10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 50,572 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.
When driving at night with exterior lights on, when brake and or gas pedal is pressed the exterior lights strobe/flashes. The Mazda dealership has been contacted about this issue and there is a technician service bulletin stating that the ECM needs to be reflashed/programmed. No recall has been set for this issue and the Mazda dealership stated that I would have to pay $265 out of pocket to have the problem fixed. I believe that because it's a problem with there programming or software that the company should have to issue a safety recall and fix the factory defect. I'm currently in the process of filing a lawsuit against Mazda because of this and I have already filed a complaint with the better business bureau for this issue.
- Pinehurst, ID, USA
Using my headlamps at night when I break my headlamps begin to flash, as to dim and brighten I took it into the dealership because it was a recall that my Vin number was not part of. They refused to take care of it without a fee. I reported it to Mazda of North America but because the cars older it falls outside of what they would normally do to take care of it. In short, The braking system causes the headlamps to brighten and dim down. I use country Roads, this could become a hazard. Im concerned it could completely go out at some point and leave me in the dark and create an accident
- Cotati, CA, USA
There has always been a massive voltage drop when slowing down or lowering speed. Happens consistently in all driving conditions, highway/city, nighttime/daytime. This leads to all interior lights and more importantly, headlights dimming and flashing whenever the engine speed drops. This often means at nighttime when going around corners visibility is nearly zero until the lights come back on after a few seconds. Electrical systems are all fine with inspection. Upon googling it, appears to be a common problem and software related.
- Egg Harbor Township, NJ, USA
High beam lights blink/flash when breaking low beam lights dim when breaking instrument lights dim slightly when breaking with both conditions mentioned
- Pasadena, MD, USA
Headlamps pulse during braking while deceleration
- Anderson, IN, USA
While driving I had noticed that every time I came to a stop light or a stop sign or to even slow down by releasing my foot of the accelerator, my headlights would start to flash. I started to din into the problem by doing research online to see if it was a common problem with my vehicles make and model. Upon reading more and more information I found on the issue I was having with my car. It all seemed to be linked to an alternator issue that Mazda knew about released a recall on it then took the recall away. My car is having the issue for the recall they took away. It poses a danger and a risk while driving. It causes a distraction to the on coming traffic as well as distracts the driver in front of you. I have had cars break hard in front of me thinking I was signaling them for whatever reason. One early morning I had been driving to work on the freeway and my whole car seemed to have shut off and as soon as it went off it came back on.
- Visalia, CA, USA
While driving at night when you brake the headlights dim significantly and flicker until you go back to the gas or stop. I noticed this when I drove the car I bought for my daughter one night in October 2019.
- Decatur, GA, USA
Headlights flicker when braking causing diminished visibility at night. This is a know problem and safety hazard. Known enough to have a service bulliten. This is a factory defect causing safety issues that Mazda wants customers to pay for in order to be fixed. This should be a recall as it is a safety hazard
- Slatington, PA, USA
When the vehicle slows down or I hit the brakes, the headlights and interior lights flicker.
- Delran, NJ, USA
High beam lights blink/flash when breaking low beam lights dim when breaking instrument lights dim slightly when breaking with both conditions mentioned. Also I had the alteernator checked and it is working like it should. I found other people have had same problem with same year make and model. I am 2nd owner the person who bought it new didnt drive it much and didnt drive it at night so they never knew it had issues. The people with the issues was able to get it fixed free since they bought it new and had the issue happen to them. Seams there would of been a recall out to have this fixed and most dealers know what the problem is. But not the one I took my car to since it is a newer dealer.
- Wamego, KS, USA
High beam lights blink/flash when breaking low beam lights dim when breaking instrument lights dim slightly when breaking with both conditions mentioned
- Wamego, KS, USA
When driving at night with the lights on and putting on brakes or slowing down, headlights and taillights flicker and dim noticeably
- Cool, CA, USA
Upon downshifting or braking from normal driving speed the 2012 Mazda3 I headlights flicker like a strobe light creating distraction for both the driver and other drivers. Mazda has no recalls on a software update for pdm to easily correct the problem. This is only occurring on skyactive models
- Ellijay, GA, USA
When driving the front headlights will flicker/dim when I touch the brakes. I am driving back roads and highway. Night time with headlights on. Happens pretty consistently and is distracting and greatly reduces my view of the road!! has been happening for at least 4 months. Replaced the battery and still have the same problem.
- Dillsburg, PA, USA
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
When driving, the headlights flicker severely anytime the brakes are applied. At night, it looks like I'm flashing my lights. This happens at random times, any roadway. We had the car serviced after finding a technical service bulletin (sb-01-019-13). The issue was fixed for a few months, but has returned.
- Nashville, TN, USA
Headlights pulsate when applying brakes. A technical service bulletin was issued. It is a software issue involving the alternator and re-calibrating the PCM. It happens every time you brake when the headlights are on.
- Pottsville, PA, USA
Headlights flicker when brakes are applied applicable model(s)/vins 2012-2013 Mazda3 vehicles (with skyactiv-G 2.0L and halogen type headlights)
- Owasso, OK, USA
When driving with the headlights on, the headlights appear to pulsate, dimming and brightening very noticeably. This only happens when the vehicle is moving. Mazda has identified the problem, issued a tsb reference sb-01-019-13. This should be a recall since it's distracting and dangerous to the driver and other motorists on the road. NHTSA has an id number 10053740 associated with this.
- Bloomington, IL, USA
- Ellijay, GA, USA