2012 Mazda Mazda3 Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 20,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

Car started jerking and on the way home, the car lost all power to the transmission. The check engine light came on as well as the AT and traction lights. Absolutely no power to the transmission. codes P0780 and P0751.Owner complaint, filed 2024

The car started to stall, hesitate and even stop completely for no apparent reason. The mechanic first recommended a new ECU/TCU which did not help the problem and in the course of duplicating the problem check engine light has come on for the transmission with problems shifting/sticking in a gear and not returning to first gear. My…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

[XXX] covers a safety oriented problem with my car. Jim Ellis Mazda in Marietta refuses to work on my car because it is more than 10 years old. This is a proprietary issue since it deals with the computer system in the car. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)Owner complaint, filed 2023

Using my headlamps at night when I break my headlamps begin to flash, as to dim and brighten I took it into the dealership because it was a recall that my Vin number was not part of. They refused to take care of it without a fee. I reported it to Mazda of North America but because the cars older it falls outside of what they would…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 mazda 3. The contact stated that the vehicle leaked fuel. The vehicle was taken to green mazda (217-391-2400, located at 3760 s 6th st, springfield, il 62703) where it was diagnosed that a charcoal canister filter was loose and needed to be tightened. The [VIN] was not made aware of the failure. The failure was…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 142,000 miles

There is a problem with the variable valve timing system causing reduced acceleration performance. The check engine light is displayed. This problem is exactly the same as the recall on mazda3 vehicles [VIN] between july 2011 and november 2011. The car lost acceleration and a vehicle behind me almost rear-ended my vehicle. For some…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 106,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 19,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

The brake pedal is soft and sometimes unresponsive unless it is pumped repeatedly. There have been several times where I have been concerned if I would come to a complete stop. I have had both sets of brake pads replaced in the last year, and have on driven 9,000 miles. Two independent service centers diagnosed the problem as a faulty…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Weak braking and spongy brake pedal created near accidents at highway speeds. Brake pedal needs to be pumped to get firmness. But the check engine warning light did not come on, either. So I had mechanics replace front rotors, front disc pads, and bleed/refill system with fresh brake fluid and inspect system for leaks. But spongy brake…Owner complaint, filed 2024

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact woke up to the fire department extinguishing a fire in the vehicle. The fire department stated that the fire began under the hood and that the fire was due to the electrical system. The vehicle was deemed totaled by the insurance…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 160,000 miles

The contact owns a 2012 mazda 3. The contact stated that the instrument panel was popping out of the display paneling. The failure hindered the visibility of the speedometer, fuel gauge, and oil levels. John hine temecula mazda (42050 dlr dr, temecula, ca 92591, (951) 553-2000) stated that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 62,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 45,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

The car leaks gas when the tank is full and if the car is inclined slightly. I've noticed the problem several month ago with an occasional odor but finally saw the gas leaking recently when it was parked on a sloped street.Owner complaint, filed 2025

Our fuel tank is leaking for no reason. Brought it in last year (2024) for state inspections and let them know we smell gas when we park sometimes. They poke around and find nothing, but note there is a faint gas smell and to bring it to the dealer. We take it to Mazda to see if they can fix, they find nothing and charge my wife $250.…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 12,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

I applied the brakes, and the car kept moving forward even though I was pressing the brake pedal. I pulled the emergency brake but that didn't stop the car from moving forward and hitting the back of the truck in front of me. I was on a highway.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 91,000 miles

Mazda 3 skyactive 2012, 45,000 mi. Driving down on a dry street, sunny day, going at approx 35mph when suddenly engine started revving high but car wasn't accelerating. This was very dangerous as car was stalling in middle of the road. The at, tcs/dsc, and engine lights came on. Pulled over safely asap to see what was going on. Turned…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 45,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

Airbag warning light flashes intermittently, dealership said my car is not included in the takata airbag recall. Car has never been in an accident.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 45,000 miles

Takata airbag recall-I believe the 2012 mazda 3 should be part of the recall. My airbag light flashes. It was diagnosed as driver side open. This is a major safety concern. My vehicle has never been in a an accident, but the computer says my airbag had been deployed when it has not.Owner complaint, filed 2017

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 80,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

The Seat Lifter on the driver's side seat frame broke, the metal has a clear stress fracture right near the bracket where the frame connects to the rail. This is the same part that was recalled in the 2010 and 2011 Models by Mazda in 2017. NHTSA Campaign No. 17V-082 It causes the driver side seat to change positions while driving…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Driver seat rocks back and forth. There was a recall for 2010-2011 models for this exact issue but 2012 and 2013 are not included in the recall. This is an issue for later models and was even an issue for the 2014-2018 as a separate recall was issued for that generation. 2012 and 2013 need to be recalled for the seats rocking back and…Owner complaint, filed 2023

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 36,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (10).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The vehicle was transported from the east to Texas, and the vehicle was bought used. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky and that a gap was between the instrument panel and cover. The contact stated that a small to medium bubble had started to form. The vehicle was not taken to the…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 100,000 miles

The dashboard on my Mazda3 has popped up and is causing me to be distracted while I drive, and I am concerned that this could have an impact on airbag deployment, as the lifted dash provides an opening to the wiring and airbags within. I became aware yesterday that this is an issue that Mazda tried to remedy by extending their warranty…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

my power steering has randomly failed for a second time. It happened once before as I pulled into a store -this time it happened while I was travelling southbound on highway 1 a very curvy road with steep cliffs where the speed limit is 55 so it was very scary when my steering suddenly went to manual steering. Turning the car off and…Owner complaint, filed 2021

Power steering light came on, steering became impossible at first, checked fluid, and lines, all was ok, then steering wheel locked up, could not drive anymore. Car was in motion when it all started, on a public road.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 100,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 29,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Ran car into side fencing put up for construction in regards to dodging debris on i295 from construction work. My tire blew out from having to run into the guard rail and I had to put a donut tire on. I believe this incident is correlated to the construction work going on for months now and that I should be reimbursed a new tire and rim…Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 50,700 miles

The tires on this car wore out by 30000 miles and they got extremely loud sooner than that. I hit a nail and 2 different tire shops refused to repair the tires because of uneven tread wear. I always take the car in for inspections and maintenance on time. I went to the [VIN] website and found the safety and quality customer ratings on…Owner complaint, filed 2016

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 49,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The rear shocks have an upper attachment that is made out of aluminum. After only 49000 miles the shock mount corroded and broke. It also caused the shock rod to bend.Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 49,000 miles

Told by mazda technician that right rear sway bar link is defective- failing, and causing a clunking noise. Vehicle only has 54k miles on it, noticed the noise around 52k milesOwner complaint, filed 2018, at 52,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

I can be turning left from a full stop and a few times almost went up onto the median seperating traffic. The car doesn't keep straight in it's own lane unless i put a lot of pressure with both hands on steering wheel and that doesn't always keep it straight, it veers left and right going down the road. Tire pressure light keeps coming…Owner complaint, filed 2022