3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
34,737 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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2012 Mazda MAZDA3:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #38

Jun 222024

MAZDA3

  • miles
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.

- Wilkes Barre, PA, USA

problem #37

Jul 222023

MAZDA3

  • miles
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.

- San Jose, CA, USA

problem #36

Jun 262022

MAZDA3

  • 160,000 miles
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.

- Moselle, MS, USA

problem #35

Jul 022021

MAZDA3

  • 85,598 miles
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.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #34

Sep 052020

MAZDA3

  • 110,000 miles
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.

- Elizabeth, NJ, USA

problem #33

Nov 262019

MAZDA3

  • miles
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.

- Arlington, TX, USA

problem #32

Jul 022019

MAZDA3

  • 64,000 miles
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.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #31

Aug 152016

MAZDA3

  • 41,000 miles
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).

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #30

Jan 012019

MAZDA3

  • 95,000 miles
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.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #29

Feb 012019

MAZDA3

  • 80,000 miles
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.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #28

Oct 172015

MAZDA3

  • 31,740 miles
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.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #27

Jan 232019

MAZDA3

  • 85,374 miles
Code U0101 description lost communication with transmission control module code scan dashboard light

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #26

Feb 012018

MAZDA3

  • 58,000 miles
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.

- Grove City, OH, USA

problem #25

May 172017

MAZDA3

  • 26,465 miles
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.

- Vernon, CT, USA

problem #24

Jun 272016

MAZDA3

  • 95,000 miles
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.

- Mebane, NC, USA

problem #23

Feb 232015

MAZDA3

  • 35,200 miles
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?

- Elmhurst, IL, USA

problem #22

Mar 152013

MAZDA3

  • 20,000 miles
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

- Brick, NJ, USA

problem #21

Nov 242014

MAZDA3

  • 41,500 miles
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.

- Cohasset, MA, USA

problem #20

Jul 282014

MAZDA3

  • 20,000 miles
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.

- Worthington, OH, USA

problem #19

May 172014

MAZDA3

  • 17,030 miles
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.

- Orlando, FL, USA

Read the next 18 complaints »