2012 Mazda MAZDA3
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 226 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 22 MAZDA3 model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 9 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 5 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, body, hatchback/liftgateSep 6, 2016
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Campaign 16V644000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
17 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, May 25, 2024
Passenger side door airbag is open
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Apr 9, 2024
The dashboard of my 2012 Mazda 3 has separated from the instrument panel causing a gap between them. The dashboard has become very sticky leaving a black sticky film on the surface. This has caused a glare on the windshield making it hard to see at times while driving. There is a letter dated May 2017 from Mazda, Special Service Program (SSP) A9. The letter states that the warranty was extended 7 years (84 months) from the original warranty start date or April 30, 2018, whichever is later, with no milage limitation. As I read it, 7 years of 84 months from 2018 should extend the warranty for repair of replacement through 2025. Mazda refuses to make repairs, or replacement of this equipment that has an impact on the proper function of the airbag system and impairs the driver's vision because of the constant windshield glare. This is an issue. that needs to be addressed as an important safety.
Air bags, Jul 24, 2021
Passenger airbag off flashing intermittently while driving on roadway
Air bags, Sep 18, 2020
AIRBAG RED WARNING LIGHT FLASHING IN DASH, MY VIN IS NOT SHOWING AN AIRBAG RECALL AT THIS TIME.
Air bags, Aug 12, 2020
AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT FLASHES INTERMITTENTLY, DEALERSHIP SAID MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Oct 17, 2017
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.
Air bags, Sep 25, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
Air bags, Aug 31, 2017
TAKATA RECALL IS THERE A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER SAID THERE IS NOT. DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD KNOW THAT AS HE DID NOT ASK FOR THE VIN. SO FAR THERE HAVE NOT BEEN ANY AIRBAG PROBLEMS BUT I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. IF YOU CALL, YOU MUST INCLUDE *82 BEFORE THE PHONE NUMBER. IF YOU DON'T, MY PHONE MAY SAY THE PHONE IS DISCONNECTED. TOO MANY SALES CALLS.
Air bags, Aug 26, 2017
TAKATA RECALL - VEHICLE WAS PARKED/STATIONARY. THE DASHBOARD IS BREAKING APART WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS. SEE ATTACHED PICTURE. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. I WILL BE CALLING THE DEALERSHIP TO GET THIS REPAIRED SINCE THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE OCCUPANTS (MY FAMILY) OF THE VEHICLE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2017
DASH BOARD
Air bags, Aug 10, 2017, crash
WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN APRIL 2017 HIT FROM THE BACK AND PUSH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY BUT THE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING EVERY SINCE THEN. WE WERE SITTING STILL AT A STOP WHEN WE GOT REAR ENDED AND PUSH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE.
Air bags, Aug 4, 2017
TAKATA RECALL I AM TRYING TO SEE IF MY 2012 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK IS PART OF THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALL. SO FAR ALL I HAVE RECEIVED IS A NOTICE THAT I MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO TAKE PART IN A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN FLORIDA.
Air bags, Aug 3, 2017
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN NO ONE IS IN SEAT,MANY PICTURE AND GAVE TO DEALER AND NOW THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON WHEN SOMEONE SITS IN THE SEAT,THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ,MANY PICTURES AND VIDEOS SENT TO DEALER.THIS HAS BE GOING ON SINCE JAN 2017 TO PRESENT.ALL THIS HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AND AIRBAG SYSTEM DOES SELF TEST.
Air bags, Jun 9, 2017
THE PASSIVE RESTRAINT LIGHT IS FLASHING SAYING THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF A ACCIDENT OCCURS? THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM ON OTHER YEAR MODELS AS WELL.
Air bags, Jul 18, 2016
AFTER 90K MILES, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THE DIAGNOSTIC REQUIRED ME TO REPLACE THE SAS MODULE. I WOULD NEED TO RE-CALIBRATE THE AIRBAG SENSORS, IF THIS WAS UNSUCCESSFUL THEN I WOULD NEED TO SPEND ANOTHER $2400 REPLACING THE AIRBAG SENSORS. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN NO ACCIDENTS AND NO FENDER BENDERS, SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT.
Air bags, Jul 1, 2014
TL-THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLIMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ERROR CODE B229A HAD TO BE CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. PAM
Air bags, Aug 23, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIANS RECALIBRATED THE SEAT AND STATED THE SENSOR FUNCTIONED CORRECTLY. THE TECHNICIANS ALSO STATED THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE SEAT MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE SEAT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE DRIVER WAS IN THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.