2012 Mazda Mazda3 Complaint Log

WHILE DOWNSHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 3RD AND/OR 5TH TO 4TH TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT HAVING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL (ONLY ON THE CLUTCH) MY 2012 MAZDA 3 TOURING 6 SPEED MT ACCELERATES VERY RAPIDLY AND JERKS ABOUT. IT HAPPENS FOR SEVERAL SECONDS AND THEN STOPS. IT'S ALMOST EVERY TIME I DOWNSHIFT. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE MAZDA DEALER ON THE FIRST SERVICE APPOINTMENT AT 5000 MILES IN APRIL 2013. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE ADVISOR INFORMED ME THAT MECHANIC CHECKED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE CAR THAT WOULD BE CAUSING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

THERE IS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE FROM THE CAR. MAZDA DEALER IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN I WENT BACK FOR SERVICE. I CHANGE GAS TO SHELL AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS COMON PROBLEM AND BLAMED IT ON THE GASOLINE BLEND. *TR

MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV HATCHBACK WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AFTER DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, OR AFTER COASTING IN ONE OF THOSE GEARS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE CAR "SURGES" FORWARD UPON RE-ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ONLY BEING SLIGHTLY PUSHED, BUT THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT HAS BEEN PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL EITHER REV TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM, OR THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FORWARD UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND I TOLD THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IN THOSE CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I"VE BEEN DRIVING MANUALS FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS AND DON'T THINK ITS A DRIVER ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON THIS SITE AND OTHER MAZDA FORUMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY MAZDA!!!!!!!!!! *TR

WHEN DOWNSHIFTING (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD TO 2ND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM WENT WAY UP, MAYBE AROUND 4,000 RPM. I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO AVOID THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AND HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE ONLY OWNED IT 5 MONTHS. *TR

DRIVERS DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE. DEALER REPORTS LATCH CABLE IS BROKEN. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF THE DRIVERS DOOR LATCH CABLE BREAKING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND PULLING INTO HER DRIVEWAY THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT JAMMED AND AS A RESULT THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO HER GARAGE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER UPPER BACK AND NECK. THE POLICE WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE DEALER WAS LATER CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO THEY ADVISED HER THAT THEY WOULD LOOK INTO THE ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REMOVED FROM THE CONTACTS GARAGE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700.

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BUT LUCKILY CROSSING AT AN INTERSECTION WITH LIGHTS. I TURNED LEFT AND IT WAS AS IF MY CAR WENT IN NEUTRAL. I HIT THE GAS AND I DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. I HAD TO GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS CARS WERE BEEPING AT ME. I NOTICED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I REGULARLY TURN LEFT AT OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS HIGHWAY WHERE THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GO WHEN YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH QUICK. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED THEN? I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT MY MULTIPLE CARS GOING VERY FAST. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. "SHOULD BE FINE"! I HAVE A FAMILY AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO WE ARE SAFE THEN THIS HAPPENS AND I HEAR "SHOULD BE FINE". *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT WAS AS IF MY CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFT TO ENSURE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, AND IT WAS. SOMEHOW I MADE IT THROUGH THE TURN AND INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN WAS ABLE TO LEAVE. IT WAS SCARY AND UPSETTING AS MY CAR IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD. THE DEALER SAID THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE INDICATOR IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY WAY AT ALL TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY SAID NO. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME BELIEVING THIS. I'M JUST GLAD I WASN'T REAR ENDED WITH MY GRAND BABY IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

CRUISE CONTROL: PEDAL DOES NOT STAY WHERE IT IS SET - IT RETURNS TO A 0 MPH POSITION. THIS MAKES IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT RESTING ON THE PROPER PEDAL WHILE IN CRUISE, LEADING TO LOSING OF 'PLACE'. IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ACCELERATION ANOMALIES. WHEN STEPPING ON IT (GOING STRAIGHT) ENGINE WILL HESITATE, SEEM TO WIND UP AND THEN GO, NOT GIVING YOU THE POWER YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT SECONDS AFTER THE FACT. OTHER TIMES ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY WITH MORE POWER THAN ANTICIPATED MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING INTO A TURN. SEEMS UNSAFE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING IN CITY IN THE EVENING TEMP. ABOUT 65-70 F,DRY AND SMOOTH ROAD(MY DAILY ROUTE TO WORK) IN STEADY SPEED OF I WOULD SAY 45 MPH, TRYING TO CHANGE LANE MY CAR TRACTION LIGHT WENT ON AND ENGINE LIGHT AND AT LIGHT BELOW MY GEAR SCREEN, MY CAR LOCKED MY TRANSMISSION,CAR WAS IN DRIVE MODE SO I PUT ON MANUAL TO TRY CHANGE GEAR MANUALLY BUT DID NOT CHANGE GEAR, I WAS STUCK ON ONE GEAR AND I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN BECAUSE I WOULD LOOSE MY RPM MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, I DROVE ABOUT 2 MILE TILL I HAD SAFE PLACE TO STOP, PULLED OVER TURN OFF THE CAR AND WAIT FOR FEW MINUTES,THEN TURN ENGINE BACK ON,TRACTION LIGHT WAS OFF SO AS THE AT LIGHT BUT ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON,CAR WAS BEHAVING NORMAL AND I COULD DRIVE IT HOME, NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO DEALER I TURNED IT OFF FOR WAITING TO CHECK-IN MY CAR WHEN THE DEALER SERVICE PERSONAL TURNED IT ON AS SHE SAID THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF TOO, BE SHE SAID WE KEEP IT TO MAKE SURE ITS FINE,I GOT A RENTAL CAR FROM THEM,THEY TOLD ME IF SOMETHING IS WRONG MAZDA WILL PAY FOR RENTAL, THEY KEPT THE CAR OVERNIGHT,MECHANIC DROVE IT WITH HIM HOME, DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT,THEY CONTACT MAZDA AND REMOTELY CHECKED THE SKYACTIV COMPUTER, DID NOT FIND ANYTHING EITHER, THEY UPDATE THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AS THEY TOLD ME AND THEY WERE GUESSING IT WAS A COMPUTER GLITCH BUT THEY WAVED THE RENTAL CAR FOR DAY AND HALF!! SINCE THEN IT NEVER HAPPENED AGAIN,I EVEN TESTED THE TRACTION FUNCTION IN SLIPPERY ROAD AND WORKS FINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED AGAINST A CEMENT POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 11/13/12 *CN UPDATED 11/29/2012 *JS

MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV HATCHBACK WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE SYMPTOMS EXHIBITED ARE CONSISTENT WITH MULTIPLE OTHER REPORTS IN THIS SYSTEM. AFTER DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, OR AFTER COASTING IN ONE OF THOSE GEARS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE CAR "SURGES" FORWARD UPON RE-ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ONLY BEING SLIGHTLY PUSHED, BUT THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT HAS BEEN PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL EITHER REV TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM, OR THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FORWARD UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MAZDA AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. UPON THE LAST VISIT, A DATA RECORDER WAS INSTALLED AND RECORDED 7 SPECIFIC UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS BETWEEN THE DATES OF 11/13/12 AND 11/20/12. ACCORDING TO AN EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT SERVICE & PARTS MANAGER FOR DISTRICT 2 OF MAZDA NORTH AMERICA OPERATIONS (MNAO) ON 12/23/12, "THE CONCERN FOUND ON THE DATA RECORDINGS TAKEN FROM YOUR VEHICLE WERE FOUND TO BE A PCM CALIBRATION ISSUE. MAZDA CORPORATION IS WORKING ON A NEW CALIBRATION FOR THE PCM WITH AN UNKNOWN TIME OF COMPLETION." WHEN I REQUESTED THAT MY VEHICLE BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER OF THE SAME MODEL, THIS WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE SAME DISTRICT SERVICE & PARTS MANAGER: "SINCE THE CALIBRATION OF THE PCM IS THE SAME ON A 2013 LIKE MODEL WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT WOULD NOT BE ADVISED TO TRADE YOU INTO THAT VEHICLE AS IT COULD POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT THE SAME CONCERN DEPENDING ON YOUR DRIVING HABITS AND CONDITIONS." I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM MNAO'S MEDIATION DEPARTMENT REGARDING EITHER REPLACING MY CAR WITH ANOTHER MODEL, OR BUYING BACK THE CAR FROM ME. *TR

WHEN THE CAR DECELERATES (BRAKING OR DOWN-SHIFTING) THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH. WHEN I TAKE THE CAR BACK TO MAZDA SERVICE, THEY TELL ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS EFFECTING MANY OF THE NEW SKYACTIV ENGINES. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT THAT IS MAKING THE LIGHTS FLASH. THEY STATE THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A FIX FOR IT YET, SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REAL SAFTEY HAZARD. PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY THINK I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT THEM. I BOUGHT A SECOND CAR (SAME MODEL AND YEAR) AT THE SAME TIME AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TELL THIS TO MAZDA, THEY ACT SURPRISED AND STATE THAT I MUST HAVE GOT LUCKY BECAUSE MOST OF THE CARS HAVE THESE FLASHING LIGHTS. THEY SEEM TO JUST WANT ME TO LIVE WITH IT. YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SINCE THEY ARE SAYING IT IS A COMMON ISSUE. I THINK THESE CARS NEED A RECALL. *TR

APPROXIMATELY TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OUT OF A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND CURVE OR TURN, MY 2012 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS IS CHARACTERIZED BY A VARYING INCREASE OF RPMS: 2100 RPMS TO 4500 RPMS, DEPENDING ON THE INCIDENT, AND A SUDDEN LURCHING OR SURGING FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WHEN APPROACHING CURVES OR TURNS, AT 30 OR 40 MPH, THAT DO NOT HAVE TO BE TAKEN AT A COMPLETE STOP, I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, APPLY THE BRAKES, AND SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 15-20 MPH. UPON COMING OUT OF THE TURN I SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN I SLOWLY RELEASE THE CLUTCH, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL, THE CAR'S ENGINE WILL REV, RPMS WILL SURGE TO AS HIGH AS 4000 - 4500, AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS ONCE AGAIN DEPRESSED. THESE INCIDENTS ARE RANDOM AND ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON SPEED, WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR LOCATION. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE ONLY BEEN DUPLICATED WITH A MINIMAL INCREASE OF RPMS AND NO LURCHING FORWARD WHEN A MECHANIC IS PRESENT. THESE INCIDENTS CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR THE DEALERSHIP AT THEIR FULLEST AND MOST DANGEROUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHROME PANELING ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DASHBOARD WAS CAUSING MOMENTARILY BLINDNESS WHEN THE SUN OR LIGHT REFLECTED OFF THE CHROME. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE POWER STEERING, TRACTION CONTROL, AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED. MOMENTS LATER, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURES RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE FAILURES RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS AWAITING ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSTICS. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

DRIVING HOME LAST NIGHT (ON THE FREEWAY) AT APPROXIMATELY 9:45 PM I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO MAKE A LANE CHANGE. I NOTICED THE CAR WASN'T MOVING ANY FASTER THE ONLY THING I HEARD WAS THE ENGINE GUNNING. THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN IN VERY FAST TRAFFIC AND I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY HAZARDS ON WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT WHICH WAS STUCK. ITS A MIRACLE THAT I DIDN'T GET HIT TRYING TO GET TNATE TO HAVE IT APOENHIS VEHICLE OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHICH I EVENTUALLY DID. I REMOVED A SMALL COVER BESIDE THE GEAR SHIFT INSERTED A SCREWDRIVER IN THE HOLE AND WAS ABLE TO RELEASE THE SHIFT. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. STARTED THE CAR AND SHIFTED IT TO DRIVE BUT THE CAR JERKED BACK AND THE GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK AGAIN. I HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS AND FRIGHTENING SITUATION FOR A MALE ADULT AND WOULD HATE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN TO A SINGLE MOTHER WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THE GEARS HAVE LOCKED. I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE IT HAPPEN IN MY DRIVEWAY AND WAS ABLE TO UNLOCK WITH THE METHOD I DESCRIBED ABOVE. I FEEL THIS REALLY SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. *JS

CAR HIT COYOTE AT 75MPH. CAR NEVER WAVERED FROM WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. IT SAVED OUR LIVES THAT NIGHT. HEADLIGHT NOT HIT BY COYOTE BUT BARES A LARGE "BLIND SPOT" ON DRIVERS SIDE MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER DARK. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP SAYS HEAD LIGHT IS WITHIN SPECS AND WAS COMPARED TO ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL YEAR AND THE "BLIND SPOT" IS NORMAL. THIS PARTICULAR MAZDA 3 "DOESN'T LIKE TIRES". THAT IS WHAT THE GUY WHO PUT ON THE 3RD FULL SET OF TIRES TOLD ME. MILEAGE 46,000 THE CAR KEEPS BREAKING MOTOR MOUNTS AND MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS ALL FROM THE ACCIDENT NOW 15 MONTHS AGO. THEY REFUSE TO FIX HEADLIGHT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK AS MY INSURANCE COMPANY MAY FIGHT IF I SHOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAULTY HEAD LIGHT. I HAVE NEVER KNOW A CAR MANUFACTURER TO OFFER HEADLIGHTS WITH BLIND SPOTS BUT I HAVE AN INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THIS IS NORMAL ON THE MAZDA 3. THESE CARS ARE NOT MADE TO TAKE THE IMPACT OF A COYOTE SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MAZDA 3 SHOULD IT HIT SOMETHING LARGER THAN A DOG. *TR

THE VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY AND SPORADICALLY SPEED UP AND THE RPMS INCREASE UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN THE CLUTCH IS RELEASED AFTER DOWNSHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 2ND OR 4TH TO 3RD. MOSTLY FROM 3RD TO 2ND. THE VEHICLE REALLY PULLS FORWARD AND DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THIS IS HAPPENING. INSTINCT IS TO JUMP THE BRAKE, WHICH SLOWS THE CAR, DECREASES THE RPMS AND APPEARS TO STOP THE INCIDENT. THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WITH SNOWY, ICY ROADS JUST AROUND THE CORNER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REPLICATE THIS AS IT IS SPORADIC. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE FIRST DRIVING THIS VEHICLE JUNE, 02, 2012. MILEAGE,SPEED AND DATE OF OCCURRENCE ENTERED ARE APPROXIMATES AS SEVERAL INCIDENTS OCCURRED PRIOR TO THE START OF DOCUMENTING EACH ONE. THE STATE AND ZIP CODE ENTERED IN THE ADDRESS INFORMATION IS THE CLOSET ONE TO ME. I LIVE IN CANADA AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A NATIONAL SITE TO FORMALLY LODGE A COMPLAINT. *TR

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

THE DRIVERS DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. BROKEN INNER DRIVERS DOOR CABLE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV AND A COUPLE SPIDERS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. I KNOW, STUPID. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SPIDERS AS THE SAME SPIDER THAT MAZDA HAD ALREADY RECALLED FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS, YET DID NOT FOR OURS. I'M A LITTLE ANNOYED THERE ARE STILL SPIDERS IN THERE CARE AND MAY CAUSE FUEL PROBLEMS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. *TR

THE CAR SOMETIMES SURGES DURING DOWNSHIFTING. I WILL BE DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC IN THIRD GEAR. THE TRAFFIC SLOWS, AND I LET IN THE CLUTCH AND APPLY THE BRAKE. WHEN THE TRAFFIC STARTS TO PICK UP AGAIN, I AM GOING TOO SLOW FOR THIRD, SO I SHIFT INTO SECOND AND LET THE CLUTCH OUT. MY RIGHT FOOT IS JUST RESTING LIGHTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IDLING FAST, BUT AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARS AND THE CAR LEAPS FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT PRESSED THE GAS AT ALL. I LET IN THE CLUTCH AGAIN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I LET IT OUT AGAIN, IT WORKS NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENS ONCE, TWICE, OR NOT AT ALL IN A 40-MILE ROUND TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND BACK. IT ALSO HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN WITHOUT STOPPING, BUT WHERE I NEED TO SLOW AND DOWNSHIFT. I COAST INTO THE TURN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN, SHIFT DOWN, AND ATTEMPT TO LET THE CLUTCH OUT WHEN COMING OUT OF THE TURN. I WOULD EXPECT THE CAR TO SLOW WHEN I SHIFT DOWN UNLESS I AM PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN ME IS GIVING IT GAS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN, AND IT NEVER HAPPENS TWICE IN A ROW. I HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN ON PURPOSE, BUT I THINK THAT WAS PURE LUCK. IT HAPPENS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC IN OUR AREA, IT ENDS UP USUALLY BEING THIRD TO SECOND. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO THIRD OR FOURTH ALSO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE AIMED TOO HIGH, CAUSING DIFFICULTY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE WERE SPIDERS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AREA. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DEALER WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT BUGS AND SPIDERS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS RECALIBRATED THE SEAT AND STATED THE SENSOR FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE TECHNICIANS ALSO STATED THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE SEAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SEAT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE DRIVER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.