2008 Mazda Mazda3 Complaint Log

I DRIVE A 2008 MAZDA 3. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT. TODAY WAS THE MOST RECENT, THE SECOND TIME WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, AND THE FIRST TIME WAS ANOTHER 3-4 MONTHS BEFORE THE SECOND TIME. THE LAST TWO TIMES I WAS PARKED, STARTED THE ENGINE, TRIED TO DRIVE AND REALIZED THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT. WITH GREAT PHYSICAL EFFORT I WAS ABLE TO REPARK THE CAR, STOP THE ENGINE, AND AFTER ABOUT 10-20 MINUTES THE POWER STEERING BEGAN WORKING WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING IN A LOT OF TRAFFIC AND WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A NEARBY BUSINESS. IT TOOK GREAT PHYSICAL EFFORT TO TURN THE CAR AND I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AND FIND A SAFE SPOT TO PARK IF I HAD BEEN IN LOTS OF TRAFFIC OR DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AND RESULT IN CRASHES. I WAS LUCKY THAT ALL THREE TIMES I WAS EITHER DRIVING SLOW OR PARKED. *TR

ON 14JUL10 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED NOTICEABLY THEN STOPPED. VISUAL SIGHT OF TRAFFIC IN FRONT OF ME WAS IMPOSSIBLE. AFTER MANAGING TO PULL OVER INTO THE BREAK DOWN LANE WITH OUT A COLLISION I PROCEEDED TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM. THE FUSE FOR THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WAS NOT BLOWN NOR COULD I FIND ANY OTHER PROBLEM THAT WOULD HAVE ACCOUNTED TO THIS PROBLEM. AFTER THE RAIN LET UP I PROCEEDED TO CONTINUE MY COMMUTE HOME HAVING TO PULL OVER AND STOP NUMEROUS TIMES WHEN THE RAIN STARTED AGAIN. THIS WAS A NERVE RACKING EXPERIENCE! THE NEXT DAY I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT TO BE CHECKED OUT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE WIND SHIELD WIPER MOTOR WAS BURNED OUT AND IT WOULD COST ABOUT $330.00 TO REPAIR IT AND THEY WOULD OVERNIGHT EXPRESS A NEW ONE AS THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY IN STOCK. THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETE ON16JUL10 AND I PICKED THE VEHICLE AT APP 3PM, TOTAL COST $337.00. MILEAGE WAS APP. 42900 SO IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I CONSIDER WIND SHIELD WIPERS IMPORTANT SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD. THIS VEHICLE IS A 2008 THAT I BOUGHT NEW! WIPER MOTORS BURNING OUT IN TWO YEARS??? I HAVE A 1994 FORD RANGER WITH 213000+ MILES ON IT WITH THE ORIGINAL WIPER MOTOR STILL IN IT!!! I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD MAKE GOOD ON THIS TYPE OF PREMATURE FAILURE ON SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I ALL SO HAVE EXCESSIVE TIRE WARE ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF MY TIRES, WORN DOWN SMOOTH AND SCALLOPING BUT DUE TO ROTATING OFTEN I HAVE MANAGED TO GET BETTER LIFE OUT OF THEM AND WILL REPLACE THEM SOON. I HAVE A NOISE THAT SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A WHEEL BEARING OR OTHER ROTATING PART WEARING OUT AND SHIMMY/VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL THAT THE DEALER CLAIMS IS RELATED TO THE WORN/SCALLOPED TIRES. I WILL SOON SEE IF THIS GOES AWAY WHEN I REPLACE THE TIRES. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3I. STEERING COLUMN SHUDDERED VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT HIGH SPEEDS (60 MPH). *TR

AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FAILURE ON 2008 MAZDA 3. *TR

I OWN A 2008, MAZDA 3. IT HAS ABOUT 34,000 MILES. I WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON ROUTE 75 JUST OUTSIDE OF CINCINNATI WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN MY POWER STEERING WENT OUT. I COULD BARELY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL AND FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC WERE DIRECTED OFF AN EXIT BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT CLOSING THE HIGHWAY..THIS WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT WITH NO POWER STEERING. I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF MY CAR, PREPARING TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THE STEERING WORKED. I DON'T UNDERSTAND AND AM NOT SURE WHAT TO DO. I COMMUTE AN HOUR TO WORK EVERYDAY. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT ON OUR MAZDA 3 WHILE DRIVING DOWN A BUSY ROAD. IT HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY AND SEVERELY ENOUGH THAT MY HUSBAND HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR AND HAD TO PULL OVER. ALL FLUIDS WERE FULL AND WE HAVE REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON THE CAR. CALLED OUR MAZDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY TRIED TO CHARGE US BUT SAID WE BARELY SLIPPED IN UNDER THE WARRANTY TIMELINE SO THE PART WAS COVERED. NOW WE FIND OUT THERE IS A POTENTIAL RECALL LOOMING FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTROUS SITUATION AND MAZDA'S HANDLING OF IT WAS SUB-PAR TO SAY THE LEAST. THEY GAVE US A LOANER AND ARE FIXING THE CAR AT NO CHARGE BUT THEIR POSITION WHEN WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THEM WAS THAT WE SHOULD BE PAYING FOR THE REPAIR. THEY TOOK NO OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AT FIRST AND NEVER BOTHERED TO MENTION THIS WAS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM THEY WERE SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN THE '08 MAZDA 3. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILED WHILE DRIVING, THIRD TIME IN A WEEK THIS HAS OCCURRED. HAS YET TO BE FIXED. *TR

HOT DAY, VEHICLE WAS RUNNING FOR 20-30 MINUTES WITHOUT MOVING. POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. WAS ADVISED TO TURN IT OFF THEN ON FOR TEN MINUTES, WORKED FINE. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 MAZDA3. ONCE WHEN WE WERE IN FLORIDA AND AGAIN THIS WEEK, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. BOTH TIMES THE WEATHER WAS EXTREMELY HOT. MY HUSBAND PUT APPROX. 1 OUNCE OF POWER STEERING FLUID INTO THE POWER STEERING RECEPTACLE AND BOTH TIMES THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. WHEN IN FLORIDA WE TOOK THE CAR TO FURMAN MAZDA IN TAMPA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO CODE IN THE CAR AND IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN TO BRING IT BACK. THIS WEEK IT HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN MY HUSBAND PUT ABOUT 1 OUNCE OF POWER STEERING FLUID IN THE CAR AND IT WAS CORRECTED. WE CALLED RAY PRICE MAZDA IN STROUDSBURG, PA. WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY TOLD US TO BRING THE CAR IN AND THEY GAVE US A RENTAL CAR TO USE UNTIL THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND LINES ARE REPLACED. THEY TOLD US THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND ALSO THE LINES ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH. WE WERE FORTUNATE BOTH TIMES TO BE ABLE TO PARK AND STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REAL SAFETY ISSUE IF IT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN WE WERE SOMEWHERE WHERE WE COULDN'T SAFELY GET OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. THANK YOU. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING DURING THE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING HARDLY, REQUIRED EXCESSIVE FORCE. TURNED OFF THE ENGINE FOR FEW MINUTES TO COOL DOWN, AFTER FEW MINUTES POWER STEERING STARTED WORKING AGAIN, STEERING KIT REPLACED BY MAZDA DEALER. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 MAZDA3 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON A 90 DEGREE DAY AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WE HEARD A THUMP, LIKE RUNNING OVER A PAVEMENT REFLECTOR, THEN 20 SECONDS LATER THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD TO USE TWO HANDS TO PULL IT OFF THE HIGHWAY. AFTER A RESTART, THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING CAME BACK. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT; THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. THE CONTACT THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 10V374000 (STEERING:ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) BUT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED; WHEN SHE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, SHE HEARD A RECORDING TO AWAIT A SECOND NOTICE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,400. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,200.

WHEN PLACING MY MAZDA INTO REVERSE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AND THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TOTALLY LOCKED. I AM NOT ABLE TO STEER THE CAR AT ALL. WHEN I HAVE TURNED THE CAR ENGINE OFF AND RESTARTED THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING WILL REACTIVATE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS "NO PROBLEM" AND CHARGED ME $42.00 FOR THE "CHECKUP". WITHIN 2 DAYS, THE INCIDENT RECURRED TWICE. THE CAR IS NOW BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. A STAFF MEMBER TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A "TECHNICAL BULLETIN" OUT ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THIS WEBSITE. THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THIS CAR OBVIOUSLY BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I EVIDENCED ON-LINE. *TR

WE WERE DRIVING THE CAR IN THE USUAL MANNER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT MAKING THE CAR VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE BUT WAS VERY SCARY AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL ONCE IT WAS SHUT OFF AND THEN RE-STARTED SOMETIME LATER. *TR

FAILED POWER STEERING FOR 2008 MAZDA 3: I HAD NO INDICATION THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL IT WAS TO LATE. I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND NEAR MY MAZDA DEALER WHEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. UNABLE TO TURN STEERING WHEEL AT IDLE, BUT ABLE TO STEER AS THE CAR SPEEDS UP--BUT HAD TO PUT MUCH EFFORT INTO IT. I BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW. I WAS UNAWARE OF ANY RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP FOR PART REPLACEMENT. DESPITE PART REPLACEMENT, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE STEERING PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA, MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON IN THE PARK POSITION FOR A FEW MINUTES; HOWEVER, WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES AND AFTER SHE TURNED IT BACK ON, IT BEGAN TO FUNCTION NORMALLY. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,700 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,746.

THE POWER STEERING KEEPS GOING OUT ON MY 2008 MAZDA-3. WHEN IT GOES OUT THE LITTLE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHT COMES ON, AND ITS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER MY CAR. IT TENDS TO HAPPEN WHEN IM DRIVING ABOVE 60 MPH FOR SOME REASON. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A WRECK. MY CAR IS BARELY 2 YEARS OLD AND IT DEFINITELY SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE THAT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NOTHING I DID TO IT. FURTHERMORE, WHEN I TOOK MY MAZDA INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY NOT ONLY SEEMED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT (AS IF THEY'VE SEEN THIS PROBLEM MORE THAN ONCE) BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NO 'OFFICIAL' RECALL AS OF YET. THEN THEY TOLD ME THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS COST ME $800-900 TO FIX. I REALLY CANT AFFORD TO PAY THAT OUTRAGEOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO! I AM 26 YEARS OLD & BOUGHT THAT CAR UNDER THE ASSUMPTION OF GETTING MANY GOOD YEARS OUT OF IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. ITS BEEN A GREAT CAR AND I REALLY LIKE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ITS RECENT POWER STEERING PROBLEM AS FORMENTIONED). PLEASE HELP! *TR

I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND MY STEERING WHEEL WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO MOVE. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND CHECK THE STEERING FLUID AND THERE WASN'T A LEAK. I WAS SCARED AS THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE IF THAT HAPPENED IN THE HIGHWAY OR HIGH SPEED ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ITS ROUTINE 3,000 MILE MAINTENANCE, THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE WAS EXHIBITING FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING FAILURE WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE AND WOULD BE REPLACED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE EXACT REPAIRS BEING MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 32,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 TO 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND VEHICLE BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE POWER STEERING BY MAKING UNKNOWN REPAIRS UNDER THE HOOD. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,000.

WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC ON A HOT SUMMER DAY I WENT TO CHANGE LANES TO GRAB A COMING EXIT, IN THE MIDDLE OF MY LANE CHANGE THE CAR BECAME EXTREMELY HARD TO TURN, TO THE POINT THAT I ALMOST HIT THE CENTER MEDIAN. ONCE I WAS GOING STRAIGHT I LOOKED AT MY DASH AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. I PULLED OVER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AN ON AND MY POWER STEERING CAME ON. THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE MAZDA DEALER AND THEY QUICKLY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND PUT IN A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THE FACT THAT THE MAZDA DEALER WAS AWARE THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS POSSIBLE ON MY CAR BUT DID NOT TELL ME LED TO ME ALMOST BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE REVERSING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE POWER STEERING HAD FAILED. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED BY THE AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,885. UPDATED 7/28/10 *CN THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING MOTOR, PUMP AND LINES. UPDATED 08/04/10*JB

TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65MPH THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SHE LOST ALL POWER STEERING FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN HOME AND WHEN SHE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE THE LIGHT WAS OFF AND THE POWER STEERING FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED YESTERDAY ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS DROPPED OFF AT A MAZDA DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THEY STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATELY 38,000. RD

DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, APPROX. 20 MILE DRIVE, WHEN 5 MILES FROM HOME THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT WENT ON AND THEN THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. DROVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. LOOKED AT THE OWNER'S MANUAL, RECOMMENDED SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND THEN RESTARTING. DID THAT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS BACK. HAS NOT RECURRED SINCE THEN. MAY HAVE DEALER LOOK AT IT AND TRY TO GET THEM TO REPLACE DUE TO RECENT NEWS ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

AFTER EACH TIRE ROTATION, ~EVERY 10,000 MILES, TIRE NOISE BECOMES PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AT 47,000 MILES, MECHANIC STATES THAT TIRES ARE WORN UNEVENLY, DUE TO ALIGNMENT ISSUES. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3 5 DOOR, APPROXIMATELY 39,000 MILES. DRIVING ON INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT ~10 MPH. HEARD A CLUNK-LIKE NOISE AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REALIZED I HAD LOST POWER STEERING. PULLED INTO A SERVICE STATION, CHECKED FLUID AND BELTS. NOTHING LOOKED TO BE WRONG FROM THE OUTSIDE. AFTER 20 MINUTES OR SO, RE-STARTED CAR AND POWER STEERING HAD BEEN RESTORED. NO SIMILAR PROBLEM SINCE. *TR

HI - I SAW IN A NEWS STORY THAT YOU OPENED UP AN INVESTIGATION INTO MAZDA3 POWER STEERING. THIS IS A PROBLEM I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF TIMES OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. I HAVE A 2008 MAZDA3 PURCHASED NEW IN EARLY APRIL 2008. BASICALLY, THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT TWICE ON ME - THE VEHICLE IS STILL FULLY FUNCTIONAL AND THE WARNING LIGHT DOES GO ON, BUT IT JUST REQUIRES A LOT OF MUSCLE TO TURN ON THE CAR. BOTH TIMES, IT WAS ON A WARM DAY (I LIVE IN CHICAGO) AND TOWARD THE END OF A RELATIVELY LONG COMMUTE (1 HOUR 15 MINUTES+) OF MOSTLY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, SO I WONDERED IF IT MAY BE HEAT-RELATED BUT THAT COULD ALSO BE COINCIDENCE. THE FIRST TIME, I DROVE IT THE REMAINING MILE OR SO AND WAS ABLE TO PARK IT. AFTER RESTARTING THE CAR, POWER STEERING STILL DIDN'T WORK. WHEN I CAME LATER (EITHER A FEW HOURS OR THE NEXT DAY), IT WAS FINE. SECOND TIME WAS SIMILAR, I WAS ABLE TO TAKE BETTER MENTAL NOTES OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE TRIGGERED IT - THIS TIME, IT WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER I CUT THE WHEEL ALL THE WAY TO ONE SIDE WHEN THE CAR WAS PRACTICALLY STATIONARY. AGAIN, HARD TO TELL IF THAT WAS WHAT TRIGGERED THE PROBLEM OR IF IT WAS SHEER COINCIDENCE ... THIS TIME, THOUGH, I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR JUST A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND WHEN I RESTARTED IT, IT WAS FINE. NOT SURE WHAT ELSE YOU MIGHT NEED TO KNOW... I AM UP-TO-DATE ON MY SERVICING AND THE FIRST INSTANCE OCCURRED ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF AFTER SERVICE AT MAZDA (A WEEK IN WHICH I HADN'T REALLY DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE WE WERE ON VACATION WITH OUR OTHER CAR). I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED MAZDA ABOUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS JUST GOING TO ASK THEM TO TAKE A LOOK AT IT NEXT TIME I BROUGHT IT IN. *TR

I DRIVE A MAZDA 3 2008, 5 DOOR WITH POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OFF AS I WAS TURNING FROM A BUSY STREET LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PARKED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WAIT AND RESTART. IF LIGHT STAYED ON CALL DEALER. AFTER 10 MINS THE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WENT ONLINE MAZDA USERS WEBSITES, JDPOWER, ABOUT AUTOMOBILE, ETC. AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT (BACK TO 2008) TO CURRENT( 5/27/10) PROBLEM. WHEN DOES SUCH A PROBLEM RISE TOT THE LEVEL OF A RECALL? THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION! *TR

NORMAL FREEWAY DRIVING TO AN OFF RAMP, TO SLOW TRAFFIC TO POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HIGH EFFORT NECESSARY TO EXIT CAR TO NEARBY RESTAURANT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL. DROVE CAR TO DEALER, CODE 1099, REPLACED BP4L-32-410 PIPE, BBM4-32-68Z BODY, 4 EA GASKETS 9956-21-400 AND FLUID. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND WAS INVOLVED IN A SINGLE CAR CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERS COLLISION CENTER TO REPAIR THE BODY DAMAGES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

WE BOUGHT OUR MAZDA 3 IN AUGUST OF 2008. WE LIVE IN CT AND MY SON GOES TO COLLEGE IN RI. HE HAS THE CAR WITH HIM. HE HAS COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT HE HAS NO POWER STEERING. JUST RECENTLY THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST ON I-95 WHEN HE WAS EXITING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT SEEMS MAZDA IS AWARE OF IT BUT HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL. *TR

MY CAR IS A MAZDA 3 SEDAN 2008 MODEL UNDER WARRANTY. THE POWER STEERING FAILED 3 TIMES NOW RANDOMLY WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION. THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHTS UP AND THE STEERING FEELS VERY HEAVY WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCUR. THE PROBLEM GOES ON AND OFF. MY SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME HE CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE DURING THAT TIME I WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP, THE PROBLEM IS NOT HAPPENING. I TOLD HIM, WHY WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO OCCUR BEFORE YOU FIX IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE DEALT SOON. *TR

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING OUR 2008 MAZDA 3 HOME FROM VACATION. SHE WAS IN NEW YORK CITY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED. SHE STOPPED CAR. RE-STARTED APPRX 30 MINUTES LATER IT WAS OK. THE POWER STEERING FAILED AGAIN WHILE STILL IN NEW YORK. SHE WAS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. SHE COULD NOT STEER CAR AND HAD TO STOP IN THE HOV BUS LANE. SHE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR WITH HER NEWBORN BABY. THIS CAR ONLY HAS 38000, LESS THEN 3 YEARS OLD, ALWAYS MAINTAINED AT 3000 INTERVALS. WE HAD TO PAY OVER 600 TO HAVE FIXED AND WERE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL. SOME COMPONENTS FAILED AFTER HAVING IT BACK FOR 2 DAYS, RETURNED TO DEALER AND HAD TO PAY ALMOST 200 TO HAVE REPAIRED. WE ARE OUT OVER 800 FOR A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. IN ADDITION WE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERED ALMOST NOTHING. *TR

1. WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED FOR MORE THAN 5 MINUTES THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING INCLUDING THE AIR CONDITIONER 2. LOSS OF POWER STEERING 3. STOPPED THE CAR AND WAITED FOR A WHILE AND THEN RESTARTED THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING MY '08 MAZDA3 5-DOOR, 2.3L ON THE I80/94 EXPRESSWAY IN STOP AND GO CONSTRUCTION TRAFFIC, I LOST POWER STEERING. IDIOT LIGHT CAME ON. WAS ABLE TO STEER CAR HOME; JUST NO POWER STEERING. PER OWNER'S MANUAL RESTARTED CAR AND PROBLEM WAS GONE. POWER STEERING HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE. HAPPENED WITH ABOUT 36,000 MILES ON CAR. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN EXTREME DIFFICULTY TO STEER OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. MAZDA IS REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3 5 DOOR HATCHBACK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE VALVE STEM TO THE TIRE BECAME CORRODED AND CRACKED AND FELL OFF. THIS RESULTED IN A RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER 3 TIRES, I NOTICED THAT 2 OF THE REMAINING 3 NUTS WERE ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS OCCURRED AFTER I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 20 MONTHS. WHEN TAKEN TO THE MAZDA DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE VALVE STEM WHERE THE NUT HAD FALLEN OFF, BUT NOT THE OTHER 2 STEMS THAT WERE CORRODED AND CRACKED. *TR

I OWN A 2008 MAZDA 3. ON THIS PARTICULAR MODE OF MAZDA THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE LESS THAN 1/4 INCH FROM EACH OTHER. I HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES WITH SEVERAL CARS, THE MOST RECENT BEING TODAY BECAUSE ALOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GO TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3, I WAS SIMPLY PARKED AND RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL WITH "NEW" CARS (LESS THAN 12000 MILES). I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND THERE IS A "NATIONAL BACKORDER" IN THEIR WORDS. IF THERE IS SO MANY PLACES ORDERING POWER STEERING PUMPS, ID THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR AT EACH BRAKING INTERVAL. WAS READY TO MOVE AGAIN AND HEARD A FUNNY PLASTIC CLICK NOISE FROM THE FRONT. THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE LATCH TO STEERING WHEEL OR HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING ON THE ROAD. WENT TO TURN THE WELL TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS THERE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STIFFEN EXTREMELY. AFTER A FEW SECONDS A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP IN THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS OF A STEERING WHEEL AND A EXCLAMATION MARK. WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND ROUGHLY TURN THE WHEEL TO PULL TO THE LEFT MEDIAN OUT OF TRAFFIC. WENT TO GLOVE BOX AND PULLED OUT VEHICLE MANUAL AND LOOKED UP THE WARNING INDICATOR THAT LIT. IT TELLS YOU TO PULL OVER AND PARK SAFELY AND TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF TO SEE IF THE WARNING WILL GO OUT OR STAY ON. I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND GAVE IT A FEW SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THIS ISSUE AND TO BRING IT IN SOMETIME THIS WEEK IF POSSIBLE. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BRING IT IN THAT MORNING. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND WHEN WAITING TO SIGN PAPERS AND TURN OVER MY KEYS WAS TOLD ANOTHER CUSTOMER IN FRONT OF ME WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE REPAIRS ARE AT NO COST TO ME AND THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR DURING REPAIRS. ONE DAY TO HAVE REPAIR KIT DONE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

LOSS OF POWER STEERING: (2 TIMES) -- ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAD LOST THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 MAZDA 3. THE FIRST TIME WAS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009. AFTER THE CAR WAS IDLING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE BELTS. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING LIKE NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2010. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AFTER THE TRAFFIC CLEARED I WAS GETTING UP TO SPEED AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER. STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE A FEW DAYS LATER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY STEERING INCIDENT. THEY LOOKED AT THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND NOTICED AN 'ISSUE.' THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR A FEW DAYS FOR THE NEW POWER STEERING COMPONENT PART TO COME IN. THEY REPLACED THE PART AND GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

VEHICLE: 2008 MAZDA3 5 DOOR SEMI-AUTOMATIC AFTER IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINS. THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHANGED GEARS WITH NO EFFECT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT POWER STEERING. THE NEXT DAY THE POWER STEERING RETURNED WITH FURTHER INCIDENT. *TR

WE OWN A 2008 MAZDA 3S, PURCHASED IN SUMMER, 2008. IT CURRENTLY HAS 43,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WAS FINE, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE PS FAILED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, EVEN WITHOUT INSPECTING MY CAR. WE WERE TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ELECTRIC CHARGER, AND ALL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $950. WE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT MAZDA ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THIS. AS WE LOOKED FURTHER, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THIS CAR, WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AS EARLY AS MAY, 2009. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT THEIR CARS FOR MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE BACK-ORDERED. SOME PEOPLE STATED THAT THEIR DEALER TOLD THEM THERE WAS A BACKUP OF 600 ORDERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR EASILY WITH SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF MAZDA'S LACK OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE, I HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT, IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE PLACED IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

PREMATURE TIRE WEAR OF NEW TIRES ON NEW VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

HEADLIGHTS CONTINUALLY GO OUT ABOUT TWO-THREE MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED. *TR

1) STOPPED FOR FUEL. TURNED CAR OFF. EVERYTHING HAD BEEN OPERATING FINE UP TO THIS POINT. 2) TURNED CAR ON AFTER REFUELING. POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AND POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. TRIED TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON TWO OR THREE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR OF DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING, STOPPED AGAIN FOR LUNCH. TURNED CAR OFF. 3) AFTER LUNCH, TURNED CAR ON. POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE ONCE AGAIN OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 8/2008. *TR

I HAVE A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE IN FLORIDA LAST WINTER I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING DURING EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY WHILE I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF INTO A PARKING LOT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT MAYBE DUE TO HOW HOT THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS, MAYBE WE USED UP POWER STEERING FLUID. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY AUTO PARTS STORE, BOUGHT POWER STEERING FLUID AND ADDED A SMALL AMT. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT IT ONLY REQUIRED LESS THAN AN OUNCE. AFTER A REST PERIOD, THE CAR REGAINED POWER STEERING AND WE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER PROBLEM. WE DID HAVE A MAZDA DEALER IN FLORIDA CHECK IT OUT AND THEY CLAIMED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER. WELL, OVER THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND WHEN WE WERE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF HOT, HUMID WEATHER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT SEEMED THAT AFTER YOU SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND ALLOWED THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY INSISTED WE BRING IT RIGHT IN AS LONG AS THE WEATHER WASN'T HOT. THEY RENTED US A CAR AND KEPT OUR CAR FOR A WEEK TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. THEY INSTALLED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND NEW HYDRAULIC FLUID LINES. SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD NOT FURTHER PROBLEMS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. BOTH TIMES, WE WERE ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL. THE ONLY SIMILARITIES WERE THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY AND THAT WE WERE USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. *TR

2008 MAZDA3, ALIGNMENT WITHIN MANUFACTURER SPECS, BUT THERE IS UNEVEN WEAR ON THE REAR DRIVERSIDE TIRE. AS GENERALLY A TIRE AS 4 PARTS OF TREAD, THE 3 OUTER TREADS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME SIDE AND THE 1 INNER TREAD IS EXCESSIVELY WORN. THERE IS NO ANGLED WEAR ON THE TIRE TOWARD THE EXCESSIVE WEAR, 3 HIGH TREADS AND 1 LOW TREAD. MAZDA APPARENTLY HAS A REAR CAMBER DEFECT ON 2008 MODELS WHICH THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX. *TR