2005 Mazda Mazda3 Fuel System Problems

The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, other individuals informed the contact that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or a dealer. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the clock spring was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000.

MY WIFE SONDRA WAS STOPPED IN OUR 2005 MAZDA3 WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY AN INDIVIDUAL DRIVING A 2001 MALIBU. THE VEHICLE WAS DOING APPROX. 30 MPH WHEN IT STUCK OUR CAR. OUR CAR WAS THEN PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF HER. MY WIFE WAS INJURED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL, INJURIES WERE, 8 STITCHES TO THE BRIDGE OF THE NOSE, BACK AND NECK INJURIES, SHE IS UNDER GOING THERAPY AND IS WAITING FOR MORE TEST TO BE PERFORMED. THE REASON THAT I AM CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SAFETY THAT FAILED. 1. THE DRIVERS SEATBACK BROKE DURING IMPACT. 2. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN SHE STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN THE FRONT OF HER. 3. THE EMERGENCY SWITCH THAT SHUTS DOWN THE FUEL SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE. OUR VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED FROM ALL THE DAMAGE, THE CAR IS VALUED AT $ 18,700.00. I EMAILED MAZDA APPROX. 10 DAYS AGO ABOUT MY CONCERNS AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *NM

2005 MAZDA 3S WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE MAIN RELAY AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP & GAUGE TWICE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *KB THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MAZDA TECH SUPPORT WAS CALLED AND THE THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE FUEL CANISTER. IT WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 22, 2006. *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON FOR THE FOURTH TIME SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. PROBLEM FOUND BY US, WAS GAS CAP LOOSENED UP AND WAS JUST SITTING IN THERE, WHEN WE WALKED TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE TO GET PACKAGES OUT OF THE TRUCK, SMELLED GAS. HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER EVERY TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ONE TIME THEY TOLD ME THE GAS CAP WAS LOOSE AND I INSISTED I PUT IT ON TIGHT. OF COURSE, I AM A FEMALE AND THEY TRY TO MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE AN IDIOT, SO I DIDN'T BELIEVE THEM, THOUGHT THEY WERE JUST SAYING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM AND RESETTING THE CODE, SO IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN WE SMELLED THE GAS AND CHECKED THE CAP AND IT WAS LOOSE. WE HAD ALREADY RUN HALF A TANK OF GAS OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES SINCE FILL-UP. WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, IT IS ALWAYS FOR THE SAME CODE, WHICH IS AN EMISSIONS FAILURE. *JB

2005 MAZDA 3 SEDAN HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING FUEL/STALL FAILURES OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS. 1ST INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY, CAR STALLED AND HAD TO PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND RESTARTED AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES AND ATTEMPTS. 2ND INCIDENT, CAR WAS PARKED IN OWNERS DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO START (LACK OF FUEL), 3RD INCIDENT CAR AGAIN PARKED IN OWNERS DRIVEWAY AND FAILED TO START (FUEL STARVATION). ALL THREE TIMES THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS REPAIRED. DEALERSHIP SERVICE ADVISORS CLAIMED THAT FUEL STARVATION/STALLING COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE FUEL STARVATION/STALLING SEEMS TO HAPPENED RANDOMLY, BUT THE RISK OF IT STALLING DURING DRIVING IS A VERY UNSAFE HAZARD. *NM