2004 Mazda Mazda3 complaints

POWER STEERING FAILS WHILE DRIVING. MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK THAT I PURCHASED NEW. THE CAR HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FAITHFULLY BY MAZDA TECHNICIANS. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. TO REITERATE, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. HAD MY WIFE NOT NOTICED, AND HAD WE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, IT WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE WITH US IN IT. WE MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FROZE AND THE BELT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRICTION; THIS THEN IGNITED PLASTIC SPLASH GUARDS UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALL TOTAL - $1500 IN DAMAGE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, AND IN FACT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND ASKED THEM TO RECOMPENSE THE DAMAGE FROM THE FAILED COMPRESSOR AND THE FIRE, AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST ME (OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS' SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IS A PROBLEM), OR COMPENSATE ME. I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT COMPENSATION THAN I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROADS, BEING DRIVEN BY FAMILIES, WAITING TO CATCH FIRE AND BURN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS OR EVEN WARNINGS FROM MAZDA THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. PLEASE, I AM ASKING THAT THE NHTSA ASSIST IN DOING SOMETHING BEFORE THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL MANUFACTURER DEFECT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INF

2004 MAZDA 3 WITH 2.3 LITER ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAZDA HAS A POOR DESIGN ENGINE OIL FILTER HOUSING. THE END IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THESE END CAPS TEND TO FATIGUE AND CRACK WITH AGE. THIS PART IS EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT, VIBRATIONS, AND TORQUE. WHEN IT CRACKS AND LEAKS IT LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION OF MY 2004 MAZDA 3 WITH ONLY 84,000KM DIED AS IT LOST THE ABILITY TO REACH 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THIS INCIDENT NEARLY COST ME MY LIFE YET MAZDA CANADA WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WHAT KIND OF COMPANY CAN NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AFTER SUCH A NEAR-FATAL INCIDENT. SUFFICE TO SAY THAT MAZDA WILL NEVER GET MY BUSINESS AGAIN. $3,200 LATER, I'M STILL ALIVE NO THANKS TO MAZDA. *TR

2004 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK POWER STEERING LOCKUP, HARD TO STEER WHILE DRIVING. STARTED HAPPENING IN 2009. *TR

2004 MAZDA 3 HAS FREQUENT LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WHILE IN MOTION POWER STEERING SUDDENLY STOPS WORKING. TURNING OFF CAR FOR SEVERAL MINUTES THEN RESTARTING SEEMS TO CLEAR PROBLEM. INCIDENT OCCURS EVERY 3 - 4 DAYS. *TR

RANDOM POWER STEERING FAILURE. WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROX 65MPH, THE YELLOW DASH INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT FOR THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM ILLUMINATED AND POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I EXITED THE HIGHWAY AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND PULLED INTO A SIDE ROAD (WITH NO POWER STEERING), AND THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE POWER STEERING LIGHT EXTINGUISHED AND IT WORKED FINE AGAIN. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN AVERAGE STRENGTH TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITHOUT POWER STEERING!! *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN VAN HOLLEN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE SAFETY PROBLEMS (RANDOM STALLING) WITH HIS 2004 MAZDA3 *TGW THE CONSUMER WENT TO SEARS TO PURCHASE A BATTERY THINKING THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE RANDOM STALLING, BUT WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND IT APPEARED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. THE CONSUMER THEN WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS WERE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS CAUSING IT TO STALL. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID 04V468000, AIR BAG SENSOR, CONTROL MODULE WAS A PART OF HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT ALTHOUGH IT WAS EXHIBITING THE IDENTICAL FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHENEVER WAS RAINING OR WET OUTSIDE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED BUT THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MAZDA WAS NOT CONTACTED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 87,000.

TRANSMISIN DAADA. *TR

I HAVE A 04 MAZDA 3 W/ AUTOMATIC TRANS / DRIVING INTO PARKING LOT HEARD A LOUD NOISE , CAR QUIT MOVING , DRIVER SIDE AXLE WAS HANGING / THE ENGINE HAD ALMOST DROP TO THE FLOOR , VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SHOP , THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE BRACKET WHICH HOLDS TRANSAXLE / ENGINE , ON DRIVER SIDE HAD BROKEN !! IT IS A ALUMINUM BRACKET WITH 3 BOLTS THAT CARRY ALL THE WEIGHT OF ENGINE / TRANSAXLE IT DAMAGED BOTH AXLE SHAFTS , CAUSED ABOUT $ 950.00 ON REPAIRS MY CONCERN IS THAT IT A VERY BAD / POOR / WEAK / DESIGN / THE GOOD THING IT HAPPENED AT LOW SPEED , IF IT WOULD HAVE BROKEN AT FREEWAY SPEED IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR DAMAGE / ACCIDENT !! *TR

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE 2004 MAZDA 3. ON SUNDAY, I WAS HIT BY A CAR AT ABOUT A 20 TO 30 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE IMPACT HIT MY PASSENGER DOOR. NEITHER ONE OF US WAS GOING AT A SPEED THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD A RESULT IN THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED. WHEN HE HIT US AND THE CAR CAME TO REST, THE POLICE AND TOWING PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SNAPPED OFF ITS' MOUNTING. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. HE TOLD ME THAT BOTH HE AND THE TOWING AGENT HAD EVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE TO A CAR WITH AS LITTLE DAMAGE TO IT. I WENT TO THE TOW PLACE WHERE THEY WERE HOLDING MY CAR TO TAKE PICTURES AND LOOK AT THE CAR, AND BOTH OF THE PEOPLE (DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAN THE ORIGINAL TOW DRIVER) SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE ONE GUY SAID ONLY TWICE HAS HE SEEN THAT HAPPEN AND BOTH HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THAT THEY WERE DEMOLISHED UP TO HALF OF THE CAR. HE ALSO SAID THE MOUNTING PIECE OF HARDWARE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MADE OF DIECAST NOT METAL OR ALUMINUM, WHEN WE INSPECTED IT WE NOTICED THE PART THAT WAS SNAPPED AND I MUST ADMIT IT LOOKED LIKE PLASTIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED IN 2008, BUT YET I HAD NEVER HIT THE TIRES HARD ON ANYTHING. MY QUESTION IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND COULD IT BE DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MADE ENGINES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DROP IN ACCIDENT RECENTLY, BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR AND NOT FOR THAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO MAZDA REQUESTING AN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN AS AN AUTOMATIC OR A MANUAL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN MANUAL MODE SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, TO NO AVAIL. SHE HAD TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE GEARS TO RELEASE AND AFTERWARDS THE GEARS STARTED TO SHIFT ON THEIR OWN. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE OR MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER AND ACCELERATED THROUGH A RED LIGHT TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING WITHIN IN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED, DAMAGED THE SENSOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SENSORS, AND THE GASKETS; HOWEVER, SHE HAD TO ADD OIL TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A REPORT; HOWEVER , THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE , TOWED TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHY BRAKES FAILED, IT WAS FOUND TO BE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID DUE TO A RUBBING OF THE BRAKE LINE ON ANOTHER PART OF THE CAR, IT WAS REPAIRED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE OTHER SIDE WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE TECHNICIAN, SAID IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND TOOK A PHOTO FOR US, AND WE CONTACTED MAZDA ABOUT THE PROBLEM WE HAVE HEARD BACK FROM THEM AS OF TODAY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH THE VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE AND HIT THE GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HER RESIDENCE. THE FRONT AND REAR FENDER WERE DAMAGED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 77,000. UPDATED 02/18/10

MAZDA 3 ENGINE MOUNTS CONTINUE TO FAIL, AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN 4 YEARS. *TR

PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO HOLD RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF CAR AND DAMAGE TO PRIVATE PROPERTY. *TR

THE CAR CONTINUES TO MOVE WHEN PLACED IN PARK EVEN ON A FLAT SURFACE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 MADZA3 WITH 73,560 MILES ON IT. THE A/T LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. SO I TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED. THE A/T LIGHT DIDN'T COME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH FOUND INTERNAL FAILURE DUE TO PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID AND NEEDS REBUILT TRANSMISSION. ( $3,700 DOLLARS !) THE TECH TOLD ME THAT 2003-2004 HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. HE ALSO SAID, THAT HE HAD 3 TO 4 PER WEEK, WITH CUSTOMERS COMING IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. SO MY WARRANTY RAN OUT. BUT THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM! THE MANUFACTURER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, (BACK THEN) BUT DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE A RECALL ON THE 2003 AND 2004 MADZA3 TRANSMISSION!! THEY KNEW IT WILL COST THEM ALOT MONEY!! THE MANUFACTURER FIGURES THAT HALF OF THE CUSTOMERS USUALLY ONLY KEEP THEIR CAR ONLY 2 TO 3 YEARS AND TRADE IT IN. THE OTHER HALF OF THE CUSTOMERS USUALLY HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY, SO THE MANUFACTURER WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE RECALL!! THAT'S BAD BUSINESS!! I ALSO LOOK IN THE INTERNET AND FOUND ALOT OF CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM!! IF THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT DEPT. THEN PLEASE FORWARD IT TO THE RIGHT DEPT. THANK YOU *TR

IT SEEMS WHEN THE CAR IS COLD BUT NOT ALWAYS THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RELEASE FROM THE BUCKLE I HAD IT REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY BUT NOW THE NEW ONE IS DOING THE SAME THING NOT A GOOD THING IF YOU HAD TO GET OUT QUICKLY. *TR

AIRBAG/SRS LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V468000. DIAGNOSIS AND ESTIMATE WAS FOR A DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER AND AN AIRBAG MODULE. THEY QUOTED $818.59 PARTS AND LABOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE GREAT FORCE TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS; THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000.

THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM, THE WIND SHIELD WHEN DRIVING INTO THE SUN HAS A GLITTERING EFFECT. NO MATTER HOW CLEAN IT ID. AS OF NOW WE HAVEN'T REPLACED IT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS IT'S HARD TO SEE. *TR

THERE WERE NO MAJOR EVENTS THAT LEAD UP TO THE FAILURE, JUST NORMAL COMMUTING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK. THE FAILURE WAS MY PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT, WHICH FAILED COMPLETELY, 1 OCCURRENCE WHICH HAPPENED JUST OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY WINDOW. NO IMMEDIATE SIDE EFFECT BUT LONG TERM RAMIFICATIONS DUE TO STRESSES PLACED ON OTHER MOTOR/TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS STILL UNKNOWN. MOTOR MOUNT PURCHASED AND REPLACED BY MYSELF. OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. SINCE 2007, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,036. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,200.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

2004 MAZDA 3 WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT THEN THE DRIVER SPUN OUT AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE BARRIER. *NJ (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0278-89)*JB LETTER UPDATED 03/17/10*BF UPDATED 04/13/10 *BF

EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT HOLD, CAUSED DAMAGE TO CAR AND PRIVATE PROPERTY. *TR

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA 3-MANUAL (5 SPEED). IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT AND EACH YEAR I GET IT INSPECTED. EVERY YEAR LARGE AMOUNTS OF BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATES ON THE REAR WHEELS FROM THE REAR BRAKES. AS A RESULT THE BRAKE PADS ON THE REAR ARE COMPLETELY WORN WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE UNTOUCHED. THIS, ACCORDING TO MY SERVICE PROFESSIONAL IS AN INDICATION OF A FAULTY BRAKING SYSTEM. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL CARS IN THE PAST AND HAVE ONLY REPLACED THE REAR BRAKES A FEW TIMES WHILE I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT SEVERAL TIMES. WHEN CONTACTING 3 DIFFERENT MAZDA DEALERSHIPS I WAS TOLD IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE BACK BREAKS AND THEY WILL DO NOTHING FOR THE FRONT SINCE THEY DO NOT SEE A PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS FAILED TO ENGAGE THE ABS 2 TIMES, LUCKILY THE OTHER DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AROUND ME AND MISS ME. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO MY BRAKES FAILING TO ENGAGE ON THE FRONT! THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY MAZDA IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2004 MAZDA3 SPORT GT WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN RUSTPROOFED BY KROWN SINCE IT'S FIRST YEAR, IS WASHED AT LEAST ONCE PER WEEK (MORE OFTEN IN WINTER MONTHS), AND IS OTHERWISE VERY WELL MAINTAINED. CURRENTLY I AM HAVING TO DEAL WITH A MAJOR RUST ISSUE WHICH, FROM READING MAZDA FORUM ENTRIES, IS PROVING TO BE EXTREMELY COMMON IN MY YEAR AND MAKE OF CAR. FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS THERE HAS BEEN COMPLETE RUSTING ON THE INSIDE OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS WHICH HAS BEEN MENTIONED TO MY DEALERSHIP, TO NO AVAIL. NOW I ALSO HAVE RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM OF BOTH REAR PASSENGER DOORS, AND AT THE SEAMS BY THE BUMPER. ASIDE FROM THAT ISSUE, THE PAINT ON ALL 4 DOORS AND ON THE LIFTGATE (IT IS A HATCHBACK) IS BLISTERING! I DID BRING MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS FLATLY TOLD THAT THERE IS ONLY A "PERFORATION" WARRANTY WHICH ONLY PERTAINS TO ACTUAL HOLES. MAZDA CANADA IS THEREFORE UNWILLING TO HELP DEFRAY ANY PART OF THE CONSIDERABLE REPAIR BILL. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN TO 3 SHOPS TO GET REPAIR ESTIMATES WHICH RANGE IN COST FROM $1000 TO FIX JUST THE OBVIOUS RUST SPOTS TO $1800 TO ALSO ADDRESS ALL THE BLISTERING. BASICALLY MOST OF THE CAR, WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF THE FRONT HOOD (WHICH I HAD COVERED IN CLEAR COATING WHEN I GOT IT) AND THE ROOF, NEEDS TO BE SANDBLASTED AND COMPLETELY REFINISHED TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THE ISSUE. ALL SHOPS I'VE SPOKEN TO FIND THIS RUSTING/BLISTERING ISSUE ON A 2004 WELL-MAINTAINED CAR TO BE VERY UNUSUAL AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO A MANUFACTURIN

I AM GETTING 13MPG ON A MAZDA3. COMPANY IS UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO REPAIR. BRAKES NEEDED SERVICE AT 12 AND 20,000 MILES. ONLY 20,000 MILES IN 4 YEARS. ALWAYS FEELING OF DRAGGING AND THEY CLAIM NO BRAKE OR OTHER PROBLEM. *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION/MANUAL JERKS WHEN GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND AFTER A PERIOD OF HARD DRIVING THE JERKING STOPS. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN A QUALITY VEHICLE LIKE THIS ONE, HOWEVER IT SHOULDN'T OCCUR AT ALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ME A SOLUTION TO THIS ANNOYING PROBLEM. FYI: I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND NEW FLUID ADDED HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS..HELP!!! *TR

MY 2004 MAZDA 3 OFTEN STALLS WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, I TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM AND THEY WON'T FIX IT. I THINK MAZDA CORPORATION HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT CAUSE IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE TO MANY MAZDA 3 OUT THERE AND IT ALWAYS SCARE ME WHENEVER MY CAR STALLS ON THE FREEWAY AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

ON 4/17/08 MY WIFE HAPPENED TO BE FOLLOWING ME AND SHE CALLED ME ON MY CELL PHONE AND SAID IT APPEARS YOU HAVE SOMETHING HANGING UNDER YOUR CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND IT WAS THE SPLASH SHIELD AGAIN. THREE OF THE FRONT BOLTS WERE MISSING BUT FOUR OTHER BOLTS, TWO ON EACH SIDE,WERE STILL ATTACHED, SO IT WAS JUST THE CENTER THAT WAS BOWING DOWNWARD. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT IMMEDIATELY AND THE CAR WAS SERVICED ON 4/18/08. ORIGINALLY THE DEALER WAS GOING TO CHARGE ME FOR THE SPLASH SHIELD. HE SAID IT APPEARS SOMETHING STRUCK THE PART. SO, AFTER MUCH DISCUSSION AND AFTER I RETRIEVED THE PART FROM THE MECHANICS WORK BENCH I WAS ABLE TO PROVE THE PART WAS DRAGGING WHICH CAUSED THE SPLASH SHIELD TO BREAK APART. THERE WERE ROAD ABRASION MARKS ON THE SPLASH SHIELD. THIS IS THE SECOND SHIELD TO BE REPLACED ON MY CAR. IS MAZDA HAVING ISSUES WITH THESE SHIELDS. THE DEALER KEEPS A SUPPLY OF THEM IN STOCK. *TR

2004 MAZDA 3, BROUGHT BRAND NEW FROM DEALER. HAD REAR BRAKE PROBLEMS, WAS FIXED DUE TO BAD EQUIPMENT/METAL USED FOR ROTORS OR THAT WAS WHAT I WAS TOLD. WARRANTY COVERED. NOW I AM AT JUST UNDER 50,000 MILES AND MY CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACED, CAUSE THEY SAID I BURNED IT UP. NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM OVER A YEAR AGO, THAT IT WHINED/SCREECHED WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, BUT ONLY WHEN IT WAS COLD. TOLD THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, JUST WARM THE VEHICLE UP FIRST. NOW A SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND THEY KEEP SAYING IT WAS MY FAULT. I'M THE ONLY ONE THAT DRIVES IT, GOING BACK AND FORTH TO WORK AND DROPPING MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. VERY FRUSTRATED, BECAUSE I WAS TOLD ITS GOING TO COST OVER $1,000 TO FIX...... *TR

REPEATED FAILURES OF WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM DURING USE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION WHILE DRIVING, NEAR-INCIDENTS. *TR

THE REAR BRAKES ON OUR 2004 MAZDA3 ARE WORN TO THE ROTORS FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 77,000 MILES. WHEN WE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THE REAR BRAKES WERE SQUEAKING, SO WE INFORMED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. WE ASSURED THAT THIS IS NORMAL, IT SHOULD GO AWAY IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. IT NEVER WENT AWAY. I NOW NEED A THIRD SET OF REAR BRAKES, AND THE FRONTS ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE. IN ALL MY YEARS OF WORKING AROUND VEHICLES, I'VE NEVER SEEN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE PASSENGER CAR THAT THE REAR BRAKES WORE FASTER THAN THE FRONT. IT'S NOW OBVIOUS TO ME AFTER DOING IN DEPTH INTERNET RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH BOTH THE MAZDA3 AND MAZDA6. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL YET? IS IT GOING TO TAKE SOME GETTING INJURED OR EVEN KILLED DUE TO BRAKE MALFUNCTION BEFORE THIS IS ADDRESSED? IF ONE REAR BRAKE WEARS FASTER THAN THE OTHER, AND A DRIVER HAS TO MAKE A PANIC STOP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, ONE BRAKE IS APPLIED AND THE OTHER......YOU GET THE POINT. *TR

I HAVE NOTIFY BY THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THE REAR BRAKE PAD IS NOT GOOD FIT WITH THE BRAKE SOCKET, IT HAVE A LOOSE SPACE, AND IT CREATED SOME NOISE I CAN'T CONCENTRATE ON DRIVING. *TR

CAR VIBRATES IN THE FRONT AT ALL SPEEDS. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP (D DAHLE MAZDA OF SALT LAKE CITY) THREE TIMES AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. FIRST THE AIR COMPRESSOR WAS REPLACED AND THEN THE ENGINE MOUNTS. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED ON MY LAST VISIT THAT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT. HOWEVER, WHEN I HAD THE WHEELS EXAMINED BY AN ALTERNATIVE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP, NO PROBLEM WITH THE WHEEL WAS NOTED. I ALSO ROTATED THE WHEEL IN QUESTION TO THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATION OCCURRED IN THE SAME SPOT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AT A LOW SPEED, CHANGING GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD, THE CAR STALLED. UPON TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. AFTER THE CAR WAS PUSHED OFF OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL LEFT BEHIND. REALIZING THAT THE CAR WASN'T GOING TO RESTART, IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER BEING PUT UP ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ROD SLAMMED INTO THE ENGINE BLOCKING, SEIZING THE ENGINE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO REASON FOR THE ROD TO CRACK ON A WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE, ON A 2004 VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO GET THIS CAR BACK ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND I TRULY FEEL THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING COMPROMISED WITH THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE OIL WAS CHANGED JUST 5K MILES BEFORE. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON... WE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS NEWS AND ARE HOPING MAZDA HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS ONE. *JB

SIDEWALL SEPARATION GOODYEAR EAGLE RSA TIRE ORIGINAL TIRE ON 2004 MAZDA 3 DRIVEN 21,400 MILES. PREVIOUSLY 2 UNEXPLAINED FLAT TIRES. TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO CHECK TIRES. NO CAUSE FOUND. FOR THE THIRD TIME, AIR WAS LEAKING FROM THE TIRE AND THE SIDEWALL SEPARATION WITH A LARGE DEEP CRACK WAS 3/4 AROUND THE TIRE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A GOODYEAR DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT ONLY THE EAGLE RSA WERE BEING REPLACED ON THE NISSAN'S AND NOT THE MAZDA 3. NO FURTHER EXPLANATION WAS AVAILABLE. I NOW HAVE TO REPLACE AT LEAST ONE TIRE AND PERHAPS ALL FOUR BECAUSE OF THIS SAFETY HAZARD. *TR

ALL 4 EAGLE RS A P205 GOODYEAR TIRES ON MY 2004 MAZDA 3 4 DOOR SEDAN ARE DEFECTIVE. ONE TIRE THE SIDEWALL TOTALLY CRACKED AND SEPARTED AND THE OTHER 3 TIRES ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK AND SEPARTE. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES ARE DEFECTIVE AND ARE A SAFETY HAZZARD. THE GOODYEAR DEALER HAS REFUSED TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. I KNOW THE TIRES ON THE NISSAN CARS ARE BEING REPLACED FOR THE SAME DEFECT. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE ONE TIRE AND THE DEALER DID NOT CHECK THE OTHER 3 TIRES WHICH WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO SHOWED ME THE SEPARATING SIDEWALLS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE LISTED AS THE ONLY OPTION FOR EAGLE RSA ON YOUR FORM IS P245. THESE TIRES IN QUESTION ARE P205 SO I AM NOT SURE HOW TO REPORT THIS DEFECT.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BELT ON THE PULLEY FOR THE POWER HAD FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

12,000 MILES REAR BRAKES COMPLETELY WORN. PASSENGER SIDE ROTOR DEEPLY GROOVED. HAVE MORE THAN 3/4 PAD LEFT. *NM

REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE WEAR. ABS SYSTEM SEEMS TO ACTIVATE PREMATURELY AT THE REAR WHEELS UNDER HEAVY BRAKING IN DRY CONDITIONS. REAR BRAKES WILL NEED COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AT 32K MILES WHILE THE FRONTS LOOK TO LAST 100K. DEALER SAYS WEAR IS NORMAL, INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOPS SAY NOT. THIS MAY BE EVIDENCE OF IMPROPER BRAKE BALANCE BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES EITHER DUE TO PREMATURE WEAR AND PARTS FAILURE OR UNDER CERTAIN BRAKING CONDITIONS. APPARENT PEMATURE ACTIVATION OF ABS SYSTEM DURING SUDDEN BRAKING STARTLED A YOUNG DRIVER OF THIS CAR WHO RELEASED PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE MISTAKING ABS PULSATION FOR A BRAKE FAILURE AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAR AS A RESULT. *NM

REAR BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, GROOVED AND WORN BEYOND REPAIR AT 49,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MY DRIVING "STYLE" BY THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP THAT PROBABLY CAUSED THE EXCESSIVE WEAR. HOWEVER, THE FRONT BRAKE PADS HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT IN THEM AND THE ROTORS ARE SMOOTH AS CAN BE (I EVEN CHECKED THE INSIDE). MY CAR HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY WIFE AND I COMMONLY "DOWNSHIFT" TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED. MY DRIVING STYLE HAS GIVEN ME LONGER BRAKING SYSTEM LIFE ON CARS I DRIVE AND HAVE DRIVEN. I HAVE ALWAYS NOTICED THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE DUST ON THE REAR WHEELS OF MY CAR AND ON OTHERS ON THE ROAD SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2004, AND THOUGHT IT ODD SINCE MOST BRAKING IS DONE BY THE FRONT WHEELS. I HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS CLEANING THE BRAKE DUST FROM MY REAR WHEELS, SO I KNOW. UNFORTUNATELY, IT NEVER CLICKED IN MY HEAD THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE BEING CARVED UP. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, BUT IS IT NOT COMMON IN THE INDUSTRY FOR THE PADS TO WEAR OUT MUCH BEFORE THE ROTORS? I THINK THERE IS CAUSE TO RESEARCH THIS FURTHER. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN THE TWO MAZDA DEALERSHIPS THAT HAVE DONE ALL MY OIL FILTER CHANGES AND HALF OF MY TIRE ROTATIONS, TO HAVE NEVER MENTIONED ANY BRAKE WEAR BEFORE. OTHER THAN THAT, SO FAR, THIS IS AN EXCEPTIONAL AUTOMOBILE. *NM

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP COUPLE TIMES PAST COUPLE YRS FOR EXCESSIVE BREAK DUST & SQUEAKING NOISE REAR OF THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME ITS NORMAL & THEY COULDN'T LOCATE OR HEARD ANY SQUEAKING NOISE. RECENTLY I WENT BACK TO GET AN OIL CHANGE & THEY NOTIFIED ME THAT I NEED MY BREAKS REPLACED. I DECIDED TO TAKE MY CAR TO TWO NATIONAL TIRE RETAILERS FOR PRICE QUOTES & BOTH RETAILERS TOLD ME ITS VERY RARE TO HAVE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR THAT HAS LITTLE WEAR DOWN ON FRONT BREAK WHEELS BUT YET THE BACK REAR BREAKS & ROTORS NEEDED REPLACED, JUST UNDER 40K MILES. AFTER BEING NOTIFIED OF THE SERVER DEEP LIPS OF THE ROTORS I WENT BACK TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP & IT SEEMS THEY KNOW ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT THEY ARE TRYING TO COVER IT UP & SAYING ITS NORMAL WEAR & TEAR. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL OTHER CARS EXPERTS. I BELIEVE THEIR IS FAULTY BREAKING ISSUE. *NM

REAR BRAKES WORN OUT. FRONT BRAKES HAVE MORE THAN 3/4 INCH LEFT ON THEM. ROTORS SHOW EXCESSIVE WEAR GROOVING AND PITTING. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC THE VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND PUSHING THE CONTACT INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. MOST OF THE DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE WHITE POWDER FROM THE AIR BAG WAS RELEASED, HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE AT THE TIME. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CRASH ZONE SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALERSHIP ON 11-12-04, DUE TO A RECALL LETTER RECEIVED; NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 04V468000; AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE. THE CONTACT IS AWAITING DETERMINATION FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY AS TO THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGES DONE; THEREFORE THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED ABOUT A SECOND RECALL REPAIR.

AIR CONDITIONING IN MY 2004 MAZDA 3 IS VERY WEAK IF AT ALL. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER LOOK AT IT TWICE AND THERE WAS ONE RECALL FOR A/C ON THE VEHICLE, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *NM