2006 Mazda Mazda3 complaints

FOLLOWING A REAR END COLLISION, MY 2006 MAZDA3 MILEAGE DROPPED FROM ~24MPG TO ~8MPG, WITH NO TORQUE AT ALL FROM ~20MPH. SIGNIFICANT STEERING TROUBLE, AWFUL TIRE NOISE, AND LOUD KNOCKING WHEN TURNING WERE DISMISSED BY THE LOCAL DEALER AS "WELL WITHIN SPECS". REQUESTED BRAKE CALIPER AND ALIGNMENT CHECK, REFUSED BY THE SAME DEALER; TECH PERFORMED A ROAD TEST, DECLARED THE PROBLEM DUE TO TIRE FEATHERING AND DEMONSTRATED 120MPH TIGHT CURVE AS REMEDY. THREE SETS OF TIRES, ONE SET OF WHEELS [3 OF OEM WERE WARPED], ENTIRE COMPLEMENT OF MOTOR MOUNTS, TWO SETS OF ROTORS LATER, I'M ABOUT TO REPLACE CALIPER MOUNTS AND AXLES. CAR IS UNSAFE, AND DEALERSHIP DISREGARD OF WARRANTY AND TSBS, AND OF BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS WAS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN (ONGOING) [SPINE INJURY FROM COLLISION WAS NEARLY FATAL] CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALER THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACED. I REPLACED THE MOTOR AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY, THE PROBLEM IS NOW OCCURRING AGAIN AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED. FROM READING ELSEWHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL MAZDA 3'S. I FIND IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH IT LIKE THIS AS IT IMPAIRS YOUR VISION GREATLY. *TR

STARTER ON MY 2006 MAZDA 3 WILL NOT CRANK OR START INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPEN FIVE OR SIX TIMES OVER THE 4 AND HALF YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD IT. STARTED ONLY AFTER BEING JUMP STARTED. TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HAVE SEEN TWO BULLETINS THAT WERE ISSUED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING AFTER OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN FIXED. LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN NEAR HOME WHEN IT HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING. IT HAPPEN AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MILES AND PARK FOR TEN MINUTES. *TR

THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS CAR HAS REFUSED TO START. THE "FIX" WAS DONE BY MAZDA OVER THE PAST SUMMER DUE TO A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STARTER. THIS TIME IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE GETTING STUCK IN FREEZING WEATHER, ICY CONDITIONS, OR A BAD PART OF TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND OUTLINES IT IN A SERVICE BULLETIN 01-037/08. SHOULD WOMEN OR CHILDREN, OR ANYONE ELSE BE STRANDED AND HARMED IN ANY WAY BY THIS KNOWN DEFECT, I HOPE MAZDA IS LIABLE FOR NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.

MOTOR WILL NOT CRANK AND ENGINE DOES NOT START, INTERMITTENTLY. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 3 THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE AT LIGHT COMING UP AND GOES IN A SECOND AND THE CAR ITS LIKE JERKING AND STOPS FOR A SECOND THE SPEED GOES DOWN SUDDENLY LIKE I JUST HIT THE BRAKES HARD . I TOOK THE CAR TO MAZDA DEALER BUT BECAUSE THE LIGHT DOAS NOT STAY THEY CAN NOT TELL WHAT'S GOING. I LOOKED AT IT ONLINE AND I SAY THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM THE MAZDA HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TCM . AFTER 3 MONTH OF DRIVING THE CARS AT THAT SAME CONDITION AND AFTER I ASK DOZENS OF MECHANICS THE LIGHT STAY ON FOR A WHILE I HOOKED IT TO THE COMPUTER AND IT SAYS LOST COMMUNICATION WITH THE TCM. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THAT MAZDA WILL FIX IT A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MONITOR OR THE COMPUTER. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 I TOURING, STARTED TO HAVE HEAVY STEERING PROBLEM WITHOUT THE STEERING LIGHT TURNING ON AT THE DASHBOARD. FAILURE OCCURS FROM STANDING STOP TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT WHILE IN INTERSECTION..HARD TO STEER. EASIER TO STEER WHILE IN MOTION. BEEN A PROBLEM FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW. DEALER CLAIMS NOT INCLUDED IN THE MODEL YEAR OF THE RECALL. THANKS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000.

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

FIRST THE AIR CONDITIONER FLICKERS ON AND OFF ON SETTINGS 1, 2 AND 3. SO IT IS CONSTANTLY SWITCHING OFF. SECOND THE CD PLAYER WILL NOT ACCEPT OR PLAY CDS, IT JUST SAYS CHECK DISC AND EJECTS THE DISC. THE CLOCK CHANGES TIME OCCASIONALLY TOO. *TR

STARTED VEHICLE (2006 MAZDA3) PARKED ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND LIGHTLY APPLIED GAS TO PULL AWAY FROM CURB. VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD RAPIDLY AND ENGINE REVVED QUICKLY AND LOUDLY. TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES, BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM TO RESPOND OR MAY NOT HAVE HAD ENOUGH TIME TO RESPOND. COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK PARKED ACROSS THE STREET 1 HOUSE DOWN FROM START LOCATION. THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO LIFT THE TRUCK F150 UP AND ONTO THE CURB IT WAS PARKED NEXT TO, ALONG WITH DAMAGING THE AXLE AREA OF THE F150. THE MAZDA3 LOST PART OF THE FRONTEND ON THE ROADWAY DUE TO GETTING WEDGED UNDER THE TRUCK. THE CAR HAD LUNGED FORWARD LIKE THIS ON ONE OCCASION IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK, BUT WAS ABLE TO BE RECOVERED WITHOUT INCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH, THE SHIFT SHOCKED AND BUCKED. WHEN THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKES, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED. THE VEHICLE SHIFTED BACK UP TO FIFTH GEAR AND FUNCTIONED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS NO MATTER THE SPEED. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA3. THE VEHICLE HAS FOUR GOODYEAR DUNLAP SP SPORT SIGNATURE TIRES, SIZE 205/50R/17 93V, DOT MK7PRNHR. THE CONTACT NOTICED A CRACK IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS ALSO CRACKED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION ALL OF THE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE WERE ALSO EXHIBITING UNUSUAL CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL. THE DEALER AGREED TO PRORATE THE COST OF THE TIRES AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAD FOUR DIFFERENT BRANDS OF TIRES ON IT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2006 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK ON WILLOW STREET, LONG BEACH, CA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AROUND 4 PM, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED AND SHE TURNED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT. SHE OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND OUT THE ENGINE WAS LEANT TOWARD FRONT ABOUT 45 DEGREE. SHE DID NOT GO THROUGH ANY BUMPS ON THE ROAD, JUST DRIVING ON NORMAL STREETS. WE CHECKED ON GOOGLE AND DISCOVERED THE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE BEEN THE MAJOR CAUSE OF SUCH KIND OF PROLBEMS. LOTS OF COMPLAINTS CAME FROM THE OWNERS WHO DROVE LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. THE CARS WITH THE BROKEN ENGINE MOUNTS COULD STOP AT THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON THE ROADS AND CAUSE REAR-ENDED ACCIDENTS. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE MOUNTS AND INFORM THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE PARTS TO ENSURE TJE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLES AND THE DRIVERS. *TR

2006 MAZDA3. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN THE RAIN. *BF THE CONSUMER DROVE OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD AND STRUCK A CEMENT WALL. ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE OFFICER CHECKED THE REAR TIRES AND FOUND THEM TO HAVE LOW TREAD. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. # 10-0656-90 UPDATED 04/14/10 *BF

2006 MAZDA 3 LURCHED FORWARD*CW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD, WHEN SHE BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE TO LET ANOTHER VEHICLE GET OUT, WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A LAMP POST. WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED FORWARD AND THEN ACCELERATED THROUGH THE PATH SHE HAD BACKED OUT OF AND CRASHED THROUGH THE WINDOW OF A CONVENIENCE STORE. *JB

I OWN A MAZDA3 2006. THE FOLLOWING ARE ISSUES THAT HAVE OCCURED SINCE I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE AND I WANTED EVERYBODY TO BE AWARE OF THEM: 1) THE DASHBOARD CLOCK WAS INCORRECT. IT WOULD LOSE TIME EVERY DAY AND STARTED GOING BACK IN TIME. WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. 2) THE TIRES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED OFTEN. NOT SURE WHY THEY WEAR OUT SO FAST, BUT I STOPPED USING THE GOODYEAR TIRES THAT CAME WITH THE CAR AND GO WITH LONGER LASTING TIRES. 3) THE TIRE PRESSURE MEASUREMENT DEVICE ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WAS INCORRECTLY TELLING ME I HAD A PROBLEM. TOOK NUMEROUS VISITS TO THE DEALERSIHP BUT WAS FIXED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. 4) THE RIGHT ENGINE BRACK UNDER THE HOOD WAS LOOSE. THEY HAPPENED TO FIND IT WHILE FIXING ANOTHER ISSUE. WAS NEVER CAUGHT IN THAT "FULL CIRCLE INSPECTION" THEY CLAIM THEY DO. AGAIN, FIXED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. 5) THE TEMPERATURE COOLANT HOSE WAS NOT PROPERLY WORKING. IT WAS NOT CLOSING. THIS CAUSED THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. FIXED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. 6) THE RUG UNDER THE GAS PEDAL WAS RIPPING EASILY AND WAS MOVING UNDER THE PEDAL. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED THE RIP. NEVER DID GET A NEW RUG THOUGH, ITS A LITTLE BENT BUT ISSUE HADNT OCCURED SINCE. *TR

1. MANUFACTURING DEFECT? 2. FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR INTERMITTENT (OPEN CIRCUIT ERROR). CAUSING AIRBAG LIGHT CLUSTER TO ILLUMINATE. WHEN ILLUMINATED AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. 3. REPLACED FRONT CRASH SENSOR. *TR

CAR WAS DRIVING AS NORMAL. NOTHING WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. WENT TO GO START UP THE CAR ONE MORNING TO GO TO WORK, AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START. IT WAS NOT LIKE A DEAD BATTERY. I TURNED THE KEY, NOTHING HAPPENED. NO STARTER MOTOR GOING, NO CLICKING NOISE...JUST GOT NOTHING. AFTER GETTING TOWED TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DIAGNOSE ANYTHING BECAUSE THE COMPUTER THEY ATTACH TO MY CAR WAS GETTING NO READINGS - THERE WAS THE PROBLEM. MY ECU HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ECU. THANKFULLY I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO THAT SAVED ME $1100+. BUT I'M AFRAID THIS MAY HAPPEN AGAIN ONCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES. *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC CAME TO A STANDSTILL. I WENT TO ACCELERATE AS THE CARS MOVED AND THEN I REALIZED MY ENGINE HAD SHUT OFF. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD COME ON AND MY CAR WAS DEAD. I PUT IT IN PARK, TURNED THE KEY AGAIN AND IT STARTED UP AGAIN. BUT I NOTICED AS I WAS CRAWLING ALONG, MY CAR HAD A ROUGH IDLE. THE WHOLE CAR WOULD SHAKE AND RPM SEEMED A LITTLE LOWER THAN USUAL AT IDLE. I FOUND OUT MY MOTOR MOUNT HAD GONE. DEALER REPLACED IT, HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO IT WAS COVERED. GAVE OUT PRETTY QUICK IF YOU ASK ME - AT AROUND 55,000 MILES. *TR

2006 MAZDA 2I. PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BRACKET FAILURE. *TR

I AM FILLING THIS FORM OUT IN RESPONSE TO NEGLIGENCE AND FALSE ADVERTISING ON THE PART OF CLAY COOLEY OF DALLAS TEXAS. WHEN ME AND MY FIANCE WENT TO TRADE IN OUR CAR THE FORD DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD) RAN A AUTO CHECK AND FOUND THAT IT HAS FRAME DAMAGE AND WOULD NOT TAKE IT FOR LESS THAN 2000$ BUT WE OWED 14000$ SO WE COULD NEVER GET A LOAN ON ANOTHER CAR WITH THAT CARS REPORT. WHEN WE TALKED TO CLAY COOLEY WE TALKED TO ALEX SERANGA HE SAID WE COULD BRING THE CAR IN AND INSINUATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE LOAN IF WE GOT ANOTHER CAR, BUT OF COURSE WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY WANTED TO US TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER CAR. ALSO THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT THE AUCTION PAPER WORK SAID FOR THE CAR THEY TRIED TO SELL US AND REFUSED TO SHOW IT TO US. WHEN WE SHOWED THEM THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THAT SAYS THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED ON OUR CAR AND THEY BOUGHT AND SOLD IT KNOWINGLY FROM AUCTION WITH UNIBODY DAMAGE THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF AUTO CHECK. BUT AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE AUTO CHECK WEBSITE I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES PROMOTED BY THE NADA SO THERE CAN BE LITTLE WAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF THEM. PLEASE HELP ME I AND MY FAMILY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. THE CAR IS A 2006 MAZDA 3 *TR

I AM GLAD TO BE ALIVE AND TELLING THIS HORRIFIC STORY. I WAS TRAVELING ALONE IN MY 2006 MAZDA3 ON I-95 TO LUMBERTON ON JUNE 27, 2009 TO MEET MY SISTER AND PICK UP MY MOM WHO HAD BEEN STAYING WITH HER WHILE I WAS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE WEEK. I HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL ON ABOUT 63 MPH AND HAD BEEN TRAVELING BEHIND A TRACTOR TRAILER TRUCK FOR APPROX. TWO MILES BEFORE I REACHED MY EXIT. I PULLED OVER INTO THE EXIT LANE AND HIT MY BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED! I HIT THEM AGAIN AND NOTHING. I HIT MY ON/OFF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND THE DECELERATION SWITCHES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND HIT MY HORN AND ENTERED A FIVE LANE INTERSECTION AT THE END OF AN UPHILL EXIT RAMP ON A RED LIGHT DOING IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH!!! I KNEW I WAS GOING TO DIE OR BE PHYSICALLY INJURED AND DIDN'T KNOW WHO I WOULD TAKE WITH ME AS I HAD NO WAY TO SLOW OR STOP THE CAR. LOOKING BACK, I KNOW I HAD NO MORE THAN 10 OR 12 SECONDS TO REACT BEFORE I WAS AT THE TOP OF THE EXIT RAMP GOING THAT FAST. I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AS I ENTERED THE INTERSECTION TO AVOID CARS THAT WERE ENTERING AND I THINK MY CAR SPUN AROUND AND I WAS HIT BY A PICKUP TRUCK IN THE INNER LANE WHO PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA WHERE I CAME FROM. I THEN WENT HEAD-ON INTO ANOTHER CAR TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. MY CAR WAS TOTALED, THE ONE I HIT HEAD-ON WAS TOTALED BUT THE PICKUP TRUCK WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT. ALL OF US WERE ABLE TO WALK AWAY - ME VERY SHAKILY. I HAD SEATBELT BRUISES AND AIR BAG BURNS AND ALL OF MY MU

BOUGHT MY 2006 MAZDA3 NEW. I AM GETTING READY TO REPLACE MY TIRES FOR THE FOURTH TIME! I WOULD EXPECT TO HAVE AT LEAST 120,000 MILES ON MY CAR AT THIS POINT BUT ONLY HAVE 90,000. I AM A CONSERVATIVE DRIVER IN A MILD CLIMATE. I ROTATE, BALANCE AND ALIGN REGULARLY BUT EACH SET HAS EXHIBITED THE SAME PROBLEM...REAR TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE. ADDITIONALLY, SINCE OWNING THIS CAR I HAVE HAD MY REAR BRAKES REPLACED TWICE...FRONT BRAKES STILL ORIGINAL. THE BALANCE OF PRESSURE BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR BRAKES OF WAY OFF. THE REAR BRAKES TAKE MOST OF THE PRESSURE. HAVE REPORTED THESE PROBLEMS TO THE MAZDA DEALER AND SIMPLE TOLD THE VEHICLE HAS NO PROBLEMS. THESE ISSUES HAVE BECOME A HUGE EXPENSE AND WOULD AT THE VERY LEAST LIKE TO HEAR MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND OFFER A SOLUTION. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG LIGHT. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS 80LB WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE AIR BAG INACTIVATION LIGHT ILLUMINATED SOMETIMES. THE CONSUMER STATED ACCORDING TO THE OWNERS MANUAL, THE PASSENGER MUST KEEP BOTH LEGS EXTENDED AND SIT UP STRAIGHT IN ORDER TO KEEP THE PASSENGER AIR BAG AND PRETENSIONER FROM BEING INACTIVATE. *JB

THE "FACTORY SPEC" NEGATIVE CAMBER SETTINGS ON THE MAZDA 3 CAUSED MY TIRES TO PREMATURELY WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD EVEN WITH REGULAR TIRE ROTATIONS. BY THE TIME I HAD 30,000 MILES ON THE FACTORY TOYO TIRES THE INSIDE TREAD WAS COMPLETELY BALD. *TR

UPPER PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE SHOCK MOUNT ON MAZDA 3 AT 37K MILES. SHOCK MOUNT TORE LEAKING OIL AND CAUSING VIBRATION. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 WAS LEAVING A DRIVEWAY AND GOT STUCK IN THE SNOW. THE CAR WAS ABLE TO GET UNSTUCK AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE STREET. THE CAR STOPPED IN BACK OF ANOTHER CAR THAT WAS STOPPED, AND BRIEFLY GOT STUCK AGAIN. THE CAR STARTED GOING AGAIN, AND SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED THERE WERE FLAMES, AND THE ENTIRE ENGINE DEPARTMENT ENDED UP GOING UP IN FLAMES. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAR ENDED UP (LATER IN JANUARY 2009) AT THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, AND ALL THEY CAN SAY IS THEY DON'T KNOW WHY THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR IS ALL STOCK. I'M CONCERNED THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE, AS IT IS A 2006 MODEL. THIS DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE TO ME. ALSO, I AM MOST CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY BE A SAFETY PROBLEM, AND I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD LOOK INTO THE INCIDENT A LITTLE MORE. OVERHEATING, POSSIBLY, BUT NOT AN OUT AND OUT FIRE THAT BURNED AND MELTED ALMOST THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE WE ARE AT NOW. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 ALIGNMENT ISSUE RUINING NEW TIRES. NOW MAZDA CLAIMS I NEED A $900 FRONT ALIGNMENT REPAIR, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY????? I'VE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF TIRES IN 50,000 MILES??? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. AT 5,000 MILES, THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE THE FACTORY FAILED TO PLACE OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT NEED AN OIL CHANGE UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 5,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE ENGINE UNDER THE WARRANTY. HOWEVER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE $7,500 REPAIR COST. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 43,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

LAST WEEK, AFTER CLIPPING AND GOING OVER A 2 INCH CURB WITH MY LEFT WHEEL TO AVOID ANOTHER CAR IN A PARKING LOT, MY 2006 MAZDA M3 ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. IN THE END, I SWIPED TWO CARS AND HIT A CEMENT WALL HEAD ON. THIS STOPPED THE CAR AND THANKFULLY I AM ALIVE. HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY MALFUNCTIONS OF THIS KIND AND HOW DO I GET IT ESCALATED TO MAZDA OR OTHERS TO ENSURE CORRECTIVE ACTION? UPDATED 02/02/09. *LJ

DESPITE A MAZDA RE-ALIGNMENT WHEN CAR WAS NEW, AND CONSTANT TIRE ROTATION, 3 TIRES HAVE UNEVEN TREAD WEAR ON INSIDE OF THE TIRE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 30,000 MILES. ANTI-LOCK BRAKE ENGAGES CONSTANTLY FOR NO REASON. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO INVESTIGATE AND/OR REPAIR. FIRST ANTI-LOCK BRAKE COMPLAINT WAS LODGED 7/25/06 AT 5,000 MILES. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 WARRANTY ISSUES. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE VEHICLE WARRANTY. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THE DEALERSHIP. LATER THAT DAY, THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CLUTCH HAD BLOWN AND THEY SUSPECTED DRIVER ABUSE BASED ON THE TREAD WEAR OF THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD A NEW CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, PILOT BEARING AND FLYWHEEL WERE NEEDED. *JB

2006 MAZDA 3 TIRES. ALREADY NEED NEW TIRES AT 30K MILES, THIS SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING WAY TOO QUICKLY. I WOULD EXPECT TIRES TO LAST 40K-50K MILES BEFORE NEEDING NEW TIRES. *TR

BOUGHT A MAZDA 3 2006. AT AROUND 17,000 MILES I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES. AFTER COMPLAINING SEVERAL TIMES TO THE DEALER, I WAS REFERRED TO THE TOYO DEALERS TO ADDRESS THE WARRANTY. I RAN INTO MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THEM IN HONORING THE WARRANTY AND ENDED UP BUYING 4 NEW FIRESTONE TIRES AT 21,000 MILES. AGAIN AT AROUND 20,000 MILES, I BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TIRES ALIGNED, ROTATED AND BALANCED EVERY 3,000-6,000 MILES AND NOTHING IMPROVED THE WEAR OF THE TIRES. NEITHER THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP NOR THE MAIN MAZDA OFFICES WERE WILLING TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM OR FIND A SOLUTION. I FINALLY TRADED THE CAR IN 2008 AND DON?T PLAN TO EVER BUY ANOTHER MAZDA IN MY LIFE. I HAVE READ BLOGS ON BOTH THE MAZDA 3 AND MAZDA 6 WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. UNLESS ONE IS RICH AND CAN AFFORD TIRES EVERY 17,000 MILES, IT IS NOT WORTH THE TROUBLE YOU INCUR. YOU WILL BE ZOOM ZOOMING EVERY 17,000 MILES TO A TIRE STORE. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SPACE AND HEIGHT BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE ACCELERATOR. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, HE INADVERTENTLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LUNGE FORWARD AND REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE ONLY TAPPED THE OTHER VEHICLES BUMPER. *JB

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM TRACY MAZDA IN JUNE OF 2006. IN APRIL OF 2008 I STARTED HEARING A SLIGHT TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THIS WAS SHORTLY AFTER THE LAST OIL CHANGE WHICH WAS DONE BY SPEEDEE OIL CHANGERS. THE MILEAGE WAS 25,675, 4/18/08, WHEN SPEEDEE CHANGED THE OIL AND IT WAS 26,402, 4/25/08,WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO TRACY MAZDA SO THEY COULD CHECK ON THE TICKING NOISE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT FINALLY GOT BACK TO ME SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE A ROD KNOCK FROM CYL #1. THEY ASKED FOR THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS WHICH I THEN PROVIDED, EXCEPT FOR ONE OIL CHANGE WHICH I HAD PERFORMED MYSELF ( MINUS THE FILTER WHICH REQUIRED A SPECIAL TOOL). ON 5/13/08 TRACY MAZDA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT CALLED AND INFORMED ME THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE VEHICLE UNDER THE WARRANTY. IT WAS GOING TO COST ME APPROXIMATELY $6,000.00 TO FIX A CAR THAT DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 30,000 MILES ON IT. I DECLINED TO HAVE THEM FIX IT RIGHT THEN AND WENT AND GOT THE CAR. I HAD THE FIRST TWO OIL CHANGES PERFORMED AT TRACY MAZDA'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE NEXT WAS PERFORMED BY SPEEDEE OIL CHANGERS. AFTER THAT I CHANGED THE OIL MYSELF. THE FIFTH OIL CHANGE WAS ON 4/18/08, WHEN I TOOK IT BACK TO SPEED. THE MILEAGE BETWEEN THE TWO SPEED CHANGES WAS 14,458. I PERFORMED ONE OIL CHANGE BETWEEN THE TWO DOCUMENTED WHICH WOULD MAKE IT APPROXIMATELY 7,200 MILES BETWEEN THE TWO. THIS IS A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT IS SUGGESTED BETWEEN OIL CHANGES BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT MAZDA DECLINING WARRANTY REPAIR. I PLAN ON TAKIN

TOYO BRAND TIRES P205/55 R16 SIZE INSTALLED ON NEW 2006 MAZDA 3 WERE INFERIOR LEADING UP TO PREMATURE WEAR OF RUBBER ON TIRE TO THE POINT OF SHOWING SAFETY BAR UNDER WORN TREAD AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. TIRES WERE PROPERLY ROTATED AT PRESCRIBED INTERVALS AND PROPER TIRE INFLATION WAS MONITORED REGULARLY SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. DEALERSHIP AND TOYO TIRE STATE 20,000 MILES IS NORMAL WEAR. WHEN I CALLED DEALERSHIPS SELLING EXACT BRAND OF TIRE THEY CLAIMED 40,000 MILES SHOULD BE EXPECTED. I ALSO NOTICE SOME BRANDS OF TOYO TIRES WERE RECALLED ON YOUR WEBSITE. WHEN I MENTIONED THAT TO TOYO SERVICE REP. @ 1-800-442-8696 HE STATED NONE OF THEIR TIRES HAVE EVER BEEN RECALLED AND YOUR WEBSITE CONTAINS BAD INFORMATION. *TR

ENGINE HAS FAILED AFTER 41,000 MILES. BAD LOWER ROD. MAZDA WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 FRONT TIRES RUB AND WEAR UNEVEN. THE CAR CUT A DEEP GOUGE ON THE INSIDE OF EACH FRONT TIRE. *TR

I PURCHASED A MAZDA 3 NEW IN APRIL OF 2006. BETWEEN 20,000 - 30,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AT 32,225 MILES, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE RUBBER WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIM, AND THE OUTER TREAD WAS STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL JUST EXPLODED. THESE TIRES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES IN FEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW INCIDENT AND NOT BE AS FORTUNATE (INJURIES OR DAMAGE WITH THIS BLOW OUT). *TR

MY 2006 MAZDA 3 IS EXPERIENCING GREATLY ACCELERATED REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR, BOTH REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BY 38K MILES. THIS IS AT LEAST 3X FASTER WEAR THAN NORMAL. FRONT BRAKES SHOW LITTLE WEAR AND LOOK TO LAST UP TO 100K MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE THE RESULT OF IMPROPER FRONT/REAR BRAKE BIAS OR DEFECTIVE PARTS/MATERIALS? COULD THIS SITUATION LEAD TO IMPROPER/UNSAFE BRAKING PERFORMANCE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS? *TR

2006 MAZDA 3 DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP SHORT-CIRCUITED RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MINOR COLLISION. FIRE QUICKLY STARTED TO SPREAD DAMAGING RADIATOR SUPPORT AND FUSE BOX. PARTS REPLACED IN BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP SAID THESE CARS TEND TO CATCH FIRE WHEN COLLIDING IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE IDLING, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CRASH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK, HEAD, AND SHOULDER BRUISING AND CONTUSIONS. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, HOWEVER, HER FACE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.

ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I WAS USING THE CURSIE CONTROL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF AND THE SPEED JUST KEPT CLIMING UNTIL I TURNED THE CURISE CONTROL OFF. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN MAY 2007. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON JUNE,2007. *AK

THE OEM TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE TERRIBLE IN SNOWY WEATHER. THE FIRST SNOWSTORM WE HAD I CALLED MY DEALER BECAUSE I WAS SLIDING ALL OVER LIKE A SNOWBOARD. I WAS TOLD I SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL-WEATHER TIRES, BUT SUGGESTED I PURCHASE SNOW TIRES, WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. IF I HAD KNOWN THE MAZDA 3 WAS SO TERRIBLE IN THE SNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. ON MARCH 14, 2007 WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A 2005 KIA OPTIMA TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE LEFT, SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SEVERE SPRAIN TO HIS RIGHT WRIST, ANKLE AND KNEE, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 22000. *AK

TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 6. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL POORLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT TO SEE THE PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY WER UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. *AK

I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA 3 IN MAY OF 2006. I LIVE NEAR CLEVELAND OHIO WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME BAD WINTER WEATHER. IN DECEMBER, WE HAD ONE OF THE FIRST SNOW STORMS. MY CAR HAD 6,200 MILES. THE ROADS WERE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO HAVE A LIGHT SNOW COVERING. THE TIRES THAT ARE SOLD OEM ON THIS CAR ARE RATED AS ALL SEASON, SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH, AND SLIDE SIDEWAYS FOR ABOUT 50' THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A 5' DEEP DITCH. MY CAR HAD ABOUT $1,400 IN DAMAGE, WHICH THE INSURANCE PAID FOR (STATE FARM). I AM A MATURE DRIVER LIVING IN THIS TYPE OF WEATHER FOR MANY YEARS. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE THAT HANDLED SO BADLY IN THE SNOW. THIS VEHICLE WITH THE TIRE COMBINATION AS SOLD IS UNSAFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS REVIEWS CLAIMING HOW POOR THE TIRES ARE IN WINTER WEATHER. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THE CASE NUMBER IS 110849660. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE SOLD THIS THESE OEM TIRES IN THE AREA THAT I LIVE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I CHANGE THE TIRES. I FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE THEM FOR ME BECAUSE I BOUGHT A CAR THAT HAS ALL SEASON TIRES THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. AS NOTED, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITH THE OEM TIRES. *NM

I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING OVER 30 MPH IN A PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS CAUGHT ON A TRIM PIECE AT THE TOP OF THE B-PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT REACH THEIR DESIGN INTENT LOCATIONS. I HAVE A PICTURE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW THROUGH ME. NO ADDITIONAL INJURIES OCCURRED DUE TO THE LACK OF PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB