSUES AND THEY TELL ME MY VEHICLE WAS NOT IMPACTED BY THE RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO SINCE IT'S NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11252054

MY 2014 MAZDA3 WITH VIN [XXX] IS EXPERIENCING SQUEAKING AND BINDING OF THE MANUAL PARKING BRAKE WHILE DRIVING. THE 2014 MAZDA3 HAS ALREADY HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V393000. THEY SAY MY CAR IS NOT COVERED BY THIS RECALL, BUT THIS CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH A MANUAL PARKING BRAKE AND IS LESS OF THESE ARE MADE AND LESS MAY HAVE BEEN REPORTED. ADDITIONALLY, THIS WEBSITE FOR MECHANICS (HTTPS://MAZDA.OEMDTC.COM/528/SQUEAKINGGRINDING-NOISE-FROM-REAR-BRAKES-2014-2016-MAZDA3) SAYS THAT THIS IS A RECURRING ISSUE CAUSED BY: "SQUEAKING/GRINDING NOISE FROM THE REAR BRAKE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. UPON INSPECTION, THE CALIPER MOUNTING SUPPORT IS CORRODED AND ONE OF THE DISC PAD IS ABNORMALLY WORN OUT (A). THIS IS CAUSED BY VEHICLE USAGE IN AN AREA USING ROAD SALT. THE SURFACE OF THE MOUNTING SUPPORT MAY SWELL FROM CORROSION CAUSING PREMATURE DISC PAD WEAR AND BRAKE NOISE. DISC PAD IS ABNORMALLY WORN OUT (A) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, AN IMPROVED CALIPER MOUNTING SUPPORT HAS BEEN NEWLY ESTABLISHED AS A SERVICE PART. THE ANTI-CORROSION SURFACE TREATMENT HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM ZN TO ZN-NI PLATING." THE WEBSITE SAYS THIS PROBLEM AFFECTS:"2014-2016 MAZDA3 VEHICLES WITH VINS STARTING WITH JM1" WHICH MY VEHICLE IS AS I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA CENTRAL VALLEY AND HAVE NO ROAD SALT, I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11245801

THE CABLE CONTROLLING THE AIR BLOWER FROM COLD TO WARM WILL DISCONNECT. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. THE BRACKET CONTROLLING CONNECTING THE ARM MOVING THE BLOWER HAS BROKEN.

NHTSA ODI 11235160

THE INFOTAINMENT CENTER ON THE DASH REPEATEDLY GLITCHES OUT, WILL START RANDOMLY CALLING CONTACTS IF BLUETOOTH IS SYNCED WILL RANDOMLY SWITCH TO RADIO STATIONS, PANDORA, INFO ON THE SCREEN, USING THE STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND CENTER CONSOLE CONTROLS WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. IT HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES STATIONARY OR AT ANY SPEED, YOU CAN'T TURN IT OFF BECAUSE THE CONTROLS DON'T WORK, RESETTING IT DOESN'T WORK, DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY DOESN'T WORK IT JUST STARTS UP AGAIN AS SOON AS THE CAR TURNS ON, IT'S AN INTERMITTENT ISSUE SO IT MAY NOT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT LINGERS FOR DAYS OR WEEKS AT A TIME WHEN IT DOES GLITCH OUT.

NHTSA ODI 11228362

CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO BE SERVICED AT 47,950 MILES AND THE LEFT SIDE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WAS TAKEN IN AGAIN AT 53,474 MILES AND THE RIGHT SIDE CALIPERS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AS THANKFULLY WE DO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ON OUR VEHICLES. THANKFULLY IT DID NOT BECOME A DRIVING HAZARD AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WE HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN BOTH TIMES TO BE SERVICED AND THAT IS WHEN THEY FOUND THE ISSUE. WHEN IT HAPPENED THE SECOND TIME THAT IS WHEN I STARTED TO LOOK INTO RECALLS PERTAINING TO THIS ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING RECALL DOES NOT EFFECT OUR MODEL MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS (MAZDA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2014-2015 MAZDA6 AND 2014-2016 MAZDA3 VEHICLES. WATER COULD POSSIBLY ENTER THE BRAKE CALIPER CAUSING THE PARKING BRAKE ACTUATOR SHAFT TO CORRODE AND POSSIBLY BIND.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11221420

LOUD SQUEAKING AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 30 MINUTES, ESPECIALLY ON LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEEDS. SQUEAK DISAPPEARS WITH THE SLIGHTEST APPLICATION OF BRAKE OR PARKING BREAK. MY LEFT REAR WHEEL IS ESPECIALLY AFFECTED BY THIS; NOTICEABLE HEAT COMING OFF THE LEFT REAR AFTER DRIVING. DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD IT ON THE JACKS AFTER THEY DROVE IT 15 MILES AND THEY COULDN'T EVEN TURN IT. THEY DON'T BELIEVE FRONT WHEELS ARE AFFECTED. I'VE BEEN TELLING THEM SOMETHING WAS UP WITH MY BRAKES FOR MONTHS NOW. I SUSPECTED SOMETHING WAS WRONG WHEN I WAS AT AN INDEPENDENT GARAGE; I TOOK IT TO MAZDA AFTER THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG BUT I STILL NOTICED A FEELING OF THE BRAKES STICKING AFTER HLA ACTIVATED ESPECIALLY. POSSIBLY A SLOW BUILD UP TO A MAJOR PROBLEM OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11203285

SAFETY RECALL-ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN THE BACKSEAT I NOTICE MY BATTERY LIGHT COME ON. AFTER THAT EVERY WARNING LIGHT ON DASHBOARD CAME ON AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN EVEN WHEN PRESSING MY FOOT ON THE GAS. THE CAR EVEN TRIED STOPING AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WE WERE SUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO GET IT TOWED BUT I BELIEVED THIS HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DEALERS DIDN'T FIX THE RECALL AND INSTAED THEY BYPASSED IT.

NHTSA ODI 11197077

TCS MALFUNCTION. 'TRANSMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM' SYMBOL IS CAR WITH SKID MARK ON THE BOTTOM. TAKE TO DEALER RIGHT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11196611