2010 Mazda Mazda3 complaints

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE MAZDA 3 HEADED EAST ON I-94 IN BROOKFIELD, WI NEAR THE MOORLAND ROAD EXIT ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY 9, 2013 THE CAR WAS MOVING AT ABOUT 65MPH. THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY. THEN A FEW SECONDS AFTER THAT THE STEERING BECAME WOBBLY AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET CONTROL OF THE CAR, DECELERATE AND PULL TO THE SHOULDER. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OUTSIDE SIDEWALL WAS COMPLETELY SHREDDED. WITH THE HELP OF STATE TROOPER DAVID W. HANSON SHE GOT THE TIRE CHANGED. ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2013 I TOOK THE CAR TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. WE FOUND THE TIRE VALVE AND TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR INSIDE THE SHREDDED TIRE. THE VALVE STEM HAD BLOWN INTO THE TIRE. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THAT. I HAD THE MECHANIC, ROB OF ERV'S SERVICE IN HARTLAND, WI EXAMINE THE OTHER TIRES AND VALVE STEMS ON THE REMAINING WHEELS OF THE CAR. HE FOUND ANOTHER VALVE STEM WITH A CRACKED HOUSING THAT WAS READY TO FAIL. I HAD THE MECHANIC REMOVE IT AND SECURE THE VALVE STEM. I RETAINED THE FAULTY PARTS. I BELIEVE THE VALVE STEM ASSEMBLY FAILED CAUSING THE SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, THE SHREDDING OF THE TIRE SIDEWALL AND NEAR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE CAR. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. INJURIES AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED A BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLICKING SOUND WHEN DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AFTER CHECKING HIS VEHICLE THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE DRIVER'S SIDE NUT THAT HOLDS THE VALVE STEM HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,861.

SPONTANEOUS FAILURE OF TIRE VALVE STEM RESULTING IN THE NEAR INSTANTANEOUS DECOMPRESSION OF THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. AT THE TIME I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHECK THE TIRE PRESSURE OF THAT WHEEL. THE STEM SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATION OF WEAR. *TR

NEW CAR, MAZDA M3, PURCHASED IN APRIL 2010. YOKOHAMA TIRES WERE ON THE CAR. CAR CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES AND TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED. LAST NIGHT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE WENT FLAT. UPON REMOVING THE TIRE TO FIX THE FLAT, THE SIDEWALL HAD SPLIT FROM THE TREAD. THIS HAPPENED ON THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE MEANING THE SIDE OF THE TIRE AGAINST THE CAR SO IT WAS NOT VISIBLE FROM JUST LOOKING AT THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. THE SPLIT IS 15 INCHES IN LENGTH AND I CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE ABOUT TO SPLIT AS WELL. I FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12T025000 TALKING ABOUT RECALL OF A YOKOHAMA TIRE THAT SEEMS TO MATCH WHAT I HAVE HAD. I HAVE CONTACTED MY CAR DEALER AS THE RECALL SAYS THE DEALER WILL REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE, BUT THEY AREN'T AWARE OF ANY RECALL. I'VE BEEN ON HOLD FOR YOKOHAMA FOR 30+ MINUTES WITH NO LUCK IN SPEAKING TO A LIVE PERSON. I CAN'T AFFORD NOT TO HAVE A CAR AND BASED ON ALL I'VE READ ABOUT THESE TIRES, I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE MY CHILDREN RIDE ON TIRES THAT PERFORM LIKE THIS. I CAN'T AFFORD TO WAIT ON A PROCESS TO DETERMINE IF YOKOHAMA WILL MAKE GOOD ON THEIR WARRANTY CLAIMS. I HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES AND WILL BE PURCHASING 4 NEW TIRES AND NOT YOKOHAMA. *TR

AT AROUND 24,000 MILES I EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL CLUTCH FAILURE (COULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF GEAR) THAT WENT AWAY AFTER PUMPING THE CLUTCH PETAL. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS AND WAS TOLD NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY DUE TO CLUTCH FREEZING UP IN THE COLD. AT AROUND 30,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED SHAKING WHENEVER I ENGAGED/DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH. IN ORDER TO GET THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE AT ALL I HAD TO LET OFF THE CLUTCH PETAL MUCH SLOWER THAN USUAL. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP IT WAS PURCHASED AT AND WAS TOLD THE FRICTION DISC WAS WORN OUT, AND THAT THIS WAS A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM AND THEREFORE NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IN ADDITION, THEY SAID THAT THE PILOT BEARING HAD FAILED. AFTER GETTING THESE ITEMS REPLACED A LOUD CREAKING NOISE OCCURS WHENEVER ENGAGING/DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE ISSUE IS STILL NOT RESOLVED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC HEIGHT ADJUSTER FOR THE SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO MOVE WHENEVER THE CONTACT COMPLETED A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

I BROUGHT MY CAR INTO AN AUTHORIZED MAZDA DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MENTIONED THAT I NOTICED A SLIGHT SLIPPING IN THE CLUTCH. I WAS LATER INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAD JUST 33,000 HIGHWAY MILES, THE ENTIRE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD, THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I COMPLAINED TO MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE AND GOT NO WHERE. THE MOST FRUSTRATING PART IS THAT AFTER THE DEALER COMPLETED THE REPAIR, THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CLUTCH SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ABUSE AND THAT IN THEIR PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THIS WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH. EVEN WITH THIS INFORMATION, MAZDA ITSELF STILL WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR. *TR

CLUTCHES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BULLET PROOF. BEING ONE OF THE MAIN PARTS OF THE CAR AND NECESSARY TO IT'S BASIC FUNCTION, CLUTCHES SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE 5 YEAR/60,000 MILES WARRANTY. BUT THEY'RE NOT. THE CLUTCH ON THE 2010 MAZDA3 IS ONLY COVERED FOR 7500 MILES. THAT'S SUSPICIOUS IN AND OF ITSELF. SO HERE'S MY STORY, MY CLUTCH GAVE OUT AFTER 50,000 MILES. NO WARNING OR ANYTHING. THE MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID IN THE 32 YEARS HE'S BEEN FIXING CLUTCHES, HE'S NEVER SEEN ANYTHING SO HORRIFIC. HE HAD TO HAVE METAL FABRICATORS COME IN AND MAKE PARTS BECAUSE SOME OF THE SURROUNDING EQUIPMENT WAS SO WARPED. MAZDA CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT. I'VE READ STORIES ONLINE WHERE PEOPLE REPORT THEIR CLUTCH BLOWING OUT AT 14,000 MILES. EDMUNDS.COM, A LEADER IN CAR RESOURCES RATES THE CLUTCH PROBLEM ON THIS SPECIFIC CAR AT A 9.7/10. IT'S A FAULTY PART IN A CAR AND MAZDA WILL NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT TO BE AN ACTUAL THING. IT'S NOT RIGHT AT ALL. *TR

THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY 2010 MAZDA 3S SHINE 25' DISTANT 7' OFF THE GROUND MAZDA SAYS ITS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MAZDA SAYS THE LIGHTS ARE ADJUSTED AS HIGH AS POSSIBLE AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE ADN PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 26,000.

THE CLUTCH ON MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION 2010 MAZDA3 SUDDENLY STOPPED OPERATING PROPERLY. IT GRINDS GEARS AND DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS WHEN I SHIFT. I DROVE THE VEHICLE IN TO A MAZDA DEALER ON SATURDAY, WITH A WEEK LEFT ON MY WARRANTY. ON MONDAY, THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT THEIR TECHNICIAN COULD NOT EVEN DRIVE MY CAR AS THERE WAS NO CLUTCH PAD! I WONDERED HOW I COULD DRIVE THE CAR TO THEM, BUT ONCE IT WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION, IT WAS SUDDENLY UNDRIVEABLE. I AM NOW BEING FORCED TO PAY $1100 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH, BECAUSE THEY SAY MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I ASKED HOW A COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED CLUTCH PAD IS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" ON A VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN 16K MILES! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS HAD IT FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING! I FILED A CLAIM WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. I ALSO CALLED THE MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE FOR ASSISTANCE, WHERE I WAS TOLD I COULD SIMPLY VOICE A COMPLAINT. "TOM" REFUSED TO ALLOW ME TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR OR ANYONE HIGHER THAN HIMSELF (HE WAS JUST A CALL-CENTER EMPLOYEE). HE OFFERED TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND ASK THEM TO PROVIDE ME WITH A DISCOUNT. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER TODAY, THEY SAID TOM DID CALL THEM, BUT NEVER ASKED FOR ANY DISCOUNTS! ALL HE DID WAS EXPLAIN THAT MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THE CLUTCH, SO MY WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER THE NECESSARY REPLACEMENT. MAZDA SOLD ME A SUB-PAR VEHICLE, AND NOW THEY LIED ABOUT THEIR WAY OF HANDLING THE ERROR. I LOOKED ONLINE AND HAVE FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE SAM

ON AUGUST 29TH WHILE DRIVING WITH MY 2010 MAZDA 3, GOING ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, THE POWER STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND ALL THE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. I COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR. I TRIED TO RE-START THE CAR, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE WARNING/INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON STEADY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK WARNING LIGHT, WHICH WAS FLASHING RED. IT WAS NOT A BATTERY ISSUE BECAUSE THE RADIO AND LIGHTS WORKED FINE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALER. THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE WAS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT ACCESS THE PCM TO READ THE ERROR CODE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED, AND THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE PCM. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE AND COMPLAINED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PCM FAILURE DOES NOT RELATE TO THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKING UP. THIS IS SIMILAR TO COMPLAIN #10461029. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR AGAIN, AND I WOULD LIKE MAZDA TO TAKE IT BACK. IT ONLY HAS 23000 MILES, AND I HAVE ANOTHER 6 MONTH TO GO ON MY LEASE. *TR

HAVE HAD INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING LOSS WITH INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATION FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. AFTER ENGINE GETS UP TO TEMP POWER STEERING CUTS OUT. IT WILL SOMETIMES RESUME AFTER STOPPING TO LET THE ENGINE COOL. CURRENT RECALL EXTENDS TO 2007-2009 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UNTIL THE MONTH BEFORE MY VEHICLE WAS MADE. MAZDA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS COULD BE RELATED AND SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY WON'T REPAIR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE VALVE STEM FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VALVE STEM CRACKED IN HALF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 24,750.

HI, THIS MORNING I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY ENTIRE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT HIT MY CAR, NOR NOTHING THAT HIT MY SUNROOF. I WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH ON I-25 IN ALBUQUERQUE, NM. NEITHER THE SUNROOF NOR THE CAR HAVE BEEN CHANGED IN ANYWAY FROM THEIR STOCK FORM. THE EXPLOSION OF THE SUNROOF WAS VERY SCARY AND ALMOST CAUSE ME TO CRASH. *TR

THE SENSOR FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF STARTING STAYING ON, NOTHING WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. NOW THE SENSOR THINKS SOMEONE IS IN THE SEAT ( WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT) AND KEEPS FLASHING THE BUCKLE SEAT BELT WARNING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, HE TURNED LEFT AND THE STEERNG WHEEL SEIZED. THE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL RETURNED TO NORMAL FUNCTION A FEW MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ALSO STATED THAT THERE WERE NOT ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 40,700.

FROM THE START MY DRIVERS SEAT WAS LOOSE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND EACH TIME THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED, THE REPLACED THE TRACK ASSEMBLY, TIGHTENED THINGS UP AND AFTER A FEW HUNDRED MILES THE PROBLEM RETURNED. *TT ON THE DAY OF MY ACCIDENT, I WAS STOPPED AT LIGHT AND WAS THE CAR BEHIND ME. A DIFFERENT CAR SMASHED THROUGH THE CAR BEHIND ME CAUSING THAT VEHICLE TO HIT ME FROM BEHIND AND FORCING ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND NO ONE WAS HURT. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I GOT BACK INTO MY CAR AND THE SEAT ROCKED AS IF IT WAS A ROCKING CHAIR. DRIVING THE CAR HOME, THE SEAT ROCKED TO EVERY BUMP IN THE ROAD. I HAVE REASON TO BELIEVE IF I WAS IMPACTED WITH HIGHER FORCE THE SEAT WOULD HAVE CAME LOOSE FROM THE BASE.

I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND FELT THE DRIVERS SEAT SHIFT BACKWARDS. FROM THAT POINT ON THE SEAT WAS UNSTEADY AND MOVED FORWARD AND BACKWARD DEPENDING ON WHICH I WAS DOING, ACCELERATING OR BREAKING. UPON EXAMINATION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WELD ON THE SEAT BRACKET HAD BROKEN. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A VERY UNUSUAL BREAK AND COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS IF IT HAPPENS UPON BRAKING. *TT

MANY TIMES BUT SPORADICALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS MY MAZDA 3, WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WILL HAVE A SUDDEN SURGE IN RPM BETWEEN 1200-2500 RPM AND TRY TO ACCELERATE. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MOST OFTEN FIRST THING IN THE MORNING MORE OFTEN. BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY READY THERE HAS BEEN NO CRASH, THOUGH THE TIME RPMS REACHED 2500 I HAD DIFFICULTY STOPPING THE CAR, ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP WHERE SUDDEN DECELERATION WAS NEEDED. I HAVE FOUND THAT ONE PUMP OF THE BREAK ALLEVIATES THE PROBLEM IF THERE IS ROOM TO DO SO. *TR

THE DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR LATCH CABLE BROKE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THE NEW MAZDA 3. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BROKE AT WELDED ATTACHMENT POINT TO ADJUSTER RAIL

WHILE CHECKING AND INFLATING A CUSTOMER'S TIRES THE VALVE STEM BROKE CAUSING THE TIRE TO COMPLETELY DEFLATE. *JS

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY 2010. THE HEATER WHEN TURNING ON, MADE A LOUD CLICKING SOUND FOR APPROX. 20- 30 SECONDS, EACH TIME. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, LOCAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT, BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS HEATER ASSEMBLY IS NOT ONLY USED BY MAZDA, NISSAN, TOYOTA, CHEVY, FORD, AND LEXUS. THIS IS HEATER IS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS DESIGN ERROR. ALSO THE DEALER HAD UNPLUGGED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR BECAUSE THIS UNIT IS KNOWN TO START A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS MADE ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY 2012 THE HEATER WHEN TURNING ON MADE A LOUD CLICKING SOUND FOR APPROX. 20 TO 30 SECONDS, EACH TIME. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, LOCAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT, BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS HEATER ASSEMBLY IS NOT ONLY USED BY MAZDA, NISSAN, TOYOTA, CHEVY, FORD, AND LEXUS. THIS HEATER IS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS DESIGN ERROR. I THEN DECIDED TO HAVE THE MAZDA DEALER CHANGE IT FOR $130.00. THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED CHANGING FOR $250.00 PLUS LABOR. THIS ASSEMBLY WAS KNOWN FOR THIS. ALSO THE DEALER HAD UNPLUGGED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR BECAUSE THIS UNIT IS KNOWN TO START A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS MADE ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR *JS

HEAT IS ALWAYS HOT. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CONTOL ON THE HEATER. *TR

ON 2 OCCASIONS I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, FOR A RED LIGHT AND STOP SIGN, WHEN THE ENGINE REVVED ON ITS OWN AND THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. FELT LIKE I WAS PUSHING BRAKE PEDAL THROUGH THE FLOOR TO STOP IT BUT IT RECOVERED ON ITS OWN AFTER SEVERAL SECONDS. VERY SCARY. I AM AFRAID OF HITTING A CAR OR SOMEONE. AT THE MAZDA DEALER NOW AND HAS BEEN FOR A WEEK AS THEY TRY TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2010 MAZDA 3S SINCE JUNE OF 2010 WHEN I BOUGHT IT NEW. I DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK EVERY DAY. I HAVE 26,000 MILES ON IT, 75% OF WHICH ARE HIGHWAY MILES. I WAS DRIVING TO WORK LAST WEEK, AND NOTICED SOMETHING WITH THE CAR FELT OFF. EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK IT GOT WORSE AND WORSE, SO I FINALLY BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME, AS I SUSPECTED, THAT THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING AND NEARING THE END OF ITS LIFE. I HAVE YET TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS ON THIS CAR, AND TO GET TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH IS GONE BEFORE I EVEN REPLACE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS IS JUST FLAT OUT UNACCEPTABLE. I HAVE HAD TWO PREVIOUS CARS WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS, AND NEVER REPLACED A CLUTCH, EVEN WHEN THEY HAD CLOSE TO 100,000 MILES ON THEM. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED BEFORE I DO ANYTHING, TO LOOK ON FORUMS AND SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS BEEN HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR. I HAVE SPENT MY WHOLE WEEKEND ON MAZDA AND EDMUNDS FORUMS READING ABOUT COUNTLESS PEOPLE WITH MY MODEL YEAR, 2010, WHO HAVE HAD CLUTCHES GO BEFORE 35,000 MILES. THIS IS NOT A ONE-OFF CASE, AND IT IS CERTAINLY NOT A "WEAR AND TEAR" ISSUE AS THE DEALERSHIP SAYS IT IS. THAT'S THEIR BLANKET COVER-THEIR-[XXX]STATEMENT BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEY PUT OUT A POOR PRODUCT AND DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE COSTS INCURRED WITH REPLACING THEM. I HAVE NO FAITH ANYMORE IN MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, OR MAZDA AS A BRAND AT THIS POINT. WITH THE SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF SIMILAR ISSUES TO MINE, THE FACT THAT THEY ARE STILL UNWILLING TO ADMIT THAT THEY CHOSE A

MY NEW 2010 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF UNUSUAL HIGH/IRREGULAR TIRE WEAR. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED AS PER THE COMPANY RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS AND LOWER SHOCK BOLTS WERE LOOSE. AT 22,000 MILES THE FRONT TIRES THAT HAD BEEN ROTATED TO THE REAR WERE ALSO WEARING UNEVEN AND AT A HIGH RATE CONSIDERING THIS WAS ONLY MORE THAN A 5,000 MILE PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAZDA ON JANURARY 17,2012 INFORMING THEM THAT I HAD CHECKED ONLINE AND THIS EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR HAS BEEN KNOWN BY MAZDA FOR OVER (5) YEARS. THE SERVICE MANAGER CONFIRMED THIS ISSUE AND MAZDA HAS DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR/RECALL THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO STATED THAT ALMOST ALL OF THE MAZDA 3 MODEL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. LOOKING THROUGH OTHER MAZDA OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD TIRES WEAR OUT AT OR AROUND THE 25,000 MILE RANGE THAT THERE IS A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I.E. AN ADJUSTABLE CAMBER ROD WHICH ONE OWNER HAD DONE AND THE CAR WENT .....60,000 MILES ON A SET OF TIRES. MAZDA KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM, HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING EXCEPT PRODUCE MORE VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND THERE IS A DAMNED FIX FOR IT..IT ALSO IS AMAZING AND DAMNING THAT THIS ADJUSTABLE ROD IS MANUFACTURED BY...........M A Z D A....I WOULD DEMAND AN ANNOUNCEMENT AND RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES AS THE INSIDE OF THE TIRE WEARS AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RATE AND FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT CHECK THE TIRE CONDITION OF THEIR CAR NOR TO ROTATE THE TIRES, THIS WILL LEAD TO A TIRE FAILURE/BLOWOUT WHICH WILL CREATE A HIGH ACCIDEN

MAZDA HAS ISSUES WITH CONDENSATION IN FRONT LIGHTS AND REAL LIGHTS LEADING TO EXCESSIVE WATER BUILDING UP IN LIGHT CAVITY. THE WATER RESTRICTS LIGHT AND HAS SHORTED OUT HEADLIGHT BULB ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AS I DROVE DOWN THE ROAD. THIS CAUSES A SERIOUS ISSUE AT NIGHT AS I AM DRIVING. MAZDA AND DEALER REFUSE TO FIX SIGHTING BULLETIN FROM MAZDA THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND NOT TO FIX UNLESS LIGHT ENCLOSURE IS FULL OF WATER. *TR

AT LESS THAN 24,000 MILES, MY CLUTCH HAS BEGUN TO SLIP TERRIBLY AND CREATES A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL. I KNOW THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MAZDA OWNERS WHO HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THEIR CLUTCHES BEFORE THEY'VE HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE PADS. THIS IS A DRAIN ON CONSUMERS, AND A SAFETY ISSUE TO BOOT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2010 MAZDA 3 AS A DEMO ON JULY 30, 2011 WITH 4100 MILES ON IT. I NOW HAVE 8500 MILES ON IT AND THE CLUTCH HAS FAILED. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A NORMAL WEAR PRODUCE AND IT HAD BEEN ABUSED SO I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR IT HAD A HIGH RELEASE IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL BUT I FIGURED IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE CAR. SINCE EARLY NOVEMBER, THE "INTAKE MANIFOLD RUNNER" HAS BEEN EXTREMELY SENSITIVE TO THE POINT THAT I CANNOT MAINTAIN SPEED UP A SLIGHT INCLINE WITHOUT THE ENGINE REVVING UP. I WAS TOLD WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS WAS DUE TO A CLUTCH FAILURE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS ACCEPTABLE FOR A CLUTCH TO GO OUT AFTER JUST 8500 MILES OF DRIVING. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WENT OVER 100,000 MILES OF MY SAME DRIVING AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT ANY CLUTCH ISSUES. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH MAZDA, MAZDA PARTS, AND MAZDA'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

POWER DRIVER SEAT ROCKS FORWARD AND BACKWARD DURING ACCELERATION AND SUDDEN BRAKING. APPROX. 1/2" PLAY. THE MOVEMENT IS VERY NOTICEABLE AND DISCONCERTING. I FEAR THAT I MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER INSISTS CONDITION IS NORMAL. *TR

THE VALVE STEM OF MY TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) HAD SIGNIFICANT CORROSION LEADING TO IMMEDIATE AND RAPID DEFLATION OF FRONT LEFT TIRE WHILE REMOVING AIR HOSE WHILE TENDING TO TPMS WARNING LIGHT. THE RAPID DEFLATION WAS DUE TO COMPLETE AND IMMEDIATE SEVERANCE WHERE THE THREADED PORTION OF VALVE STEM MET VALVE CAP WITHOUT ANY TORQUE OR ABNORMAL PRESSURE APPLIED. THE SEVERED EDGE OF THE VALVE STEM SHOWS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF CORROSION 360 DEGREES AND INWARD, WITH A THIN HALO (APPX. 1/10 OF THE WALL) REMAINING. BOTH THE TIRE AND VALVE STEM SHOWED NO SIGN OF LEAKING AND HELD PROPER PRESSURE WHILE FILLING TO RECOMMENDED PRESSURE UNTIL REMOVAL OF AIR HOSE CAUSED THE STEM TO SPLIT HORIZONTALLY BETWEEN THE 9TH AND 10TH THREAD. PLASTIC VALVE CAPS WERE IN PLACE ON ALL 4 TIRES. SPARE TIRE ALSO NOT ABLE TO BE PUT IN PLACE DUE TO 'STUCK' LUG NUTS ON SAME TIRE; SIMILAR CORROSION IS SUSPECT, POSSIBLY CAUSED BY GALVANIC CORROSION DUE TO METALS FOUND IN DISK BRAKES, SHOES OR ALLOY RIM. VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND NEEDED TOW TO NEAREST MAZDA DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. WHEN CALLING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT SENDING MY VEHICLE OVER I ADDRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE OTHER 3 VALVE STEMS NEEDING REPLACEMENT AND WAS TOLD "THEY ARE $150 EACH SO IF YOU WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THE OTHER ONES REPLACED YOU CAN, BUT THE DEALERSHIP ISN'T GOING TO PAY FOR IT" MY RESPONSE: "REALLY? I'M THANKFUL THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY, I WOULD HOPE THE SAFETY OF YOUR CUSTOMERS WOULD COME FIRST" ..NO IM SO

THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME OUT ONE WEEK AFTER PURCHASING MY NEW MAZDA 3 IN JULY 2010. I FILLED THE TIRE WITH AIR BUT LIGHT WOULD COME BACK ON SEVERAL WEEKS LATER. TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER IN OCTOBER 2010 AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. TOOK IT BACK TO DEALER IN OCTOBER 2011 AND NOW THEY FIND A BENT WHEEL RIM. REPLACED THE RIM AT MY COST -- OVER 350.00. 4 WEEKS LATER, WARNING LIGHT COMES BACK ON. I CHECKED THE AIR ON ALL TIRES AND THEY ARE FINE. MY MAZDA HAS ONLY 6,000 MILES ON IT. MAZDA CANNOT SEEM TO FIX THE WARNING LIGHT PROBLEM AND THEY BLAME IT ON CHANGE IN WEATHER TEMPERATURE! COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY TO BRING THE CAR BACK IN. I REFUSE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE WHEN THIS IS CLEARLY A MAZDA PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY. I'VE OWNED MAZDA CARS SINCE 1993; THIS IS MY 6TH MAZDA AND I AM VERY UPSET. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE COMING FROM THE SEAT WHEN HE WOULD SIT. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WELD WAS FRACTURED ON THE SEAT PAN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

WHILE SERVICING A 2010 MAZDA3 WE CHECKED THE CUSTOMER'S TIRE PRESSURE AS REQUIRED BY LAW. THE VALVE STEM SNAPPED OFF WHEN AN AIR LINE WAS ATTACHED TO INFLATE THE TIRE. *TR

THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT SUPPORT BRACKET HAS BROKEN AT THE WELD AND IT RESULTS IN THE FRONT SEAT NOT BEING STABLE. IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH WITH ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. THE ENTIRE SEAT IS NOT STABLE. *TR

WHEN JACKING THE VEHICLE UP TO CHANGE THE TIRE THE MAIN ROD THAT SUPPORTS THE JACK BENT CAUSING THE JACK TO JUMP OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE FELL ON THE GROUND. *TR

CLUTCH FAILED AT 19.5K MILES. IVE ONLY HAD HER SINCE NOVEMBER, AND WITH THE WAY I DRIVE THERES NO WAY IN HELL THE CLUTCH SHOULD GO OUT THIS SOON... NOW AS TO EXPLAIN AS TO WHAT HAPPENED, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED REVING A BIT ODDLY WHEN I BARELY PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL. IT WENT FROM THE NORMAL 2900 RPM IN 6TH GEAR AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND SHOT UP TO 3500 WAY TO QUICKLY THEN DROPPED BACK TO 2900 AND SLOWLY ROSE HOW IT SHOULDVE TO GET ME TO 70MPH...IT CONTINUED DOING THIS WHEN I GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, GROWING STEADILY WORSE UNTIL I WAS UNABLE TO GET INTO ANY GEAR AT ALL. THERE WAS NEVER A SMELL OF CLUTCH INSIDE THE CAR THE ENTIRE TIME, NO ODD NOISES, NO GRINDING, AND THE CLUTCH WAS ABOUT HALF AS STIFF AS IT NORMALLY WAS. SO I CALLED DEALER, THEY TOWED MY CAR(COURSE IT TOOK FOREVER BECAUSE THEY SENT THE TRUCK TO THE WRONG LOCATION HAHA). IT TOOK 2 DAYS BEFORE THEY EVEN GOT TO GLANCE AT THE CAR TO SEE WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE(NOT TAKE APART MIND U, JUST LOOKED), AND SAID THE CLUTCH WAS "SMOKED" NO OTHER SPECIFICS BUT WANTED ME TO AUTHORIZE THEM FOR 525 WORTH OF LABOR PLUS PARTS -_-. SO NOW IM STUCK FIGHTING THEM TO REPAIR THIS UNDER WARRANTY(I KNOW THERES USUALLY NOT A WARRANTY UNLESS MANUFACTURERS DEFECT..BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY DEFECTIVE). INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TT

EXCESSIVE REAR SUSPENSION NOISE OVER ANY SURFACE IRREGULARITIES, DEALER FULLY AWARE OF RIGHT REAR SWAY BAR LINK AS SOURCE OF NOISE, REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

THERE HAS NOT BEEN A FAILURE TO DATE, HOWEVER, ADDING MY VEHICLE TO THE OTHER MAZDA3'S IN THE DATA BASE WHERE THE DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE IS CREATING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. AS I HAVE READ IN NO LESS THAN 5 BLOGS, THE MANUFACTURER INTENTIONALLY CAMBERS THE REAR TIRES TO INCREASE THE PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING AND UPON NORMAL ROTATION OF THE TIRES, A "BUMPING" NOISE CAN BE HEARD AND FELT. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WILL DO NOTHING AND STATES IS A DESIGN ISSUE AND MAZDA STATES I MUST DEAL WITH THE TIRE MANUFACTURER. THIS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR AND VIBRATION COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL TIRE WEAR AS NOTED BY OTHER OWNERS. AT 11,000 MILES, I SHOULD NOT BE FACED WITH REPLACING THE TIRES.

WHILE I WAS MAKING A EXIT FROM THE FREEWAY ONTO A LOCAL ROAD, I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE SLOWLY BRAKING. AFTERWARDS MY CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL AND I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH THE GUARD RAIL FOR THE HIGHWAY RAMP. THIS HAPPENED WITH MY CAR LOGGING CLOSE TO 21500 MILES. INSPECTION AT THE BODY SHOP DETERMINED THAT ISSUES BETWEEN THE BRAKE PADS AND STEERING WHEEL LED TO THE STEERING WHEEL STOPPING. FIXING THIS PROBLEM INVOLVES REPLACING BRAKE AND POSSIBLY STEERING COMPONENTS ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP. *TR

TIRE PRESSURE AND REGULATING SYSTEMS - I OWN A 2010 MAZDA 3 AUTOMATIC (14,542 MILES) --ALSO PURCHASED JUST OVER A YR AGO. I HAVE NOW HAD "THREE" VALVE STEMS THAT HAVE BROKEN; WITH SLOW LEAKS AND FLAT TIRES. THE LAST ONE LEAVING ME STRANDED FOR 2 HRS UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. THIS ALSO HAPPENED 2 DAYS AFTER I HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE FOR ANOTHER TIRE WITH A "VALVE" STEM REPLACEMENT--COSTING ME $198.00. ALSO TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL AND IT APPEARS MAZDA HAVING PROBLEMS NOW WITH THIS FOR A FEW YEARS. ALSO THOUGHT IT FUNNY THAT WHEN DEALERSHIP COMPLETING MY PAPERS THEY COMMENTED THAT THEY JUST COMPLETED EXACT SAME PAPERS FOR CAR BEFORE MINE !!!! I AM A CAUTIOUS DRIVER AND I KNOW MY WHEEL/TIRES WHERE NOT DAMAGED AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE VALVE STEM. I NOW HAVE 3 NEW VALVES STEMS THRU MY COST ---JUST WAITING FOR LAST ONE TO GO AND THEN WILL SEE HOW LONG THE "NEWER" ONES LAST. HAVE A FEELING THIS WILL BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM. AT LEAST DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE ONE TODAY AS A GOOD WILL FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA, MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A HUMMING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO TWO DIFFERENT AUTO MECHANICS AND THEY BOTH RECOMMENDED THAT THE TIRES NOT BE ROTATED BECAUSE OF POOR TREAD. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, BOTH REAR TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUSPENSION WHICH CAUSED THE TIRES TO PREMATURELY WEAR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, IT WOULD LUNGE FORWARD AND THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS FORCED TO PUSH THE SHUT OFF BUTTON TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 14,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600.

I OWN A 2010 MAZDA SPEED 3. PURCHASED JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAVE A VALVE STEM THAT HAS BROKEN, WHICH RELEASED PRESSURE. THE VALVE STEMS USED ON THE VEHICLE ARE INCORPORATED INTO TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TMPS), AND THE DEALER REQUIRES THAT BOTH ITEMS BE REPLACED FOR $125. AFTERMARKET COMPANIES, SUCH AS DORMAN OFFER REPLACEMENTS THAT ARE MODULAR, AND ALLOW THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE JUST THE STEM, IF BROKEN. THE FACTORY, CONVENIENTLY DOES NOT OFFER THEM COMPONENT INDIVIDUALLY. BY THE LOOKS OF ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. I HAVE OWNED VEHICLES FOR 30 YEARS NOW, AND I HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED A BROKEN VALVE STEM LIKE THIS. THERE IS NO TRAUMA TO THE WHEEL ITSELF THAT WOULD EXPLAIN A BUSTED STEM THAT DOES NOT PROTRUDE BEYOND THE RIMS OUTER EDGE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM COULD BE ELIMINATED IF MAZDA WERE TO REDESIGN THE THREADED PORTION OF THE STEM TO BE THICKER. THE ALUMINUM STEMS ARE MACHINED SO THINLY, THAT THEY FAIL, OR ARE EASILY DAMAGED WHILE PERFORMING BASIC MAINTENANCE. THE MAZDA DEALER DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE PARTS ARE FAULTY, AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BROKEN STEM PROBLEM. I FIND THAT EXTREMELY HARD TO BELIEVE. RESOLUTION: I NEED TO GET MY SPARE TIRE OFF THE CAR, SO I WILL BE DROPPING THE WHEEL OFF AT A TIRE SHOP TO REPLACE THE UNIT WITH A STANDARD METAL STEM UNTIL I DECIDE WHAT ROUTE TO TAKE. MY RESEARCH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS W

I OWN A 2010 MAZDA3. A FEW WEEKS AGO WHILE DRIVING MY FRONT SEAT MADE A POPPING SOUND AND BEGAN ROCKING BACK AND FORTH CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR MOMENTARILY. I TOOK IT INTO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN ALEXANDRIA VIRGINIA (BROWNS MAZDA ON ROUTE 1) AND ASKED THEM TO LOOK AT IT. THEY DETERMINED THAT WELDING ON MY SEAT BOTTOM HAD COME UNDONE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY CAR'S WARRANTY IS FOR 3 YEARS/36 THOUSAND MILES AND AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT MY CAR HAD 45 THOUSAND MILES. MAZDA DECLINED TO FIX THE SEAT AND STATED THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. MY CONTENTION IS THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IF INVOLVED IN A COLLISION THE SEAT MAY DISLODGE AND CAUSE ME MORE BODILY INJURY THAN IF THE SEAT WERE PROPERLY ANCHORED. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA'S CUSTOMER CARE LINE AND ALSO E-MAILED THEM AND ON BOTH OCCASIONS THEY HAVE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED MY CLAIM STATING THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE REPAIRS ARE MY RESPONSIBILITY. THE DRIVERS SEAT OF A VEHICLE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SAFETY IN THE CAR AND DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ERROR MY SEAT IS NOW LOOSE AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA, MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WITH A PASSENGER IN THE FRONT SEAT, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING TO ITS SPECIFICATIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT AS THEY WEIGHED 105 POUNDS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING PROPERLY. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND HAD BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2010. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,400. UPDATED 03/29/11*LJ