8.0
pretty bad- Typical Repair Cost:
- $400
- Average Mileage:
- 66,800 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 11 complaints
Most common solutions:
- replace with proper safe tire sensors (5 reports)
- replace tire sensors (3 reports)
- have mazda replace the tire valve stems (2 reports)
- not sure (2 reports)
The valve stem broke off as I was adding air to my wife's tire before we were going on a trip in 4 hours. The stem broke but the sensor didn't fall in or anything. It was incredibly inconvenient but we got really lucky it didn't break on the trip we went on. It was replaced after our trip (we had to take another car) for free by discount tire.
- John Z., Pacific, US
My daughter was driving to the beach on the parkway when suddenly the tire went flat and almost got hit by other vehicles. The cause was that the tire pressure sensor broke. What is mazda doing about it? My daughter almost got killed. I put a new tire with a regular plug and when I checked the other tires I found another sensor also ready to brake off so I had the mechanic replace it with another plug. My daughter is afraid to drive this car. I will not buy another mazda.
- John R., Rahway, US
hey guys, while driving i got TPMS indication. stopped by near by gas station to fill air &while filling air valve broke. went to near by garage to fix it found that other 2 wheels have cracked valves so ahve to replace all3 of them. This is manufacturing defect it seems.. i have to peg $800 since warannty on car is over.
- Sahshi S., Edison, NJ, US
click to see larger images
DRIVING ON THE 495 TODAY I SAW MY TIRE INFLATION LIGHT GO ON AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY MY TIRE WENT DEAD FLAT. I PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HWY WITH CARS ZIPPING PAST AT 65 MPH+. REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE TEMP SPARE AND RETURNED HOME. STARTED TO REMOVE THE VALVE CAP SO I COULD FIND THE LEAK AND THE ENTIRE VALVE STEM FELL INTO THE TIRE. BORROWED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND DROVE THE TIRE TO TIRE SHOP. THEY SAID THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE. PULLED THE TIRE OFF THE WHEEL TO RETRIVE THE STEM AND SENSOR. THEY ADVISED THAT THE STEM LOCKING NUT AND STEM THREADS HAVE FAILED (SEE PICTURES). THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEM UNIT, WHICH WOULD COST AT LEAST 170.00 BEFORE LABOR. . THEY ALSO SAID I SHOULD CHECK THE OTHER WHEELS ON THE VEHICLE. I DROVE BACK TO MY CAR AND SURE ENOUGH WHEN I INSPECTED THE THREE OTHER WHEELS ONE OF THEM SHOWED THAT JUST OVER HALF TO STEM NUT WAS STILL IN PLACE (SEE PICTURES). SO I HAVE ONE COMPLETE FAILURE AND ANOTHER ONE JUST ABOUT TO FAIL. RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING AT A NEED TO REPLACE TWO STEMS FOR SURE AND PROBABLEY ALL FOUR TO BE SAFE. THIS IS AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF OVER 800.00 FOR A DEFECTIVE AND FAILED PRODUCT. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND WILL REPORT BACK.
- David W., Fairfax, VA, US
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The valve stem issue with 2010 mazda3 has been a very annoying costing one for me. I have had 3 valve stems break so far. The first one broke when I was putting air in my tire (car only 3 years old). When I had it replaced the mechanic said the nut crumbled when he tried removing it ($250 to replace). Now two more of my valve stems have corroded. One of them the nut that holds the valve stem on just broke in half ($125 each to replace). The last old valve stem is discolored and I am just waiting for it to start crumbling to pieces. This is very annoying spending this much money on a clear design flaw, not to mention the clear potential hazard of having one of these break apart while driving down the highway.
- Kevin S., North Ridgeville, OH, US
My son and I are fine. But the TPMS sensor just blew out while in the highway with my 2 year old son. This is the second TPMS that failed the same way. The first one i just replaced with a rubber valve and has been living with the Check air dashboard light.
This second incident got me so scared i started searching if other people are having problems and found this site.
I am going to submit a complaint to Mazda about this and hopefully they do something about it before a family gets into a bad accident.
- edangs, Carteret, NJ, US
This is the THIRD time it has happened to me. TPMS Sensors are fickle, and often corrode and break if you are in an environment that has seasonal weather (rain, snow, salty roads). In the Mazda 3, the air valve is connected to the TPMS sensor, so when it breaks, it slowly (or not so slowly if you're on the highway) lets the air out of your tire and BAM, you have a flat and you're stranded. This time, I caught it quickly and knew what to do, so it's only 200.00 for a new sensor, but this is the third time it has happened to me, and last time I was stranded in a strange town off the highway and had to pay for a new tire plus sensors. I only have 44,000 on my vehicle. This is very dangerous because you never know where you'll be when it breaks, and if you're traveling at a high speed, it will rip up the tire.
TPMS sensors were a requirement that was supposed to help the consumer realize there is something wrong. In this case, they actually are the cause of your flat.
- A D., Chicago, IL, US
TPMS sensor broke and let the air out of my tire when i was driving on the highway. I got off in the middle of nowhere in a not-too-great area outside of Chicago on a Sunday. A good samaritan put the donut on for me. This is the second time it had happened to me, out of 3 I can remember. i only had 33 K on the car at the time. I had to pay 200 for a new sensor and 200 for a new tire.
the TPMS sensors on the Mazda are connected to the air valve. these sensors are fickle and break often, thus letting the air out of your tire. this is a flaw in the design of the Mazda 3. TPMS sensors are there to let you know if your tires are having problems. in the case of the Mazda 3, they actually cause the problems. this is very dangerous, because you never know where you will get stranded and at what speed you will be when they deflate.
- A D., Chicago, IL, US
MAZDA IS A PIECE OF CRAP.. THEY SCREWED MY DAUGHTER NEVER TELLING HER ABOUT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS THAT BLOW OUT AT ANY SPEED OR NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES....THESE ARROGANT BASTARDS SCREWED MY DAUGHTER OUT OF 2 TIRES THAT SHE PAID FOR AFTER THEY BLEW OUT ONE AFTER ANOTHER....LUCKILY SHE WAS NOT HURT ON THE HIGHWAY...SHE WAS NEVER TOLD ANY TIME SHE WENT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAY SHE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BY 6000 MILES...THAT'S BULLSHIT & MANY OTHERS ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION..THIS IS & SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY RECALL & DONE FOR FREE
- Rick S., Rochester, NY, US
Check out www.safercar.gov to get the low-down on recalls, mechanical and electrical complaints about your vehicle's year, make and model. If there are any recall notices listed there, check the manufacturer's website to see if they have it listed there, too (required by law, I believe). If they don't-complain and report your car manufacturer to the NHTSA and the FTC.
I am about to sue Mazda over the tire pressure stems/sensors on my car which made me go thru 6 tires in 1 year.
- Elaine K., West Long Branch, NJ, US
Second valve stem that has broken on this car. $80 first time. Going to call Mazda this time after researching and finding that this is a common problem with this vehicle. Could be very dangerous if these vave stems break on the freeway.
- Leon H., Anchorage, US