NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Mazda Mazda3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
THE CAR WILL NOT GO ABOVE THIRD GEAR AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY WHILE ON HIGHWAY AND SECONDARY ROADS.
CAR WAS VIBRATING A LOT WHEN IN GEAR AND HOLDING BRAKES REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS AND THROTTLE BODY TO FIX ISSUE. ALSO WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND SPEEDING BACK UP THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS WHEN DOWN SHIFTING. FEELS LIKE IT IS SLIPPING AND IS NOT SAFE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN THE CITY AND WANT TO SWITCH LANES AND SPEED UP I'M AFRAID ONE DAY I'M GOING TO SWITCH LANES HIT THE GAS AND THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL. THE CARMAX I GOT THE CAR FROM INSISTS IT IS JUST A TRANSMISSION "SHUTTER" AND IT HAPPENS WITH CERTAIN CARS. I WILL BE GETTING A SECOND OPINION FROM AN ASE CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION SHOP. DEALERSHIP MADE ME THINK IT WAS BRAKE PADS AT FIRST I PAID $300 TO HAVE PERFECTLY GOOD PADS REPLACED WITH NEW ONES TO HAVE THE PROBLEM NOT FIXED. I AM EXTREMELY IRRITATED WITH DEALERSHIP TRYING TO GET AROUND FIXING THE CAR. OTHER THAN THOSE 2 PROBLEMS THE CAR IS GREAT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS SEIZED INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE STEERING HAD EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT, WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,352.
AIR BAG LIGHT INSIDE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WON'T COME OFF.
STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP ON THE HIGHWAY AS I WAS CURVING TO THE RIGHT. CAUSED MY CAR TO VEER OFF THE ROAD AND RAN ALONG A RAIL UNTIL THE I BRAKED THE CAR. I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND THAT CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. LAST YEAR I HAD THE MAZDA SERVICED WHICH THEY HAD FIXED THE RECALL SUPPOSEDLY. BUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED. I MAY NOT BE LUCKY THE NEXT TIME.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED OUT OF CONTROL AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE VALVE STEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO BECOME DEFLATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
IN THE SUMMER OF 2014, I WAS TRAVELING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH. MY TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND, WITHIN JUST A FEW MILES, MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY GUIDE MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. UPON EXITING MY CAR AND LOOKING AT MY TIRE, I NOTICED THE AREA AROUND MY VALVE STEM WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. HOW I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT IS AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE. ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015, MY TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON. KNOWING I WOULD BE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 150 ON THAT SATURDAY, I CHECKED MY TIRE PRESSURE TO SEE MY FRONT PASSENGERS SIDE WAS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 5 PSI FROM THE RECOMMENDED 32 PSI. I PUT AIR IN MY TIRE FRIDAY NIGHT AND WENT AWAY ON SATURDAY. ON MY MORE THAN 1 HOUR DRIVE, MY TIRE SENSOR CAME BACK ON. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION TO FIND MY TIRE PSI WAS IN THE TEENS. I FELT ALL AROUND MY TIRE BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. I FILLED MY TIRE BACK UP TO 32 PSI AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. SHORTLY AFTER, MY TIRE SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. WHEN I STOPPED AT THE NEXT GAS STATION TO PUT MORE AIR IN IT, I NOTICED THE AREA AROUND MY VALVE STEM WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. IT WAS SO CORRODED I COULD MOVE THE VALVE STEM AND ALLOW LARGE AMOUNTS OF AIR TO COME OUT. I ULTIMATELY WAS ABLE TO PUT ON MY SPARE TIRE BUT AM NOW LOOKING AT A MORE THAN $200 VALVE STEM/SENSOR REPLACEMENT PER A PHONE QUOTE FROM MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP. AS I SPOKE TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS, THEY ALL SEEM TO BE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SO IT'S A BIT FRIGHTENING THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL.
ON ABOUT JULY 16, 2015 THE POWER STEERING FAILED MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULTY TO STEER VEHICLE. I CALLED MAZDA DEALER TO EXPLAIN FAILURE AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD REPAIR UNDER RECALL. THEY SAID MAZDA WOULD ONLY HONOR RECALL REPAIR ONCE. I DO NOT BELIEVE MAZDA REPAIRED THE ISSUE. I WOULD EXPECT THEM TO PROVIDE A FIX THAT PREVENTS THIS FAILURE FROM REOCCURRING. NOTE: ON 1/27/2011 I HAD TAKEN VEHICLE IN AFTER RECEIVING RECALL NOTICE REGARDING POWER STEERING. VEHICLE POWER STEERING WAS REPAIRED BY BYERS MAZDA IN COLUMBUS OHIO AND ROAD TESTED TO CONFIRM REPAIRS.
I WAS DRIVING WHEN SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE I LOST ALL CONTROL OVER THE ENGINE. PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR DOWN DID NOT CHANGE THE ENGINE SPEED. THE ENGINE WOULD ONLY IDLE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT A BAD CONNECTION OCCURRED BETWEEN THE WIRING AND THE ?PCM? MODULE. IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE PASSING OR WHILE EXECUTING A LEFT TURN, A SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL ACCIDENT COULD HAVE OCCURRED. MA 10/22/2015
TPMS VALVE STEM BROKE WHILE WE WERE SERVICING A VEHICLE. ..UPDATED 10/02/15*BF UPDATED 12/28/2015*JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V374000 (STEERING). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND FLUID LINES FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. THE MANUFACTURER PAID FOR THE PARTS AND THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIR. UPDATED 12/10/15*JS
2 TPMS SENSOR VALVE STEMS WERE CORRODED, WHILE FILLING THE TIRES WITH AIR THE STEMS BROKE OFF CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT. THE REMAINING 2 DID NOT LOOK ANY BETTER. HAD TIRE DEALER REPLACE ALL 4 AT $280 DOLLARS
WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE VALVE STEM COVER THE VALVE STEM CRACKED AND CAME APART. I HAD TO HAVE THE COMPLETE TPMS VALVE REPLACED. I THEN NOTICED THAT THE OTHER VALVE STEMS LOOKED IN THE SAME CONDITION. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS JUST AGING AND THAT THE REST WERE O.K. I AM NOT SURE IF THEY ARE. I SAID THAT THE STEMS SHOULD NOT CRACK JUST BY REMOVING THE COVER.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ATV AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE STILL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE JERKED WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HOUSING ROD WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
ON 04/01/2015 WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AT ABOUT 25 MPH THE TRANSMISSION WENT FROM 4 TO 1, AND THE CAR JERKED REALLY HARD. AT LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING THE CAR OFF AND WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES, AT LIGHT WENT AWAY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE SAME HAPPENED IN TWO DAYS, THEN IN 5 DAYS WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY WITH SPEED 65 MPH - THE CAR JERKED AND BUCKED AT FULL SPEED, AT LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, TRANSMISSION WENT FROM 5 TO 1 TO 3, TACHOMETER WENT FROM 2500 RPM TO OVER 4000 RPM - THANKFULLY I DID NOT HIT ANYONE AND I WASN'T HIT BY OTHER CARS WHEN THAT HAPPENED (I WAS VERY SCARED!). I GOT THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND AFTER TWO DAYS OF DIAGNOSTICS THE ANSWER - TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) IS BAD. I DID RESEARCH ONLINE - VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CARS OF THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR. DEALER CAN NOT FIX IT BECAUSE TCM IS ON NATIONWIDE BACK ORDER! I HAVE NO CAR FOR A WEEK NOW AND IT COULD BE A MONTH WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. THIS KIND OF PROBLEM WORTH OF A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERNS AND THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT - OVER $1000 INCLUDING DIAGNOSTICS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VEER TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A FENCE AND THE MILE MARKER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHEN I BRAKE, THE ROTOR SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES EFFECTIVELY REMOVING MY FRONT BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ROTOR, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY PREFERENTIALLY RUSTED AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE ROTOR BODY AND WHERE THE BRAKE PADS GRAB. IT SEEMED STRANGE, LIKE A DEFECT AND NO ONE I TALKED TO HAD EVER SEEN THIS BEFORE. MAY HAVE JUST BEEN A FREAK THING BUT FIGURED I WOULD REPORT IT BECAUSE THE SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY. *TR
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THAT THE AIR BAG IS FAULTED. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 12/13/14, CAR WOULDN'T START 12/14/14, HAD TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP 12/15/14 AND WAS TOLD ENGINE WAS FLOODED BECAUSE THE CAR COULDN'T METER AIR CORRECTLY AND OVER FUELED THE CAR. SPARK PLUGS, AIR FILTER AND THROTTLE BODY WERE ALL GUMMED UP AND DIRTY DUE TO THIS. REPAIR SHOP CHECKED THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELATING TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A A KNOWN ISSUE. THEY HAD TO MODIFY A BRACKET AND SPLICE IN NEW WIRE WHERE IT WAS RUBBED THROUGH BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT. IF THIS IS TRULY A COMMON DEFECT MAZDA SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL ON IT AND REIMBURSE OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED. *TR
THREE TIMES IN THE LAST 18 MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE TPMS SENSORS BREAK OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING THE TIRE TO RUN FLAT INSTANTLY POSING A SAFETY THREAT. EACH TIME I TAKE THE TIRE TO THE SHOP AND NOBODY CAN FIND ANYTHING IN THE TIRE AND THE CONCLUSION IS THAT THE TPMS WAS BRITTLE AND BROKE OFF. I AM NOW UNCOMFORTABLE DRIVING MY MAZDA 3 BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN MY TIRE IS GOING TO BLOW -- NOT TO MENTION I'VE HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE PERFECTLY GOOD TIRES EVERY TIME ONE OF THE TPMS GO BAD. *JS
THE RIGHT FONT ENGINE MOUNT HAS BROKE. THIS WAS A RECALL ON THE 2006 MODEL MAZDA 3 BUT IT APPEARS THAT MAZDA HAS CONTINUED TO USE THE RECALLED PAT O LATE MODELS OF VARIOUS MODELS. *TR
MY BOYFRIEND WAS IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAG SENSORS WERE COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF ALONG WITH THE BUMPER AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK UP UNTIL HE CAME TO A STOP. *TR
THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN I STOPPED TO FILL MY TIRES, THE FORCE OF THE AIR HOSE BLEW THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INTO MY TIRE. I HAD TO HAVE THE SENSOR REPLACED, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OTHER 3 SENSORS WERE CLOSE TO WEARING THROUGH AS WELL. *TR
TPMS VALVE STEM BROKE WHILE CHECKING TIRE PRESSURE. TOOK VEHICLE TO TIRE DEALER AND FOUND THAT 3 TPMS SENSORS HAD CRACKS IN VALVE STEMS. *TR
MY TAIL LIGHTS HAVE MELTED THE RED PLASTIC COVER SEVERELY IN BOTH LIGHTS. MY FRIEND DRIVING BEHIND ME THOUGHT MY REVERSE LIGHTS WERE ON EVERY TIME I BRAKED. MY LIGHTS WERE THE ORIGINAL BULBS AND NOT AFTERMARKET. I DID NOT NOTICE THE MELTING UNTIL AUGUST 2014. *TR
COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE ON WELL MAINTAINED MAZDA 3I AT 75000 MILES. TRAVELING ON FREEWAY IN SLOWEST LANE OF TRAFFIC, FIRST HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AND ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. CAR SEEMED TO BE LOSING POWER. CALLED AAA ROADSIDE HELP, WHO CHECKED THE CAR AND DETERMINED IT WAS OK AND COULD BE DRIVEN HOME, ABOUT 10 MILES AWAY. PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME, 5 MILES INTO TRIP BEGAN LOSING POWER, CLICKING NOISE RETURNED SO I PULLED OVER TO SHOULDER AS CAR COMPLETELY LOST POWER, ENGINE OVERHEATED. PROGNOSIS: TIMING CHAIN BROKE, ENGINE OVERHEATED AND THIS CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. FINDING NOW THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH MAZDA ENGINES. THIS COMPANY IS A FRAUD, AND PEOPLE'S LIVES ARE IN DANGER AS THE RESULT. NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH MAZDA CARS. *TR
THE TIRE VALVE STEM CRACKED WHILE CHECKING AIR PRESSURE ON ONE OF THE TIRES. AFTER THAT THE OTHER STEMS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE READY TO FAIL. HAD THEM ALL REPLACED. *TR
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE SPUN AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BY AMBULANCE AND WAS TREATED FOR BRUISING, WHIPLASH, ACUTE NECK, BACK, SHOULDER, AND LEG TRAUMAS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V374000 (STEERING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TAIL/BRAKE LIGHT LENSES MELTED. ORIGINAL PARTS,REPLACED THE WHOLE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND BULBS IN JUNE 2014 AND I NOTICED IN AUGUST 2014 THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS OUT. THE LENSES MELTED AGAIN, THE BULBS WERE 7443 .RESEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS PROBLEM ON NUMEROUS POSTS MAINLY WITH THE MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WHICH IS WHAT I HAVE. CALLED THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE A FIRE HAZARD. HAVE YOU HAD ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS? *TR
VIBRATION AT 55-63 MPH. TIRES WEARING ON INSIDE IN DIAGONAL PATTERN ON FRONT. WORN COMPLETELY TO THE CORE. THIRD SET OF TIRES. *TR
IN THE PAST MONTH THE RADIO, LIGHTS, THE CLUSTER, ALL SHUT DOWN AND RESTART AS DRIVING. LAST NIGHT AS DRIVING ON TELEGRAPH RD, 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING, I COULD NOT CONTROL THE CAR, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME, AS I WAS SWITCHING IN NEUTRAL, AND BACK IN DRIVE. ALL OF THE SUDDEN REGAIN CONTROL AND WAS ABLE TO TURN RIGHT INTO A PARKING LOT. I REMEMBER HAVING THIS ISSUE BACK IN JAN. OF 2011, AND THERE WAS A RECALL FOR IT, THAT I HAVE HAD FIXED. THE PATTERN IS THAT I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2008, 3 YEARS LATER - IN 2011 THE RECALL TOOK CARE OF THE DEFECTIVE PART, AND NOW, 3 YEARS AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE SAME ISSUE ARISE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS, AS IS HAPPENS AS DRIVING UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
ABOUT A YEAR AGO I BOUGHT 4 NEW TIRES FOR MY MAZDA 3. SIX MONTHS LATER I WENT IN FOR MY ROUTINE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION. THEY SAID MY TWO REAR TIRES WERE WORN DOWN TO SHOWING THE WIRING AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A BLOW OUT. THEY REFUSED TO PUT THE TIRES BACK ON FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. I HAD TO PURCHASE TWO USED TIRES THAT HAD ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE MY OTHER TIRES HAD ON THEM. AGAIN 5-6 MONTHS LATER I GO INTO LES SCHWAB FOR MY TIRE ROTATION AND ALIGNMENT AND AGAIN THEY TELL ME MY TWO REAR TIRES ARE SHOWING EXCESSIVE WEAR. WHEN COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING TO GET TIRES SO SOON THEY STATED THAT MAZDA DESIGNED THE CAR THIS WAY TO HAVE A TOE IN ALIGNMENT. BASICALLY THIS WILL BE A RECURRING ISSUE UNLESS I PUT A $500 CAMBER KIT ON THE BACK. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THAT THEY SAID IT MAY CHANGE THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES AND HAVE LOUDER ROAD NOISE. NONE OF THIS WAS MENTIONED BY MAZDA WHEN I PURCHASED THAT CAR BACK IN 2008. NOT ONLY IS THIS ISSUE CAUSING ME TO SPEND MONEY EVERY 5-6 MONTHS BUT IF I WERE TO GO TO LONG WITHOUT CHECKING MY TIRES I COULD HAVE A BLOWOUT WHILE DRIVING, POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. I SEE THIS AS BEING A VERY BIG ISSUE WITH THE MAZDA AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MAZDA HAVE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
FEBRUARY 2014 1ST VALVE STEM AND SENSOR BROKE. THIS WEEK 2ND AND 3RD VALVE STEM AND SENSORS BROKE. $90-100 EACH TO FIX. RUINED ONE TIRE AND CAUSED SUDDEN FLAT WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. *TR
THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM SEEMS TO BE OVERSENSITIVE THE WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON EVEN WHEN THE TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED. *TR
2008 MAZDA 3 WAS STRUCK WHILE PARKED. MONTHS LATER AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND REPEATEDLY WENT TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE ISSUE. LAST ENCOUNTER WITH DEALERSHIP(OCT 2014), THEY CHECKED THE AIR BAG AND CONCLUDED IT WAS NOT A RECALL ISSUE, AND STATED THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM AUTO ACCIDENT. COMPLAINED TO MY INSURANCE CO AND RE-OPENED CLAIM. THE INSURANCE COMPANY(NOV 2014) CONCLUDED FROM WHERE THE CAR WAS IMPACTED ON THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE, THE AIR BAG IS NOT THEIR ISSUE AND DID NOT STEM FROM CAUSE OF IMPACT. AIR BAG MODULE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND ADDRESSED WITH MAZDA CO. WITH ALL THESE DEVELOPMENTS WITH FAULTY AIR BAGS MADE BY TAKATA(COMPANY WHOM MAKE AIRBAGS), SOMETHING IS TOTALLY WRONG. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. *TR
THIS IS NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP RECALL ISSUE. THE RECALL WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE BY THE DEALER. I AM WRITING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A BIGGER ISSUE REGARDING "DESIGN NEGLIGENCE" BY MAZDA AS IT RELATES TO THE PLACEMENT OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP ON THIS 2008-3. YOU SEE, THE PUMP (AN ITEGRAL PART OF THE STEERING AND VEHICLE SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEM) IS MOUNTED OUTSIDE THE CAR'S FRAME, JUST FORWARD OF THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE. IT IS BASICALLY JUST BEHIND THE PASSENGER HEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT/BUMPER/QUARTER PANEL ASSEMBLY. THIS LOCATION MAKES IT VERY SUSCEPTIBLE TO DAMAGE IN EVEN MINOR ACCIDENTS, RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE AND UNSAFE IN THE VERY INSTANT WHERE CONTROL AND MANEUVERABILITY MAY KEEP OTHERS FROM BEING INJURED OR KILLED. WHAT BROUGHT THIS TO MY ATTENTION WAS WHEN A DEER RECENTLY RAN INTO THIS VERY LOCATION AND RENDERED THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLE AND THEREFORE UNDRIVABLE. MY DAUGHTER (WHO SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION) WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME AND WAS VERY SHOCKED AND SURPRISED THAT EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS TECHNICALLY DRIVABLE (MINUS QUARTER PANEL, LEADLIGHT/FOGLIGHT AND PART OF THE BUMPER COVER) SHE COULD NOT PHYSICALLY STEER THE CAR. IN ADDITION, THE OFFICER WRITING UP THE ACCIDENT REPORT TRIED TO MANEUVER THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD TO A SAFER LOCATION AND WAS ALSO UNABLE TO PHYSICALLY STEER THE CAR. THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE TURNING OF THE WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. I WOULD HATE TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT A HIGHER SPEED AND ON A BUSIER ROADWAY OR HIGHWAY. THIS TYPE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY AND WELFARE ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND PROSECUTED. CAR MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE MADE TO LOCATE CRITICAL SAFETY, HANDLING, AND MANUEVERABILITY COMPONENTS/EQUIPMENT IN PLACES AFFORDED SOME REASONABLE MEASURE OF PROTECTION AND SURVIVABILITY IN MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. *TR
I PARKED MY CAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS WHERE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO ENGAGE IN PARK. IT REQUIRED MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE PARK INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TO REFLECT THAT THE CAR WAS SAFELY ENGAGED IN PARK. BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ON AT LEAST 3 OCCASIONS I WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR AT ALL WHEN I RETURNED FROM A BRIEF STOP. THE PROBLEM WITH FAILING TO START HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AND I HAD ENGAGED THE PARKING BRAKE. AFTER JIGGLING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER REPEATEDLY, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL AND APPLYING THE BRAKE VIGOROUSLY, I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO START. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT WAS ROCKING OF THE VEHICLE FROM FRUSTRATION OR JIGGLING THE GEAR SELECTOR THAT FINALLY WORKED. THE CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY AND HAS HAD ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE PERFORMED BY MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FUNCTIONS BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM THE IGNITION SYSTEM. *TR
I GOT A FLAT TIRE YESTERDAY BECAUSE MY TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR VALVE HAD FALLEN INSIDE MY TIRE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2008. THANKFULLY, I WAS STUCK IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND ONLY GOING 20 MPH. I REALIZED MY TIRE WAS FLAT WHEN THE SENOR LIGHT WENT OFF AND MY CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT AND FORTUNATELY IT WAS THE EMERGENCY LANE OR I WOULD HAVE HIT A CAR. TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE SHOP AND THE TPS SENSOR NOW NEEDS REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAD CORRODED AND DAMAGED THE INSIDE OF MY TIRE AS WELL. WHEN THE MECHANIC LOOKED AT MY OTHER TIRES AND TPS SENSOR/STEM VALVE WAS CORRODED. THE THIRD TIRE IS FINE FOR NOW BUT IS SHOWING SIGNS OF CORRODING AS WELL. THE 4TH ONE WAS REPLACED A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND APPEARS OK. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM ASAP AND REIMBURSE EVERYONE THAT HAS HAD TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF I WAS GOING ANY FASTER THAN 20MPH. ITS SAD THAT SOMEONE HAS TO GET SERIOUSLY HURT OR DIE FOR A RECALL TO HAPPEN. TO REPLACE BOTH SENSORS AND FIX MY TIRE I GOING TO BE PAYING OVER $300 FOR MAZDA'S ISSUE. I TAKE GREAT PRIDE AND CARE OF MY CAR, I BOUGHT IT NEW; NOTHING ON THAT CARE SHOULD BE CORRODING WHEN IT IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. NOT OUR FAULT AS CONSUMERS THAT THIS IS HAPPENING, FIX THIS NOW MAZDA!! *TR
OVERFLOW BOTTLE CRACKED FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE COSTING MORE THAN 1500 WORTH OF DAMAGES. THE MECHANIC ENCOURAGE THAT I REPORT BECAUSE HE SAYS THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND THAT MAZDA IS KNOWN FOR HAVING THIS DEFECT. IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THE TPMS ON THE 2008 MAZDA 3'S. ALL OF THE TPMS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, I WILL BE GETTING THE LAST TWO FIXED/REPAIRED COMING THIS MONDAY. ALL OF THEM WERE EITHER CRACKED OR CORRODED. THE FIRST INCIDENT RESULTED IN ONE OF MY TIRES BEING "SHREDDED" ON THE INSIDE. PART OF THE KIT BROKE OFF AND WAS INSIDE THE RIM. I WAS ACCUSED BY A DEALERSHIP THAT I MUST HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON A FLAT TIRE. I CAN'T BELIEVE HOW MANY TIMES THE TPMS WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE PART. MAZDA SHOULD BE RECALLING THIS. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON JULY 29, 2013 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2008 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK. THE ISSUE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE AND LOST OF AIR/FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE REASON BEHIND THIS FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. AFTER INSPECTING ALL THE OTHER WHEELS, IT TURNS OUT ALL THE VALVE STEMS ARE CRACKED. SOME INITIAL RESEARCH TELLS ME ITS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THOSE CARS AND MAZDA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. AT THIS POINT I HAVE CALLED MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE AND NONE OF THEM WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WILL BE 4X $120 FOR ALL TPMS SENSORS WITH VALVE STEMS AND 2X $115 FOR BOTH FRONT TIRES. HOPEFULLY THERE IS A RECALL COMING SOON... *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON JULY 29, 2013 I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH MY 2008 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK. THE ISSUE RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT PULL TO THE LEFT SIDE AND LOST OF AIR/FLAT TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL. THE REASON BEHIND THIS FAULT WAS A DEFECTIVE VALVE STEM. AFTER INSPECTING ALL THE OTHER WHEELS, IT TURNS OUT ALL THE VALVE STEMS ARE CRACKED. SOME INITIAL RESEARCH TELLS ME ITS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THOSE CARS AND MAZDA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX IT. AT THIS POINT I HAVE CALLED MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE AND NONE OF THEM WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIR WILL BE 4X $120 FOR ALL TPMS SENSORS WITH VALVE STEMS AND 2X $115 FOR BOTH FRONT TIRES. HOPEFULLY THERE IS A RECALL COMING SOON... *TR
THE PLASTIC SURROUNDING THE TAIL LIGHTS HAS MELTED, SO WHEN BRAKING OR DRIVING IN THE DARK, THE TAIL LIGHTS SHOW AS A MIX OF RED AND WHITE. THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, BOTH HAVE GONE OUT AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY START WORKING AGAIN FOR NO REASON, BUT WILL BE OUT AGAIN AFTER A FEW DAYS OR WEEKS. *TR
TIRE VALVE STEMS FALL OUT OF THE TIRES: MY TIRES HAVE BEEN LEAKING AIR PERIODICALLY FOR ABOUT A YEAR. I NOTICED ONE OF THE TIRE VALVE STEMS WAS MISSING THE OUTER NUT COVER. WHEN I WENT TO ADD AIR TO THE TIRE, AIR CAME OUT AROUND THE VALVE STEM. I CAREFULLY DROVE TO MY GARAGE AND BEFORE I GOT THERE, THE ENTIRE VALVE STEM HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE TIRE. THE MECHANIC SAYS THE THREADS ON THE VALVE STEM WERE ALL OXIDIZED AND THE NUT ROTTED OFF. AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER TIRES, WE NOTICED ANOTHER ONE WAS MISSING THE OUTER NUT ALSO AND HEAVILY OXIDIZED. I HAD THE MECHANIC PULL OFF ALL 4 TIRES AND INSTALL NEW VALVE STEMS TO ALL TIRES. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND SEE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND A RECALL SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. *TR
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING ABOUT 65 MPH WHEN MY TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY MY FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE GOING COMPLETELY FLAT. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOBODY TOO CLOSE TO ME, SO THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT WHEN I SWERVED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I CHANGED MY TIRE AND MADE IT TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS MY TPMS AND VALVE STEM ASSEMBLY THAT HAD CORRODED AND FAILED, CAUSING MY TIRE TO IMMEDIATELY GO FLAT. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE TO PAY TO INSTALL A NEW TIRE ($300) I HAD TO REPLACE THE DESTROYED TPMS SENSOR AND REPLACE ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS ALSO CORRODING. ($100 EA). THE ENTIRE INCIDENT COST ME ABOUT $500 DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW FROM MAZDA THAT I HAVE NO POWER TO AVOID. THE ISSUE IS THAT IT IS ILLEGAL TO REMOVE OR NOT HAVE THE SENSORS RE-INSTALLED, AS THEY ARE A SAFETY FEATURE. THE IRONY IS THAT I HAVE TO PAY $100 EACH TO INSTALL A COMPONENT THAT CAUSES ONE OF MY TIRES TO IMMEDIATELY DEFLATE RANDOMLY IN THE NEXT 3-5 YEARS, DEPENDING ON WHEN IT CORRODES AGAIN. IT IS INFURIATING THAT I HAVE TO INSTALL A "SAFETY FEATURE" THAT WILL RANDOMLY CAUSE ME TO LOSE CONTROL OVER MY CAR IN THE NEAR FUTURE. AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, I WILL BE FORCED TO DRIVE WITH A COMPONENT THAT, OVER TIME, WILL CORRODE AND FAIL, CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR, THEN RE-INSTALL THE EXACT FAULTY COMPONENT. THE SENSOR / VALVE ASSEMBLY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CORROSION IN THE FIRST PLACE. I WAS LUCKY THIS TIME THAT THIS DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, BUT IF THE SITUATION WERE DIFFERENT I COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN KILLED OR HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. BOTH MAZDA AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME NOW. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN SOMEONE DOES DIE FROM THIS, AND IT COMES OUT THAT THE ISSUE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR YEARS, BUT NOBODY DID ANYTHING? *TR
MY STEERING IS TIGHT UNAVAILABLE TO DRIVE. *TR
MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. AFTER A VISIT TO THE SHOP, I LEARNED THAT MY MICRO COMPUTER WAS NOT WORKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS REPAIR COST $729. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA 3S MADE AROUND 2008. MY CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH FAIRLY LOW MILEAGE, I BELIEVE THAT A DEFECTIVE PART CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE EVALUATED FOR RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT. THANK YOU. *TR
WHILE DRIVING AT THE FULL SPEED LIMIT ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC, THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR BLEW OFF AND THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY WENT FLAT. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING CARS WHILE VEERING ACROSS 3 LANES TO GET TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND CALL FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REMAINING 3 TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS WERE CORRODED & PARTIALLY BROKEN, AND WERE IN JEOPARDY OF BLOWING OFF. CALLED MAZDA'S CUSTOMER LINE, ARGUED THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAZDA AGREED TO REPLACE ALL 4 SENSORS AT NO CHARGE, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS PAST WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THEY KNEW THAT THIS WAS DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. I WAS DISTURBED THAT NO ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED TO WARN CONSUMERS AND CAR REPAIR SERVICE TO SPECIFICALLY CHECK FOR WEAR - THIS IS DANGEROUS. I COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR THE SENSOR COULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY OR WORSE WHEN BLOWING OFF AT HIGH SPEED. MAZDA DEALER SAID THAT THIS DESIGN WAS USED ON MANY MAKES AND MODELS IN 2008 (NOT JUST MAZDA), WHICH IS EVEN MORE DISTURBING. PLEASE CONSIDER ISSUING AN ALERT AT A MINIMUM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA, MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE SAT IN THE VEHICLE, THE VALVE STEM BECAME FRACTURED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR REPAIR AND DIAGNOSED AS VALVE STEM CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026