NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT FLASHING IN DASH, MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING AN AIRBAG RECALL AT THIS TIME.
I APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE CAR KEPT MOVING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD AND HITTING THE BACK OF THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS ON A HIGHWAY.
MOTOR CYLINDER #1 LOW COMPRESSION TOOK IT TO MAZDA THEY COULDNT FIGURE IT OUT AND LESS THAN 20 MILES AFTER THE MOTOR THREW A ROD AT 70,001 MILES TOTAL. CYLINDER 1 WALLS WHERE NOT MADE CORRECTLY
POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE AT FIRST, CHECKED FLUID, AND LINES, ALL WAS OK, THEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, COULD NOT DRIVE ANYMORE. CAR WAS IN MOTION WHEN IT ALL STARTED, ON A PUBLIC ROAD.
GAS LEAKING FROM BACK OF FUEL TANK AFTER FILLING IT UP. IT I ONLY FILL UP HALF WAY NO LEAK
A HOT AND HUMID NIGHT WAITING IN LINE AT A DRIVE THROUGH WITH A SLIGHT UP HILL SLOPE, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE FROM NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. AFTER SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE IT WENT INTO 3RD GEAR WITH AND ENGINE LIGHT, HAZ ROAD AND AT LIGHT. PO751 01/02, PO780 02/02 CODES. TRANSMISSION SHOP STATED: TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS BAD AND SMELL OF BURNT FLUID. FLUID WAS BROWN, CAR WAS ONE OWNER 233K ..POSSIBLE FLOOD DAMAGED FROM 4 MO EARLIER.
MY CAR IS AUTOMATIC, AND I HAD PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT OFF THE STREET IN FRONT OF A STORE, AND WAS TURNING RIGHT INTO THE PARKING SPOT, AND WAS PUTTING ON THE BRAKE, THE CAR SURGED, AND WENT FORWARD, STILL AS I AM PRESSING ON THE BREAK, AND WENT THROUGH A STORE WINDOW. THEN ONCE IT STOPPED INSIDE THE STORE I PUT IT IN PARK, AND STARTED TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK, AND IT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD, SO I PUT ON THE BREAK AGAIN. THEN TRIED IT AGAIN, TAKING MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, AND IT MOVED AGAIN A BIT, AND STOPPED. SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR.
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
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.
Headlights flicker when brakes are applied or when slowing down.
SMELL OF FUEL IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THERE IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE NEAR/AROUND THE TANK BUT NOT ON TOP WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS. IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE LEAK HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FILLED UP FULL AND MORE SO IF PARKED UPHILL. IF FILLED UP FULL, THE LEAK SEEMS TO STOP IF CAR IS PARKED DOWNHILL. RESEARCH INDICATES SEVERAL OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS. FOR A PART THAT IS NOT MOVING OR WEARING OUT, WHETHER THE TANK OR ATTACHED HOSE, TO BREAK FOR A 7-8 YEAR OLD CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION LEADING TO DEATH.
THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT NOW WOBBLES BACKWARD. THE SEAT IS NOT SECURELY IN PLACE, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2010-2011 VERSIONS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS THAT OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/MAZDA3/SEATS-PROBLEMS.PHP I HAVE EMAILED MAZDA TODAY ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ARE AWAITING THEIR REPLY, BUT I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AT THE MOMENT, IF NEEDED I CAN HAVE THE SHOP TAKE PHOTOS.
THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY (TIPTRONIC) FAILS TO CHANGE GEARS WHEN USING THE "MANUAL" MODE. VEHICLE HAS 64K MILES. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR SAME ISSUE 3 YEARS PRIOR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR CAMBER WAS SET AT A NEGATIVE ANGLE, WHICH MADE THE REAR TIRES WEAR OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONLY THE INSIDE OF THE REAR TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE ROAD AND THE DESIGN WAS SET UP FOR RACING RATHER THAN NORMAL DRIVING. AN UNKNOWN DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT THE DESIGN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND THE CONTACT WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL THEM BACK WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND CHAIR FELL BACKWARDS. I SEE A SIMILAR RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2011 MAZDA 3 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED A PART USED IN 2011 WAS USED FOR THIS 2012 CAR. THE ELECTRONIC BASE OF THE CHAIR WORKS, BUT THE SEAT WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
HIGH BEAM LIGHTS BLINK/FLASH WHEN BREAKING LOW BEAM LIGHTS DIM WHEN BREAKING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS DIM SLIGHTLY WHEN BREAKING WITH BOTH CONDITIONS MENTIONED
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.
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS ON AND PUTTING ON BRAKES OR SLOWING DOWN, HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS FLICKER AND DIM NOTICEABLY
WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN OR I HIT THE BRAKES, THE HEADLIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER.
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
STEERING GETS REALLY STIFF WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN SPEED IS LESS THAN 5MPH.
TL* 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.
CODE U0101 DESCRIPTION LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE CODE SCAN DASHBOARD LIGHT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SKIPPED GEARS AND THE RPMS ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURES OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHANGED THE OIL AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE TRANSMISSION HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
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.
THE LINK CONNECTING THE FRONT LEFT OF THE SEAT SHEARED OFF. IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE RECALL FOR THE 2011 MODELS.
FUEL FILLER LINE LEAK. WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL FUEL LEAKS FROM SMALL WHOLE IN LINE THAT GOES INTO GAS TANK. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS WHERE THE LINE IS WELDED TO GAS TANK HAS BROKEN THE MAZDA SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT MAZDA WILL FIX, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2013 MODELS, SO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO A 2012 MODEL WHY IT NOT BE REPAIRED BY MAXDA?
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NELSON MAZDA MURFREESBORO (1214 FORTRESS BLVD, MURFREESBORO, TN 37128) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN PART IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
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.
AS I WAS ENTERING MY VEHICLE ON A SATURDAY MORNING A METAL PIECE UNDER THE SEAT SNAPPED. THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER STABLE AND I BROUGHT IT TO A MAZDA DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE PART NUMBER FOR THE BROKEN PART IN MY VEHICLE. THAT PART NUMBER, BBM4-88-H50A, IS THE SAME ON ALL MAZDA3S FROM 2010-2012. IT IS ALSO THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2010-2011 MAZDA3S BUT NOT THE 2012 MODEL. THIS PART SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE RECALLED ON 2012 MODELS SINCE IT IS THE SAME PART AND I AM EVIDENCE THAT THE PART WAS STILL FAULTY ON THE 2012 MODELS. I HAVE ATTACHED 4 PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOW PROOF OF THE INSPECTION, THE PART THAT WAS BROKEN, THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS THE SAME FROM 2010-2012 MODELS, AND THE NHTSA DOCUMENT SHOWING THE RECALL OF THAT PART. I AM NOT A LARGE PERSON, ~145 LBS, AND THERE IS NO REASON A METAL PIECE HOLDING MY SEAT IN PLACE SHOULD HAVE SNAPPED IN TWO.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GREEN MAZDA (217-391-2400, LOCATED AT 3760 S 6TH ST, SPRINGFIELD, IL 62703) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A CHARCOAL CANISTER FILTER WAS LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 142,000.
MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILED AT 38,000 MILES CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND WOULDN'T RESTART.
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SYSTEM CAUSING REDUCED ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS DISPLAYED. THIS PROBLEM IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE RECALL ON MAZDA3 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2011 AND NOVEMBER 2011. THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION AND A VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDED MY VEHICLE. FOR SOME REASON MAZDA IS NOT RECOGNISING THE RECALL ON LATER MODELS AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. MAZDA RECALL REFERENCE IS 6511K. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO COVER ADDITIONAL VINS
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY, DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS FUELED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE CLICKED THE FUEL CAP SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE CAP REPLACED. THERE IS AN EVAP CODE SHOWING. THE CAR CANNOT PASS ANY STATE INSPECTION
DASHBOARD PEELING OFF
THE CLEAR COAT WAS NOT PROPERLY APPLIED DURING MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE LEADING TO EXTENSIVE PAINT LOSS AND CORROSION BEGINNING ON THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE AND HOOD. EVENTUALLY THE FAILURE OF THE PAINT WILL LEAD TO RUST AND CORROSION OF THE ROOF AND SUPPORT SYSTEM OF THE VEHICLE WHICH CAN CAUSE BODILY HARM IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
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.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN A WINDING ROAD WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND AND THEN COMPLETELY STALLED. PROR TO IT STALLING, IT WAS ACTING STRANGE, WOULD REV HIGH AND NOT KICK IN TO THE NEXT GEAR (NOT SURE IF THAT'S A CORRECT DESCRIPTION AS THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC CAR). THREE LIGHTS CAME ON: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSAXILE LIGHT AND TCS/DSC INDICATOR LIGHT. IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL SMALL AUTO SHOP WHO DIAGNOSED IT AS A COMPUTER CODE ISSUE BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT. IT WAS THEN TOWED TO MAZDA WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE GOOD POWER, ESPECIALLY ON INCLINES. IT SEEMS TO SHAKE AT TIMES AND RUNS ROUGH AND THIS WAS NOT THE CASE PRIOR TO THE STALLING INCIDENT. I BELIEVE IT IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT SINCE MAZDA COULDN'T DIAGNOSE IT, I'M NOT SURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEARS SLIPPED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING IN ANY GEAR. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM WARRANTY CAMPAIGN BULLETIN NUMBER: O5-OO8/16 DUE TO BEING UNDER MILEAGE; HOWEVER, THE STATUTE FOR THE DATE TO RECEIVE SERVICE WAS ALSO EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BYERS MAZDA (2455 BILLINGSLEY RD, COLUMBUS, OH 43235, (614) 792-2455) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE VEHICLE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS 2012-2013 MAZDA3 VEHICLES (WITH SKYACTIV-G 2.0L AND HALOGEN TYPE HEADLIGHTS)
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
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTES DIAL FLUCTUATED RAPIDLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PARK. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES FOR THE SAME FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JOHN HINE MAZDA (45 CAMINO DEL RIO S, SAN DIEGO, CA 92108 (888) 714-7925) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH FAILED DUE TO DRIVER ABUSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER/PULSATE WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2012-13 MAZDA3 THAT REQUIRES A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO REMEDY. CURRENTLY, MAZDA IS CHARGING A MINIMUM OF $99 TO 'DIAGNOSE' THE ISSUE. SINCE THE ISSUE OCCURS IN MOTION, I DO NOT HAVE PHOTOS, BUT I DO HAVE VIDEOS. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE CAUSED BY FAULTY SOFTWARE THAT ONLY MAZDA CAN UPDATE, THERE IS NO REASON THAT OWNERS SHOULD HAVE TO PAY THEM TO FIX THEIR OWN MISTAKE. IT'S A SCAM, AT BEST. DOCUMENTATION OF OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE AND CONSISTENT SOFTWARE UPDATE SOLUTION: HTTPS://WWW.MAZDAFORUM.COM/FORUM/MAZDA3-26/MAZDA-3-HEADLIGHTS-FLICKERING-PULSATING-WHEN-BRAKING-34536/ HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/AMP/S/AMP.REDDIT.COM/R/MAZDA3/COMMENTS/6AAEIK/20122013_HEADLIGHT_FLICKERING_SOLUTION/ - THIS LINK INCLUDES A MAZDA CANADA SERVICE BULLETIN, INDICATING THAT THE COMPANY IS FULLY AWARE OF THE ISSUE HTTPS://WWW.MAZDAS247.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?123843988-2013-MAZDA-3-HEADLIGHTS-BLINK-WHEN-BRAKES-APPLIED
MORE THAT ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. 1) IT STARTS HONKING WHILE DRIVING, INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, THE CAR WILL ONLY MAKE RIGHT TURNS AND WILL NOT RESTART WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. YESTERDAY, IT DID IT ONCE AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AS I TURNED RIGHT ONTO THE CITY STREET FROM A PARKING LOT. LUCKILY THERE WAS ANOTHER PARKING LOT ENTRANCE ON THE RIGHT, SO I PULLED IN, PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. IT CONTINUED TO HONK, FLASH INTERIOR LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL AND IGNITION WOULD NOT WORK NOR CRANK. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES OVER A FIVE (5) MINUTES, WHEN IT FINALLY RESTARTED AND I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT IT HAPPENING AGAIN. THIS VEHICLE HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WILL START HONKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT WHILE PARKED AND OFF FOR NO REASON. THERE ARE TIMES THAT AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED HONKING IT WILL STOP, OTHER TIMES, I MUST GO ATTEMPT TO TURN VEHICLE ON AND EVENTUALLY IGNITION WILL CRANK AND ENGINE WILL START. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MAZDA BUT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM WORRIED I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ONE OF THESE DAYS AND HIT SOMEONE AND GET HIT BY SOMEONE ELSE WHEN THE CAR DECIDES IT WON'T TURN LEFT. NOT TO MENTION IF THE CAR WILL NOT START WHILE I AM IN A BAD AREA AND BE HARMED WHILE WAITING FOR THE CAR TO STOP HONKING, FLASHING AND REFUSING TO CRANK AND START. 2) WHEN YOU PUT GEAR IN DRIVE, FROM EITHER PARK OR REVERSE, AND TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATES AND LUNGES FORWARD WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS PEDDLE. THE FIRST TIME IT DID IT I ALMOST HIT A PARKED CAR! THANKFUL I ACTED QUICKLY AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKE. NOW I ALLOW ENOUGH SPACE, AS IF I DRIVING A TRUCK AND AM READY TO APPLY THE BRAKE. DEALERSHIP STATES NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE THESE MATTERS SERIOUSLY. BUT IT'S GOING BACK!!
I WAS DRIVING 30 MPH ON A SMALL RURAL ROAD GOING THROUGH A RIGHT-HAND TURN WHEN THE A/T, ENGINE, AND STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. I PUSHED THE STABILITY CONTROL SWITCH IN ATTEMPT TO SHUT IT OFF BUT TO NO AVAIL. I STOPPED AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF BUT THAT DIDN'T RESOLVE THE ISSUE EITHER. I DROVE IT HOME BUT IT WASN'T EASY. THE CAR HAD NO ACCELERATION (NO TORQUE) AND COULD BARELY GET UP THE HILL TO MY HOME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER. THEY ARE REPLACING AN ELECTRONIC MODULE THAT COMMUNICATES BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MODULE AND LABOR IS $1,000+. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND HAS 105,000 MILES AND IS ONLY DRIVEN ON FREEWAYS AND NORMAL SURFACE STREETS.
TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL-I BELIEVE THE 2012 MAZDA 3 SHOULD BE PART OF THE RECALL. MY AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHES. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS DRIVER SIDE OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. MY VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A AN ACCIDENT, BUT THE COMPUTER SAYS MY AIRBAG HAD BEEN DEPLOYED WHEN IT HAS NOT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS POPPING OUT OF THE DISPLAY PANELING. THE FAILURE HINDERED THE VISIBILITY OF THE SPEEDOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, AND OIL LEVELS. JOHN HINE TEMECULA MAZDA (42050 DLR DR, TEMECULA, CA 92591, (951) 553-2000) STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026