2014 Mazda Mazda3 Engine Problems

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2014 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that the vehicle was making an abnormal growling sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 140,000. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the motor mounts needed to be replaced. It was later discovered that the Title mileage was 197,687.

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE CAR LOST POWER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED, THE TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE CHECK TIRE PRESSURE CAME ON ALL AT THE SAME TIME. THE CAR ALSO WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE PAST 35-40 MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT ONE OF THE FOUR ENGINE COILS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A MONTH AND HALF LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND ANOTHER ENGINE COIL IS NEEDING REPLACEMENT.

IN PARKING GARAGE, TURNING INTO PARKING SPOT. CAR ENGINE REVVED UP, AND CAR ACCELERATED INTO THE GUARD RAIL, SMASHING THE FRONTEND OF THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGING THE RADIATOR. DRIVER DID NOT PUT FOOT ON THE GAS; CAR LUNGED FORWARD ON IT'S OWN. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, AND DRIVER HAD DARK BRUISES ON ABDOMEN, LEFT ANTERIOR THIGH, AND LEFT SIDE OF NECK D/T SEAT BELT, AND ALSO HAD MINOR WHIPLASH. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER CARS OR PEOPLE WERE AROUND WHEN CAR ACCELERATED. ALSO, HAD THE CAR HAD MORE THAN JUST A FEW FEET TO RUN INTO SOMETHING, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED WORSE. PRIOR TO INCIDENT, CAR ENGINE REVVED UP FOR SEVERAL SECONDS ON ITS OWN TWICE WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.

MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD "PUSH-BUTTON" START WHICH IS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A RADIO CONTROLLED "KEY FOB." WHILE STANDING WITHIN A CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE VEHICLE, THE DOORS WILL UNLOCK WITH THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON ON THE DOOR HANDLE AND THE VEHICLE WILL START WITH THE TOUCH OF THE INTERIOR START BUTTON AND THE BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED DOWN. THE SAME INTERIOR START BUTTON IS PUSHED AGAIN TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. ON APRIL 15, 2015, AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, ENGAGED THE HAND BRAKE, AND EXITTED THE CAR, FORGETTING TO PUSH THE INTERIOR START BUTTON TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE. I LEFT THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE (ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY) AND THE CAR ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN UNTIL I RETURNED, 2 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES LATER TO TURN THE CAR OFF. MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER SAID THIS WAS NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO BUILT-IN SAFETY MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE CAR ENGINE FROM RUNNING WHILE THE "KEY FOB" WAS NO WHERE NEAR THE CAR. IMAGINE THE SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS? IF THE CAR WERE PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE RESULTS WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS. WHY DOESN'T THE ENGINE AUTOMATICALLY CUT OFF WHEN THE KEY FOB IS A CERTAIN DISTANCE FROM THE VEHICLE? WHY ISN'T THE ALERT (A SHORT SERIES OF BEEPS IDENTICAL TO OTHER BEEPS THE CAR MAKES WHEN LOCKED) DISTINCTIVE AND ALARMING? THIS IS A SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF KEYLESS START ENGINES THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 23, 2015, I PURCHASED A NEW 2014 MAZDA 3 S GRAND TOURING SEDAN WITH TECHNICAL PACKAGE, VIN # [XXX]. THE VEHICLE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 5,470. SINCE PURCHASE, THIS CAR HAS HAD A STALLING PROBLEM THAT IS INTERMITTENT, UNPREDICTABLE, AND NOT REPRODUCIBLE ON DEMAND. STALLING MEANS IT DOES NOT RESPOND TO NORMAL PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, AND LITERALLY COASTS FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS TIME MAY VARY FROM 2 TO 10 SECONDS IN A GIVEN INSTANCE. DURING THIS TIME THE MOTOR IS RUNNING, THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND NO CODES ARE THROWN. I HAVE LEARNED THAT QUICKLY REPEATED PRESSING OF THE ACCELERATOR MAY HELP TERMINATE THE STALLING. COMMON FACTORS WHEN STALLING OCCURS SEEM TO BE WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE, AND THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A SHORT TIME, RESTARTED, AND MOVED BACK TO TRAFFIC FOLLOWED BY A 90 DEGREE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN OR CAR IS DRIVING NORMAL ROUTE THEN STOPS FOR A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC, FOLLOWED BY A 90 DEGREE RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. IN BOTH THESE SCENARIOS, THERE IS A SHARP TURN. THE CAR WILL JUST FINISH THE TURN AND THEN STALL WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS PRESSED. IT SHOULD GO WITHOUT SAYING THAT IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS AT THE WRONG TIME, IT COULD BE A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO LIFE AND PROPERTY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR