3.3
definitely annoying- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 40,390 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Wiper motor failure, 2008 Mazda 3 grand touring. Wipers working fine and in a heavy storm they decided to quit. I am aware that this is an electrical part and can fail at any time, but I have noticed this is an recurring problem for Mazda. This needs to addressed before someone gets hurt or loses their life over something that can be corrected.
- Lawrenceville, GA, USA
2008 Mazda 3 S grand touring - front windshield wipers just stopped working. This happened during a rainstorm. I checked the fuses and all looked good. After spending much time online, it appears that many people have had a similar problem.
- Yorktown Heights, NY, USA
While driving my 2008 Mazda3 from work in a heavy rainstorm, my windshield wipers stopped working causing a serious situation since the windshield was obstructed by rain. The car had to be left along the roadway until hours later when it stopped raining. It was determined by mechanics that it was the wiper motor and it has since been replaced..
- Palmyra, PA, USA
The windshield wipers on my 2008 Mazda quit working for no good reason. It happened during a thunderstorm. I was lucky to be able to get off the road because I couldn't see. I checked the fuse and found it to be in working order. The only other explanation would be the motor. I'm in the process of getting my car towed to a dealership. And from reading the other complaints about the wiper motor, this should be a recall. Does someone have to lose their life before Mazda will initiate a recall?
- Pittsburgh, PA, USA
While driving in the rain my windshield wipers suddenly stopped. After sitting by the side of the road for roughly 15 minutes they decided to start again for about 5 minutes before stopping again. After reading of the exact same thing happening to the exact same year, make, and model, at approximately the same mileage in a 1/2 dozen other vehicles I expect I will have to replace the wiper motor, out of pocket, as this happens just after the warranty ends.
- Port Murray, NJ, USA
Windshield wipers stopped working during a snow fall and single digit temperatures. There was no ice on the windshield yet. I had to leave the car in a parking lot until the next day. I took the car to the dealer and after sitting in the warm bay overnight they started working again. I picked up the car that night after sitting outside again and they failed to work. I brought the car back to the dealer and was told there was a short in the wiper motor and would be $350! the car is only two years old and 39,000 miles! there seems to be a common thread with the 2008 Mazda 3S. This motor should not be affected by the cold and poses a safety hazard to suddenly stop working when it is cold. This should be replaced at no charge.
- Royal Oak, MI, USA
My windshield wipers on my 2008 Mazda 3 stopped working on the highway during heavy rain. Not only was this dangerous but also scary and I feared for my safety as I tried to make my way from the far left lane of 285 in atlanta to the closest exit. I took it to the dealership only to be told that the wiper motor needs to be replaced for $340. I had my last Mazda for 9 years and never had to replace the windshield wiper motor. The windshield wipers stall or just stop working altogether when its raining, which is really defeating the purpose. Clearly there is a problem that needs to be investigated and these nonfuctining wiper motors with less than a 3 year life span needs to be recalled!!!!!! I am very disappointed and I am not sure if the next car I purchase will be a Mazda.
- Lilburn, GA, USA
Windshield wipers failed again. Refer to original complaint # 10343804 14jul10 wiper motor failed, $337 second complaint # 10356107 17sep10 high speed operation of wipers failed. This second complaint was resolved on 01oct10, $880. This time the cause was a bad relay on what they (dealer) called a fuse block assy. Relay is not replaceable you have to replace the entire assembly! I have the old fuse block assembly although they bent some of the connector pins on it! funny I can not find any fuses on it! I no longer feel safe driving this vehicle what with steering complaints, excessive rear tire inner edge wear I have seen on your web sight among other things and the fog light lenses cracking on both sides (app $125 ea to get a inspection sticker)on my car. My wind shield had to be replaced after a crack developed from a very minor impact that left a pit you would not have been able to see if it were not for the crack radatinf from it in two directions, I never heard the impact. But wipers failing on a 2 year old car is unacceptable! loss of visibility is instant in heavy rain!
- Acushnet, MA, USA
Refer to previous complaint 14 July 10, # 10343804. Windshield wipers fail again after motor replacement in middle ofjuly 2010, this morning 17sep10. This failure was not a complete failure at this time but the loss of the high speed function of the wipers during a heavy rain storm. Again I consider wipers a safety item on a car. There seems to be a on going problem of the wipers on Mazda 3 around 2008 year as I have had other people tell of troubles they had or heard of since my first failure. At this time I do not know what will be the out come of repair as I have not been to the dealer. I am very concerned every time I drive in the rain!
- Acushnet, MA, USA
On August 6th, 2010 while driving in heavy rain and traffic at high way speed the windshield wipers stopped. Working. Vision through windshield was severely impaired and I had to stop. I checked the fuses and the windshield wiper fuse was fine. A repair shop said that the wiper motor needs to be replaced. Very dangerous this should be a recall.
- Davie, FL, USA
On 14jul10 while driving in heavy rain and traffic at high way speed the windshield wipers slowed noticeably then stopped. Visual sight of traffic in front of me was impossible. After managing to pull over into the break down lane with out a collision I proceeded to check out the problem. The fuse for the windshield wipers was not blown nor could I find any other problem that would have accounted to this problem. After the rain let up I proceeded to continue my commute home having to pull over and stop numerous times when the rain started again. This was a nerve racking experience! the next day I took my vehicle to the dealer where I bought it to be checked out. I was told that the wind shield wiper motor was burned out and it would cost about $330 to repair it and they would overnight express a new one as they did not have any in stock. The repair was complete on16jul10 and I picked the vehicle at app 3pm, total cost $337. Mileage was app. 42900 so it was not under warranty. I consider wind shield wipers important safety equipment and believe that they should be held to a higher standard. This vehicle is a 2008 that I bought new! wiper motors burning out in two years"?" I have a 1994 Ford Ranger with 213000+ miles on it with the original wiper motor still in it!!! I believe Mazda should make good on this type of premature failure on safety equipment. I all so have excessive tire ware on the inside edges of my tires, worn down smooth and scalloping but due to rotating often I have managed to get better life out of them and will replace them soon. I have a noise that sounds to me like a wheel bearing or other rotating part wearing out and shimmy/vibration through the steering wheel that the dealer claims is related to the worn/scalloped tires. I will soon see if this goes away when I replace the tires.
- Acushnet, MA, USA
- Johnstown, NY, USA