There are 7 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3in NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
THE REAR SHOCKS HAVE AN UPPER ATTACHMENT THAT IS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. AFTER ONLY 49000 MILES THE SHOCK MOUNT CORRODED AND BROKE. IT ALSO CAUSED THE SHOCK ROD TO BEND.
TOLD BY MAZDA TECHNICIAN THAT RIGHT REAR SWAY BAR LINK IS DEFECTIVE- FAILING, AND CAUSING A CLUNKING NOISE. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 54K MILES ON IT, NOTICED THE NOISE AROUND 52K MILES
I HAD A MECHANIC ROTATE MY TIRES AND NOTICED THE FRONT TIRES WERE MAKING ALOT OF NOISE. I RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC FOR AN INSPECTION AND HE SAID THAT THE TIRES CURRENTLY ON THE FRONT THAT WERE ON THE REAR HAVE SEVERE CUPPING PROBABLY DUE TO A SUSPENSION PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO RECALL NOTICE FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAD THE MECHANIC ROTATE THE TIRES BACK. THE TIRES *TR
PREMATURE TIRE CUPPING OF REAR TIRES. ALL TIRES ROTATED ACCORDING TO MAZDA MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. RESULT IN TIRE ROAD NOISE, UNEVEN WEAR, EARLY REPLACEMENT. REAR CAMBER SETTING IS POSSIBLE ISSUE. *TR
PURCHASED AS CERTIFIED PREOWNED FROM LOCAL MAZDA DEALER. PREMATURE TIRE CUPPING OF REAR TIRES. RESULT IN TIRE ROAD NOISE, UNEVEN WEAR, EARLY REPLACEMENT. REAR CAMBER SETTING IS POSSIBLE ISSUE EXPRESSED "UNOFFICIALLY" BY MAZDA MECHANIC.
I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 10 MONTHS AND ON FEB 14, 2014 NOTICED THERE IS A CLUNKY SOUND AT THE BACK RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND FOUND UP THAT ALL SWAY BAR BOLTS WERE LOOSE. SERVICE MANAGER INDICATED THAT THE FACTORY DID NOT TIGHTENED IT PROPERLY. FOLLOWING WEEK NOTICED THAT MY DASHBOARD ABOVE THE COMPUTER STUFF WAS LIFTING/WARPING. THEY HAD REPLACED AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR MENTIONED THAT I AM THE 5TH MAZDA 3 2012 OWNER TO TAKE IT IN WITH THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE DASHBOARD. I HOPE NOTHING ELSE WILL START TO FALL APART. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026