Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–110 of 110

2018 Mazda Mazda3 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2018 record →

Engine
Filed Apr 20, 201934 milesWA

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 MAZDA 3 2.5L TOURING HATCHBACK. I HAD ONLY DRIVEN THE VEHICLE AS ITS NEW OWNER ONCE, FROM THE DEALERSHIP BACK TO MY HOME, WHICH WAS LESS THAN 20 MILES, WHEN THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED: I STARTED THE ENGINE FOR MY SECOND TRIP WITH THE VEHICLE, AND NOTICED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. I DROVE THE VEHICLE AROUND THE BLOCK AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY UNUSUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS SO I DROVE TO MY INTENDED DESTINATION WHICH WAS ONLY 7 MILES AWAY. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE TO MAKE MY WAY BACK I NOTICED THAT NOW FIVE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH CORRESPONDED TO THE FOLLOWING WARNING GUIDANCES: AN ENGINE SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, A DSC MALFUNCTION, A TPMS SYSTEM MALFUNCTION, ALONG WITH TWO SCBS MALFUNCTION WARNINGS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, I FOUND THAT THE ENGINE WAS CLEARLY NOT RUNNING PROPERLY, AS IT JERKED VIOLENTLY, SURGED, HESITATED AND AT TIMES SEEMED POISED TO STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS CLEARLY UNSAFE FOR ME TO PROCEED ON THE ROAD. AS IT WAS SUNDAY, I HAD TO ARRANGE ON THE NEXT DAY FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST MAZDA SERVICE CENTER, WHICH WAS NOT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM. IT TOOK OVER A WEEK FOR MAZDA SERVICE CENTER TO DETERMINE I HAD A FAULTY THROTTLE BODY, WHICH HAD CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS AND THIS WAS WHAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. IMPORTANTLY, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING PROBLEM

EngineCrash2 injured1 killed
Filed Mar 26, 20191,500 milesNC

ON 2/14/19 BETWEEN 2:30 AND 3 P.M., MY MOTHER (MELISSA DODSON) WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL CAR ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE (A 2004 GMC ENVOY) THAT RESULTED IN BEING DOA. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2018 MAZDA MAZDA3 SPORT FOUR DR AND TRAVELING WESTBOUND ON EAST HANOVER RD IN GRAHAM, NC AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE UNSUBSTANTIATED POLICE REPORT, IT STATED THAT MY MOTHER'S CAR VEERED/CROSSED THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE BEFORE IMPACT. HOWEVER, THE ENVOY WAS REPORTEDLY DOING 55 MPH UPON ENTERING THE "S" CURVE SECTION OF THE NARROW 35 MPH TWO-LANE ROAD (WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRASH). IN MY MUST HUMBLING OPINION, I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE TO THE ACCIDENT CAUSING MY MOTHER'S DEATH THAT GRAHAM POLICE IS NOT INVESTIGATING OR HAS NOT INVESTIGATED. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT I HAVE REASONS TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS STILL AN OPEN RECALL ON THE MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE THAT MY MOTHER PURCHASED (LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE THE ACCIDENT); HOWEVER, I PERSONALLY FEEL THIS CONCERN IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. ENCLOSED I HAVE PROVIDED A COPY OF (IN MY OPINION) INCOMPLETE POLICE REPORT AND PICTURES OF MY MOTHER'S WRECKED VEHICLE AND ALSO I HAVE A LINK TO THE NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE ACCIDENT SITE TOO! HTTPS://WWW.THETIMESNEWS.COM/NEWS/20190215/BURLINGTON-WOMAN-KILLED-IN-THURSDAY-WRECK-POLICE-STILL-INVESTIGATING-CAUSE

SteeringCrash
Filed Mar 14, 201911,000 milesNY

COMING OFF THE BQE IN NYC, ON A SHARP TURN EXIT RAMP LOST STEERING CONTROL. THE CAR VEERED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT INTO THE BARRIER CAUSING ALL THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. LUCKY IT WAS AT A LOW SPEED SO NOBODY WAS HURT AND VERY MINOR BODY DAMAGE CAUSED. I HAD MY SON IN THE CAR, THE AIRBAG SAVED HIM FROM HITTING HIS HEAD INTO THE WINDOW. THE TOWTRUCK DRIVER SAID IT LOOKED AS IF THE STEERING FAILED BECAUSE THE STEERING COLOM DETACHED.

SteeringCrash
Filed Feb 21, 20193,800 milesCT

THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY WIFE IN THE RIGHT LANE ON 3 LANE WIDE I-95 SOUTH IN CONNECTICUT AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, APPX 55-60 MPH. ACCORDING TO HER, THE CAR LURCHED LEFT AT ALMOST 90 DEGREES AND IT WAS AS IF SHE HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND THE WHEEL WAS NOT TURNING LIKE NORMAL POWER STEERING TURNS THE WHEEL. SHE CROSSED OVER ALL THREE LANES, AND IT CRASHED INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER SO THAT THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE WAS DAMAGED FROM FRONT TO BACK. SHE SAID IT WAS AS IF SHE HAD NO STEERING CONTROL AT ALL. FORTUNATELY SHE WAS NOT INJURED. BUT THE UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL SOUNDED LIKE THE PROBLEM EARLIER WITH THE TOYOTA. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS, THEN THERE COULD BE A REAL PROBLEM. .

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Jan 26, 20192,100 milesIL

ON 1/25/2019 IN THE MORNING I WENT OUTSIDE TO TAKE MY DOG OUT AND NOTICED THAT THE SUNROOF ON MY 2018 MAZDA 3 WAS CRACKED AND HAD A FAIRLY LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ON MY STREET OUTSIDE MY HOME OVER NIGHT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE POSSIBLY BEEN FROM SOMEONE TRYING TO BREAK INTO MY CAR. HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THAT THE GLASS WAS ACTUALLY BUBBLED UP AND AWAY FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR AND NOT INWARDS. BASED ON THIS I WAS ABLE TO RULE OUT SOMEONE STRIKING THE GLASS WITH FORCE FROM THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR. I BELIEVE THE GLASS TO HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AS THE CAR WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE WHILE THIS INCIDENT HAD HAPPENED.

Visibility/WiperCrash3 injured
Filed Sep 25, 201814,580 milesMI

ON SEPTEMBER 13TH, 2018, I WAS DRIVING OUT OF THE STATE, DURING A ROAD TRIP ON MY WAY FROM CANNON BEACH TO PORTLAND IN THE STATE OF OREGON AROUND 9PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 MAZDA 3 ON NORTH OF HIGHWAY I-5 WHEN RAIN BEGAN DURING RUSH TRAFFIC. I HAD THE AUTOMATIC FRONT WIPERS ON AND THEY BEGAN PERFORMING THEIR FUNCTION FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT OFF. RAIN GOT HEAVIER AND EVEN AFTER TRYING TO ACTUATE THE WIPER LEVER TO HIGH SPEED, THE FRONT WIPERS FAILED TO START WORKING AGAIN. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF A THREE-WAY ROAD AND WAS HAVING A HARD TIME TRYING TO SEE THROUGH TO GO STOP AND PARK IN A SHOULDER. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND I COULD BARELY SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. I TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY LIGHTS AND BEGAN HONKING TO TRY TO STOP IN THE LEFT SHOULDER. HOWEVER, TRAFFIC SUDDENLY BEGAN TO STOP AND I HAD TO HARD BRAKE BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME, BUT ANOTHER TRUCK MANAGED TO BARELY EVADE ME HOWEVER IT DID SCRAPE ME AND THE REAR OF THE CAR, I COULD NOT SEE THE LICENSE PLATE OF THE TRUCK DUE TO THE WIPERS NOT WORKING DURING THE DOWNPOUR. I HAD TO WAIT ON THE SHOULDER UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED, TRIED CALLING ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE BUT THE RAIN EASED. THE REAR BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE GOT DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE WIPERS FAILURE, HOWEVER THE SAFETY CONCERN COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE SUCH AS THE VEHICLE GETTING ME INTO MAJOR ACCIDENT WHERE MORE THAN ONE CAUSALITY COULD HAVE OCCURRED. OTHER THAN THAT, THE TIME WASTED DURING MY VACATIONS AND RESOURCES TO

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 30, 201834 milesMD

PLEASE HELP ME I HAD PURCHASED A VEHICLE FROM OURISMAN MAZDA IN LAUREL MD. EVER SINCE I PURCHASED IT I HAD AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT AS LONG AS THE ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON ITS HOW IT WAS DESIGN. WELL IT KEEPS THE SAME SPEED AND RPM WHEN YOU LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. I GUESS YOUR AGENCY HAS CONTACTED MAZDAUSA FROM MY LAST EMAIL. THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD PURCHASED A 2016 AND ALL ABOUT THE WARRANTY. I HAD PURCHASED A 2018 MAZDA 3 SPORT SEDAN. VIN : (XXXX). I HAD BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT WORKED AT A DEALER THAT THEY HAD OTHER COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER I HAD LET THE LEAD MECHANIC DRIVE MY CAR AND HE SAID LOOK IT KEEPS THE SAME SPEED (AFTER HE TOOK HIS FOOT OF THE ACCELERATOR) I TOLD HIM ITS NOT CRUSE CONTROL. HE THEN SAID THAT'S HOW IT WAS DESIGN. I BELIEVE IT'S IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 16, 201834 milesMD

WHEN I LET OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR IT STILL MAINTAINS THE SPEED IT WAS GOING BEFORE I LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT'S HOW ITS DESIGN. HE EVEN TOOK IT FOR A RIDE AND SAID SEE IT STILL KEEPS THE SPEED I SAID ITS NOT CRUISE CONTROL. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MAZDAUSA. MAZDAUSA IGNORES ME. I JUST NEED TO GET THIS FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. WHEN I GO TO PASS IT STAYS FOR A WHILE AT THE SPEED I HIT BEFORE I RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR.

Structure › Body
Filed May 14, 20188,200 milesNY

I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY QUIET BOULEVARD IN NIAGARA FALLS, NY. I WAS THERE ON A FAMILY TRIP WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN WE HEARD MULTIPLE VERY LOUD NOISES COMING FROM THE TOP OF OUR CAR, ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION. THE SUNROOF OR OUR 6-MONTH OLD 2018 MAZDA 3 HAD JUST EXPLODED! WE PARKED TO CHECK WHETHER AN OBJECT HAD FALLEN INTO THE CAR BUT COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING, THANKFULLY THE INSIDE SUNROOF BLIND WAS SHUT BECAUSE MANY OF US COULD HAVE GOTTEN INJURED FROM GLASS PIECES FLYING EVERYWHERE INSIDE THE CAR OTHERWISE. NOW, TWO DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT, OUR MAZDA DEALERSHIP IS CLAIMING THAT AN OBJECT MUST HAVE HIT THE CAR AND SAY THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK TO OUR INSURANCE. THEY DO NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHEN IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT COULD GET OTHER PEOPLE INJURED IN THE FUTURE. ONE OF THE REASONS I AM ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IS BECAUSE WE HEARD ANOTHER VERY LOUD NOISE AND THE HOLE GOT SUBSTANTIALLY BIGGER WHILE PASSING BY THE SAME BOULEVARD LATER THAT NIGHT, MY WIFE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR FOR A MOMENT AS IT HAPPENED. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND SCARY SITUATION, WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH MAZDA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AS WELL AS WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND NOBODY WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY EVEN WHEN THERE IS A CONSUMER REPORTS ARTICLE ON THIS AND 9 DIFFERENT REPORTS ON THIS ISSUE FOR MAZDA3 VEHICLES.

Seats
Filed May 13, 201874 milesUT

HEADRESTS TIP TOO FAR FORWARD. THEY CAUSE GREAT PAIN TO THE NECK, SHOULDERS AND BACK. PEOPLE HAVE RESULTED IN REMOVING THE HEADRESTS ALTOGETHER. IF THE VEHICLE CAUSES A PERSON PAIN, THEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE.

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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