2008 Mazda Mazda3 complaints

NORMAL FREEWAY DRIVING TO AN OFF RAMP, TO SLOW TRAFFIC TO POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE IN TRAFFIC. HIGH EFFORT NECESSARY TO EXIT CAR TO NEARBY RESTAURANT. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1.5 HOURS POWER STEERING WAS AGAIN FULLY OPERATIONAL. DROVE CAR TO DEALER, CODE 1099, REPLACED BP4L-32-410 PIPE, BBM4-32-68Z BODY, 4 EA GASKETS 9956-21-400 AND FLUID. *TR

I DRIVE A MAZDA 3 2008, 5 DOOR WITH POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OFF AS I WAS TURNING FROM A BUSY STREET LEFT INTO A PARKING LOT. I WAS ABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND PARKED. THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAID TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE WAIT AND RESTART. IF LIGHT STAYED ON CALL DEALER. AFTER 10 MINS THE INDICATOR LIGHT STAYED OFF. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER. I WENT ONLINE MAZDA USERS WEBSITES, JDPOWER, ABOUT AUTOMOBILE, ETC. AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PERSISTENT (BACK TO 2008) TO CURRENT( 5/27/10) PROBLEM. WHEN DOES SUCH A PROBLEM RISE TOT THE LEVEL OF A RECALL? THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION! *TR

WE BOUGHT OUR MAZDA 3 IN AUGUST OF 2008. WE LIVE IN CT AND MY SON GOES TO COLLEGE IN RI. HE HAS THE CAR WITH HIM. HE HAS COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES THAT HE HAS NO POWER STEERING. JUST RECENTLY THE POWER STEERING WAS LOST ON I-95 WHEN HE WAS EXITING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND IT SEEMS MAZDA IS AWARE OF IT BUT HAS NOT ORDERED A RECALL. *TR

LOSS OF POWER STEERING: (2 TIMES) -- ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I HAD LOST THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 MAZDA 3. THE FIRST TIME WAS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2009. AFTER THE CAR WAS IDLING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, I WENT TO DRIVE OFF AND THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED THE BELTS. EVERYTHING SEEMED FINE. I THEN STARTED THE CAR AND THE STEERING WAS WORKING LIKE NORMAL. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN APRIL OF 2010. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR A LITTLE WHILE. AFTER THE TRAFFIC CLEARED I WAS GETTING UP TO SPEED AND STEERING BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. I PULLED OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER. STEERING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE A FEW DAYS LATER AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MY STEERING INCIDENT. THEY LOOKED AT THE POWER STEERING COMPONENTS AND NOTICED AN 'ISSUE.' THE DEALER KEPT THE CAR A FEW DAYS FOR THE NEW POWER STEERING COMPONENT PART TO COME IN. THEY REPLACED THE PART AND GAVE ME A LOANER VEHICLE FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN EXTREME DIFFICULTY TO STEER OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC TO GET ONTO THE SHOULDER. MAZDA IS REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP, COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AS THE CAR HAS ONLY 26,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3 5 DOOR HATCHBACK. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM DEALER. THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE VALVE STEM TO THE TIRE BECAME CORRODED AND CRACKED AND FELL OFF. THIS RESULTED IN A RAPID DEFLATION OF THE TIRE WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AFTER INSPECTING THE OTHER 3 TIRES, I NOTICED THAT 2 OF THE REMAINING 3 NUTS WERE ALSO SEVERELY CORRODED AND CRACKED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS OCCURRED AFTER I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 20 MONTHS. WHEN TAKEN TO THE MAZDA DEALER, THEY REPLACED THE VALVE STEM WHERE THE NUT HAD FALLEN OFF, BUT NOT THE OTHER 2 STEMS THAT WERE CORRODED AND CRACKED. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3, I WAS SIMPLY PARKED AND RESTARTED MY CAR AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 4000 MILES ON IT. I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND MANY MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL WITH "NEW" CARS (LESS THAN 12000 MILES). I WAS TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED, AND THERE IS A "NATIONAL BACKORDER" IN THEIR WORDS. IF THERE IS SO MANY PLACES ORDERING POWER STEERING PUMPS, ID THINK A RECALL SHOULD BE ORDERED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR

I OWN A 2008 MAZDA 3. ON THIS PARTICULAR MODE OF MAZDA THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE LESS THAN 1/4 INCH FROM EACH OTHER. I HAVE BEEN IN NUMEROUS NEAR MISSES WITH SEVERAL CARS, THE MOST RECENT BEING TODAY BECAUSE ALOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU GO TO STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL YOU GET THE GAS AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THEY ARE SO CLOSE TOGETHER. *TR

2008 MAZDA3, ALIGNMENT WITHIN MANUFACTURER SPECS, BUT THERE IS UNEVEN WEAR ON THE REAR DRIVERSIDE TIRE. AS GENERALLY A TIRE AS 4 PARTS OF TREAD, THE 3 OUTER TREADS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME SIDE AND THE 1 INNER TREAD IS EXCESSIVELY WORN. THERE IS NO ANGLED WEAR ON THE TIRE TOWARD THE EXCESSIVE WEAR, 3 HIGH TREADS AND 1 LOW TREAD. MAZDA APPARENTLY HAS A REAR CAMBER DEFECT ON 2008 MODELS WHICH THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE CONTACT HAD TO USE EXTREME FORCE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE CENTER WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS IN THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER HER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 48,000.

WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC GOING ABOUT 5 TO 10 MILES PER HOUR AT EACH BRAKING INTERVAL. WAS READY TO MOVE AGAIN AND HEARD A FUNNY PLASTIC CLICK NOISE FROM THE FRONT. THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE LATCH TO STEERING WHEEL OR HAD RUN OVER SOMETHING ON THE ROAD. WENT TO TURN THE WELL TO MAKE SURE NOTHING WAS THERE AND STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO STIFFEN EXTREMELY. AFTER A FEW SECONDS A WARNING LIGHT CAME UP IN THE DASHBOARD THAT WAS OF A STEERING WHEEL AND A EXCLAMATION MARK. WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND ROUGHLY TURN THE WHEEL TO PULL TO THE LEFT MEDIAN OUT OF TRAFFIC. WENT TO GLOVE BOX AND PULLED OUT VEHICLE MANUAL AND LOOKED UP THE WARNING INDICATOR THAT LIT. IT TELLS YOU TO PULL OVER AND PARK SAFELY AND TO TURN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF TO SEE IF THE WARNING WILL GO OUT OR STAY ON. I TURNED MY VEHICLE OFF AND GAVE IT A FEW SECONDS AND TURNED IT BACK ON. IT WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING WAS RESTORED. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THEY HAVE RECENTLY HEARD OF THIS ISSUE AND TO BRING IT IN SOMETIME THIS WEEK IF POSSIBLE. I TOLD THEM I WOULD BRING IT IN THAT MORNING. I TOOK IT TO THEM AND WHEN WAITING TO SIGN PAPERS AND TURN OVER MY KEYS WAS TOLD ANOTHER CUSTOMER IN FRONT OF ME WAS HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THE REPAIRS ARE AT NO COST TO ME AND THEY OFFERED TO GIVE ME A RENTAL CAR DURING REPAIRS. ONE DAY TO HAVE REPAIR KIT DONE. *TR

WE OWN A 2008 MAZDA 3S, PURCHASED IN SUMMER, 2008. IT CURRENTLY HAS 43,000 MILES. RECENTLY, I WAS DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO DRIVE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH NO POWER STEERING. THE NEXT MORNING, THE CAR WAS FINE, BUT THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE PS FAILED AGAIN. I CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, EVEN WITHOUT INSPECTING MY CAR. WE WERE TOLD THE POWER STEERING PUMP, ELECTRIC CHARGER, AND ALL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $950. WE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT MAZDA ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THIS. AS WE LOOKED FURTHER, WE DISCOVERED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THIS CAR, WITH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AS EARLY AS MAY, 2009. SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE WITHOUT THEIR CARS FOR MONTHS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE BACK-ORDERED. SOME PEOPLE STATED THAT THEIR DEALER TOLD THEM THERE WAS A BACKUP OF 600 ORDERS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS ACCIDENTS COULD OCCUR EASILY WITH SUDDEN FAILURE OF POWER STEERING. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT, AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. BECAUSE OF MAZDA'S LACK OF OWNERSHIP OF THIS ISSUE, I HAVE TO PAY TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. I AM CONFIDENT THAT, IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE, YOU WILL FIND NUMEROUS REPAIRS AND PEOPLE WHO WERE PLACED IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS BECAUSE THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR

THE TIRES ON MY MAZDA 3 5 DOOR, WERE WORN OUT BY 17,000 MILES. I BELLEVE THAT TO BE EXCESSIVE! IF THIS KIND OF TIRE WARE, WAS DISCLOSED WHEN I LEASED THE CAR, I WOULD NOT HAVE! *TR

1) STOPPED FOR FUEL. TURNED CAR OFF. EVERYTHING HAD BEEN OPERATING FINE UP TO THIS POINT. 2) TURNED CAR ON AFTER REFUELING. POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY AND POWER STEERING WAS INOPERATIVE. TRIED TURNING CAR OFF AND BACK ON TWO OR THREE TIMES TO NO AVAIL. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR OF DRIVING WITHOUT POWER STEERING, STOPPED AGAIN FOR LUNCH. TURNED CAR OFF. 3) AFTER LUNCH, TURNED CAR ON. POWER STEERING SEEMED TO BE ONCE AGAIN OPERATING PROPERLY. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 8/2008. *TR

POWER STEERING CUTTING OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. VERY HARD TO STEER. MY YOUNG GRAND DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A CRASH. POWER STEERING CUT OUT THREE TIMES BEFORE I GOT IT TO THE DEALER. (REPLACED POWER STEERING MOTOR -SEE 10315633 FROM THE SAME COMPLAINANT). *TR

POWER STEERING WAS CUTTING OUT AT RANDOM TIMES. DEALER HAS REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP MOTOR. *TR

I WAS DRIVING A 2008 MAZDA 3 WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. IT HAD ABOUT 25000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE WHEN THE POWER STEERING SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I CROSSED THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE NEARLY CAUSING A CRASH SINCE I WASN'T PREPARED FOR SUCH A HARD TURN. I CONTACTED MAZDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATED THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK FOR IT. I WAS GIVEN ANOTHER MAZDA 3 FOR A REPLACEMENT WHILE MINE WAS BEING FIXED. AFTER ROUGHLY TWO WEEKS OF DRIVING IT THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I WAS ONCE AGAIN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT. THEY ONCE AGAIN SENT A TOW TRUCK AND GAVE ME A DIFFERENT CAR FOR A REPLACEMENT. WHILE TALKING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHERE I BOUGHT MY CAR THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WAS DEFECTIVE POWER STEERING LINES. THESE LINES CORRODE FROM THE INSIDE AND THEN GET INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP CAUSING IT TO FAIL. IT TOOK THEM SIX WEEKS TO GET MY CAR BACK TO ME. THEY SAID IT TOOK SO LONG TO GET IT REPAIRED BECAUSE THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THAT MANY REPLACEMENT PARTS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 75 MPH, TRIED TO AVOID A VEHICLE THAT WAS UNSAFELY CHANGING LANES. PUSHED BRAKES AND VEERED TOWARDS LEFT. THE BRAKES (WHICH ARE NOT ABS) RESPONDED SLOWLY AND I SLAMMED IN THE MIDDLE DIVIDER. A COUPLE MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT THE DEALER HAD THE ROTORS RESURFACED SINCE THE CAR WAS SHAKING VIGOROUSLY WHILE BRAKING AT HIGH SPEEDS. ALSO THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THE MECHANIC WAS AMAZED THAT BASED ON THE VISUAL FRONTAL DAMAGE TO THE CAR THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

TURNING LEFT ON A T JUNCTION WHEN SOME ONE RAN A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO MY DRIVERSIDE FRONT AND REAR DOORS. THE HIT WAS HARD ENOUGH TO PIN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH THE SMASHED IN DOOR, BUT THE SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN AS THE VEHICLE WAS TITLED AS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

IN EARLY AUGUST 2009 AT APPROX. 21K MILES WHEN I PERFORMED MY 7500 MILE TIRE ROTATION I NOTICED THAT ALL THE 4 OE GOOD YEAR RSA TIRES WERE VERY WORN ON THE INSIDE, NOT THE THREAD AREA BUT THE AREA WHERE THE SIDEWALL STARTS. I HAD NOTICED THIS BEFORE BUT HAD NOT THOUGHT MUCH OF IT AS IT WASN'T TOO BAD. I DROVE ON A 500 MILE TRIP SHORTLY AFTER THIS AND BECAME MORE CONCERNED . I HAD THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED AT THE DESTINATION AND IT WAS WITHIN MFG. SPEC. THE ALIGNMENT PEOPLE SAID THE CAUSE WAS PROBABLY DUE TO THE NEGATIVE CAMBER ON THE REAR WHEELS WHICH AT -2.3 AND -1.7 WAS PROBABLY THE REASON FOR THE WEAR AND THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE TIRES. MAZDA DOES NOT PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTING THE REAR CAMBER. NOT HAVING THE RESOURCES AT THE TIME, THINKING MAYBE IT WAS A OVERZEALOUS SALES EFFORT, AND TO ME THE TIRES STILL LOOKED USABLE I DIDN'T REPLACE THEM. NOW AT 27K MILES I HAVE THE RESOURCES TO REPLACE THEM AND THE AREA ON THE INSIDE CORNER IN MUCH MORE WORN. MAZDA GIVES NO EXPLANATION, ONE SAID SHOULD ROTATE @ 5K MILES, ANOTHER SAYS THEY PUT CRAPPY TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. ON THE INTERNET, PEOPLE WHO REPLACE THE TIRES SAY THEY CONTINUE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS CAUSED BY THE EXCESSIVE NEGATIVE CAMBER THAT CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE IN THAT, WITH A SOUR ECONOMY MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD REPLACEMENT TIRES, MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OR PAY TO ROTATE TIRES AND MANY PEOPLE MAY NOT CHECK THEM AT ALL. AT THE MINIMUM MAZDA SHOULD PROVIDE FOR ADJUSTMENT OF THE R

FAILURE OF CLUTCH ASSEMBLY AT 27,000 MILES REQUIRING COMPLETE REPLACEMENT. *TR

PARKING BRAKE FAILED WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN SLIGHT DECLINE AND SLAMMED INTO A TRUCK. *TR

REAR CAMBER IS OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CAUSING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR. *TR

ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT EAGLE-RSA 205/50VR17 TIRES ON MY MAZDA 3- 5DOOR ARE SHOWING EXAGGERATED WEAR ON ALL FOUR TIRES. EVEN IF I DO THE TREADWEAR CALCULATION, I SHOULD HAVE REACHED 18,720 MILES BEFORE NEEDING REPLACEMENT. AT 17,MILES, THE TIRES ARE DOWN TO THE WEAR INDICATORS. EVEN BEFORE THAT, I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE EXTREMELY POOR WET AND SNOW TRACTION OF THE "ALL SEASON" TIRES. UNLESS IT IS DRY AND ABOVE 60 DEGREES, THESE TIRES HAVE LITTLE TO NO TRACTION. ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT OF MY STREET ON TWO RAINY DAYS HAS RESULTED IN UNNECESSARY WHEELSPIN AND NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL. THIS WAS BEFORE 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR 18 YEARS AND HAVE ONLY EXPERIENCED WHEELSPIN IN THE RAIN WITH MY 1970 MERCURY WITH 300HP. AT A MINIMUM, GOODYEAR SHOULD BE HIT WITH A FALSE ADVERTISING SUIT FOR ADVERTISING THE EAGLE-RSA AS AN "ALL SEASON" TIRE. I AGREE WITH ANOTHER COMPLAINANT THAT GOODYEAR MIGHT BE INTENTIONALLY NOT GIVING WARRANTY'S FOR THE TIRES AGAINST WEAR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE PRODUCT WILL NOT LAST THAT LONG. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST SET OF GOODYEARS THAT HAVE NOT MADE IT TO THEIR LIFE EXPECTANCY. I HAD ASKED THE DEALER TO SWITCH TIRES WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, BUT ALL OF THE MAZDA3- 5DOORS ON THE LOT HAD THE SAME AWFUL TIRES. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SET OF GOODYEARS OR A VEHICLE THAT HAS THEM AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES. *TR

I OWN A MAZDA 3, PURCHASED 7/08, CAR HAS 20K MILES, THE GOODYEAR TIRES RSA 205-50R-17 NEED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A DEFECT IN A PART TO CORRECT A REAR CAMBER ISSUE, THE DEFECT CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND HAVE VERY LOW TREAD LIFE. THE DEALERSHIP AND ZONE OFFICE WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART BUT I AM HAVING DIFFICULTLY HAVING THEM PAY FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN EFFECTED BY THE DEFECTIVE PART THEREFORE THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER THE FULL COST OF REPLACEMENT TIRES. I AM WAITING FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER, THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THE REAR CAMBER PART ISSUE SINCE GOOD TIRES LEADS TO SAFETY. *TR

AFTER DRIVING ON SNOW COVERED ROAD, ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND ABS IS NON-OPERATIONAL. THE ABS WOULD RESUME FUNCTION AFTER AT LEAST 30-45 MIN OF DRIVING. DEALER STATED THAT SNOW BECAME TRAPPED IN ABS SENSOR BUT PROBLEM CANNOT BE RESOLVED. ABS FAILURE OCCURRED 3-4 TIMES OVER THE PAST WINTER WHEN ABS WAS ESSENTIAL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA3 SEDAN. HE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE WEARING FASTER THAN NORMAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE NEGATIVE CAMBER CAUSED THE TIRES TO WEAR AND THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DEFECT; HOWEVER, THEY CANNOT CORRECT THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 27,514. UPDATED 09/23/09. *LJ UPDATED 09/23/09

MAZDA 3 2008 PARKING BRAKE FAILED AND THE CAR ROLLED DOWN A SLOPE AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2008 MAZDA 3S IN OCTOBER 07 WITH TOYO TIRES. AT 12,000 MILES MY TIRES WERE DOWN TO SAFETY BAR...HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. THE TOYO TIRE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE REAR CAMBER ON THE CAR WAS THE PROBLEM. MAZDA SAYS CAMBER CANNOT BE ADJUSTED. TOYO TIRE PEOPLE SAY THE PROBLEM IS THE AGGRESSIVE REAR CAMBER AND THAT IS THE WAY MAZDA BUILT IT. I ONLY GOT 17,000 MILES ON NEW SET OF TIRES. AFTER MANY ATTEMPTS TRYING TO GET MAZDA TO FIX THE PROBLEM, AND THEM ALWAYS SAYING THE CAMBER WAS WITHIN SPECS. THE DEALER FINALLY ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. BUT THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS THEIR DESIGN FLAW, THEY SHOULD PUT A DISCLAIMER WITH THE CAR AT TIME OF PURCHASE THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE TIRES EVERY 15,000 MILES. AFTER REVIEWING ON LINE, I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL BLOGS OF MAZDA OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO PROVIDE THE PART TO FIX THE CAR. WHO EXPECTS TO HAVE TO PURCHASE TIRES EVERY 15,000 MILES WHEN THEY ARE RATED FOR 40-60,000 MILES. AT THIS TIME, MY CAR WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE OF THE TIRES AND I WILL HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW ONES. THIS IS WRONG....AND MAZDA NEEDS TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS POOR ENGINEERING/DESIGN AND INFORM NEW BUYERS OF THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR. MAZDA ACTS LIKE THIS IS NORMAL TIRE WEAR BECAUSE THE MAZDA 3S HAS "SPIRITED HANDLING". *TR

NO ACCIDENT - - THE CAMBER SETTING ON THE REAR WHEELS OF THE MAZDA 3 CAUSES EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE. MAZDA DEALERS ACT LIKE THEY ARE UNAWARE AND BLAME POOR TIRE ROTATION. IT IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT AS THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE LOOKS FINE, BUT THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WHERE THE CONTACT IS ACTUALLY BEING MADE IS SLICK AND MAY ACTUALLY LEAD TO A BLOW-OUT, THUS AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2008 MAZDA 3 FAILED THE DAY BEFORE MY BROTHER WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE IT FOR HIS ROAD TEST. MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT MY DEALERSHIP FOR 4 WEEKS NOW, AND THE NEW ESTIMATE TIME FOR THE PARTS REPLACEMENT IS MID-JULY. ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY HAVE OVER 40 CARS IN THEIR PARKING LOT ALONE WAITING FOR THE SAME PART. AND MAZDA USA HAS YET TO RECALL IT. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH ME LOANER CAR, FREE OF CHARGE, BUT I AM ONLY 20 YEARS OLD SO MY MOTHER HAD TO USE IT AND I HAVE TO USE HER VEHICLE. IT HAS CREATED A BIT OF STRESS SEEING AS SHE DRIVES A FORD EXPEDITION AND THE GAS IS TWICE AS MUCH AS MINE. AND I HAVE JUST RECEIVED MY SECOND MONTHLY BILL IN WHICH I DO NOT EVEN HAVE MY CAR. *TR

AFTER IDLING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES IN A PARKING LOT, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON AND THE WHEEL LOCKED. AFTER COOLING DOWN , WAS ABLE TO STEER AND DRIVE TO DEALER. THREE WEEKS LATER, THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ESTIMATED TIME OF SHIPPING. *TR

POWER STEERING FAILURE, WHEN IDLING OR DRIVING FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND LOCKS UP DURING OPERATION. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DOING 65MPH WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A THREE CAR PILE UP BECAUSE THE DRIVER IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED SHORT LUCKILY THE SHOULDER WAS EMPTY AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE LEFT WITH ALL MY STRENGTH. *TR

AFTER MY FIRST GAS FUEL FILL-UP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE FUEL CAP BUT WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE FUEL CAP. AFTER TRYING FOR 15 MINUTES, IT FINALLY CAME OFF. AFTER PUTTING THE CAP BACK ON AND DRIVING A WHILE, THE LIGHT WENT OFF. THE CAR ONLY HAD 500 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE CAP AND SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. WE WERE ABLE TO PLACE AND REMOVE THE CAP WITH NO PROBLEM. ON MY NEXT 2 FILL-UPS THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I BOUGHT A STAND REPLACEMENT CAP AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS AFTER 6,200 MILES. I BELIEVE THE OEM CAP HAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE REPLACEMENT'S LATCHING TABS HAVE A DIFFERENT SHAPE AND IT WORKS. *TR

2008 MAZDA 3 HAS ELECTRONIC VARIABLE ORFICE IN THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THE FUSE THAT CONTROLS THIS VALVE BLEW FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MAY 11TH, 2009. IT HAS BLOWN 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES, INCLUDING TODAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. UNLIKE OTHER MANUFACTURERS, WHEN THIS FUSE BLOWS, THE VALVE CLOSES, CUTTING OFF ALL FLOW TO THE RACK, DISABLING THE POWER ASSIST. WHEN THE FUSE BLEW TODAY, I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION, TURNING LEFT. I HAD TO STRUGGLE TO TURN SHARP ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING A CAR WAITING TO GO STRAIGHT. THE VALVE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO STAY OPEN WHEN POWER IS REMOVED, WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE ASSIST TO BE AT IS GREATEST AMOUNT, NOT LOSING ALL ASSIST BY CLOSING. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND HAS REMAINED THERE FOR TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.

I HAVE A FAULTY PAINT JOB. THERE IS MULTIPLE SPOTS THAT ARE FLAKING INCLUDING ON THE TRUNK. THERE ISN'T A SINGLE DENT IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID THEY SENT IT OFF TO MAZDA BUT NO ONE ELSE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SO TOUGH LUCK. *TR

MY SON PURCHASED A NEW 2008 MAZDA 3 IN LATE JULY 2008. LAST SATURDAY HE SLID ON ICE AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR HAS ROUGHLY 7000 MILES ON IT. THE INITIAL ESTIMATE FOR REPAIRS IS $9100. I CONTACTED MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500 (DANIEL) TO TRY AND DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND WAS TOLD THAT MAZDA DOESN'T SEND AN INVESTIGATOR OUT AND I SHOULD CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO DETERMINE WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY (FARMERS) TELLS ME THAT THEY DON'T INVESTIGATE UNLESS THERE IS REASON TO GO AFTER THE MANUFACTURER TO HELP WITH MEDICAL EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. I NEED TO KNOW WHY THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T WORK SO THE PROBLEM IS CORRECTED RATHER THAN JUST ASSUME THAT THEY WILL NEXT TIME. MY SON SUFFERED WHIPLASH TO HIS NECK AND BACK AND A STRAIN TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER FROM THE SEAT BELT. I BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BECAUSE THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY TO CUSHION THE IMPACT TO THE TREE. ISN'T THAT WHAT THEY'RE THERE FOR? MAZDA DOESN'T SEEM INTERESTED TO KNOW WHETHER THERE IS A DEFECT OR NOT. *TR

I OWN A 2008 MAZDA3 THAT MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE CAR STARTED LURCHING & BUCKING AS SHE APPLIED PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT FINALLY QUIT RUNNING & SHE HAD TO LEAVE IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WHEN I ARRIVED I FOUND THAT THE CAR DID THE SAME TO ME. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK & HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED, THINKING IT WOULD BE A WARRANTY ISSUE. WHEN I WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE CAR HAD BEEN OVER FILLED WITH GAS, WHICH ALLOWED GAS TO FLOW INTO THE PURGE SOLENOID & THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THIS WAS POSSIBLE! THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THESE BEING FULL OF GAS WAS THE REASON THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN PROPERLY. I QUESTIONED THEM THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW BY MAZDA & SHOULD BE ADDRESSED! THEY TOLD ME THAT MAZDA WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS MY FAULT THAT THE TANK WAS OVER FILLED WITH GAS. TO ME IF YOU HAVE GAS FLOWING INTO COMPONENTS OF THE CAR WITCH AREN'T INTENDED IN HOLDING GAS, THERE IS A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE CAR NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE CAR IS EVER IN A COLLISION! I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY DAUGHTER & DO NOT WANT HER TRAPPED INSIDE OF A BURNING CAR IF THESE COMPONENTS KEEP FILLING UP WITH GAS & SHE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE & THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO FOR ME BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OVERFILLED WITH GAS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WILL KEEP HAPPENING AS LONG AS I OVER FILL THE TANK & TO NOT MAKE A

FUEL CAP ON CAR GOT STUCK AND TOOK TEN MINUTES TO REMOVE. THE SAME THING HAPPENED NEXT TIME CAR NEEDED REFUELING. AGAIN, HAD TO TRY FOR AROUND 10 MINUTES BEFORE CAP COULD BE REMOVED AND WE'RE NOT EVEN SURE WHAT WE DID TO MAKE IT COME OFF. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.....THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN THE CAP BREAKS OR WE JUST CAN'T GET IT OFF AND WILL END UP STRANDED WITH NO GAS. OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FAULT. *TR

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING A 2008 MAZDA3 I 2.0L SEDAN, I BEGAN TO FEEL A SHAKE THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND CHASSIS WHILE IDLING/DRIVING. DEALER VERIFIED SHAKE AND PER TSB DUE TO AN ONGOING PROBLEM, REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS. CAR FELT BETTER BUT NOT COMPLETELY FREE OF ENGINE SHAKE AND NOW APPEARS TO BE GETTING WORSE. WHEN THE ENGINE IS STARTED COLD IT SHAKES THE ENTIRE CAR AND WHEN WARM A SUTTLE BUT NOTICEABLE SHAKE IS STILL FELT THOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND CHASSIS. AFTER READING NUMEROUS POSTS ON MAZDA3 ENTHUSIAST WEBSITES, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON AND ONGOING PROBLEM SPANNING SEVERAL YEARS. *TR

FGHFGH. *TR

TIRE WAS ON RENTAL CAR PICKED UP FROM HERTZ AT CINCINNATI AIRPORT. NOTICED RIDE WAS ROUGH AND NOISY. ON ARRIVING AT DESTINATION (LEXINGTON, KY, ABOUT 70 MILES BY HIGHWAY), EXAMINED TIRES. SAW BULGE ON SIDEWALL ON PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT TIRE. RETURNED CAR TO HERTZ AT LEXINGTON BLUEGRASS AIRPORT TO BE EXCHANGED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE VEHICLE HAS GOODYEAR ALL WEATHER TIRES, SIZE P205/15R17 (NA). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TIRES AND ACCUSED THE CONTACT OF STRIKING SOMETHING WITH THE VEHICLE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 3,526.

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FOUR CAR COLLISION. I WAS THIRD IN LINE, AND WAS HIT REALLY HARD FROM BEHIND AND THEN HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK. I SLAMMED INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND BUSTED MY FOREHEAD OPEN. *TR

MY DAUGHTER NOTICED AT WHEN STOPPING THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHACK. UPON HAVING THE DEALER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO HI-SPEED STOPPING, AND THAT IT COULD BE CORRECTED BY REPLACING THE ROTORS AND PADS WITH OEM PARTS. I THINK THAT AT JUST 17,000 MILES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A ISSUE. I COULD ONLY SPEAK TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AND NOT A DISTRICT REP, AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CHECK INTO THIS AND GET BACK TO ME. THIS NEVER HAPPENED. *TR

DURING PARALLEL PARKING PRACTICE WITH BRAND NEW (LESS THAN 500 MILES ON CAR) MAZDA3 SEDAN (2.3) FOR A DRIVER LICENSE EXAM, ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES, RENDERING STEERING COMPLETELY INOPERABLE (CANNOT EVEN STEER MANUALLY SINCE STEERING RESISTANCE IS EXTREME). NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM. UPON TURNING IGNITION OFF AND THEN IMMEDIATELY RESTARTING CAR, STEERING WOULD RECOVER BUT THEN FAIL AGAIN SEVERAL MINUTES LATER. CAR ALSO DEVELOPED HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLING SOUND, SOURCE UNCLEAR. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED CAR AND CLAIMS STEERING UNIT OK (ALTHOUGH CODE INDICATED POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION) AND IS SAFE TO DRIVE. DEALERSHIP HYPOTHESIZES THAT ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ASSIST UNIT OVERHEATED AND SUGGESTS NOT TURNING STEERING WHEEL TO EXTREMES FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS--HOWEVER, THE STEERING FAILED AT TIMES WHEN STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT TURNED TO EXTREME (WHEELS STRAIGHT), AND IF THIS IS AN "ACCEPTED" OR "EXPECTED" FINDING IN THESE CARS IT SEEMS THE SAFETY MARGIN FOR SUCH A SYSTEM FAILURE IS VERY LOW. DEALERSHIP CANNOT EXPLAIN HIGH-PITCHED WHISTLE NOISE OR FAILURE OF DASHBOARD LIGHT TO INDICATE STEERING SYSTEM FAILURE. *TR

PRODUCT INVOLVED = 2008 MAZDA 3 PRODUCT BRAND NAME/MANUFACTURER = BUTCH OUSTALET MAZDA MANUFACTURER STREET ADDRESS = AIRPORT RD PLACE WHERE MANUFACTURED (CITY AND STATE OR COUNTRY) = GULFPORT, MS - FROM JAPAN PRODUCT MODEL, SERIAL #, DATE OF MANUFACTURER OR DATE CODEWHEN PRODUCT PURCHASED = 11/30/2007 DO YOU STILL HAVE THE PRODUCT? = YES USE YOUR NAME WITH THIS REPORT? = RELEASE NAME TO THE MANUFACTURER AND PUBLIC INCIDENT OR HAZARD DESCRIPTION = I BOUGHT A 2008 MAZDA 3, 4 MONTHS AGO. THE CAR BEGAN MAKING ME SICK - BAD HEADACHES AND LOSS OF CONCENTRATION. MY WIFE FOR 2 MONTHS AND GAVE CAR BACK TO ME IN MARCH. I SENT FOR A FORMALDEHYDE TESTING KIT FROM A LAB AND TESTED THE CAR AFTER DRIVING AND GETTING REALLY SICK. THE RESULTS CAME BACK POSITIVE WITH A .075PPM (ALMOST EXACT FEMA TRAILER LITIGATION AVERAGE). THIS TESTING WAS DONE ON A 60 - 65 DEGREE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DAY. THE FORMALDEHYDE LEVELS SEEM TO GET WORSE THE WARMER IT GETS. I TOOK CAR TO DEALER, DEALER INSPECTED, WROTE IT UP AS AN AIR LEAK - COULD NOT DUPLICATE. I FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA. I SOUGHT HELP FROM THE BBB. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER TOOK THE CAR AND DID NOTHING. THE DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN GIVE ME ANY PAPERWORK PROVING I HAD THE CAR THERE. THE DEALER TOLD ME I NEED TO CONTACT MY AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY FOR REPAIR. I DID AND THEY STATED THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD PRODUCT. THE DEALER GAVE ME ERRONEOUS INFORMATION, WILL NOT EVEN DOCUMENT THAT A RETURNED THE CAR THE SECOND TIME

PAINT OF INFERIOR QUALITY. VEHICLE PAINT FINISH APPEARS NORMAL IN MEDIUM TO DIM LIGHTING. HOWEVER, UNDER BRIGHT LIGHTING, MICROSCRATCHES ARE APPARENT OVER THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. NEW CAR STOCK AT THE DEALER I PURCHASED FROM AS WELL AS ANOTHER DEALER IN THE STATE SHOWS THE SAME DEFECTS. *TR

ENGINE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATION WHEN TRYING TO COOL. *TR