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: engine
36 reports, newest first. Show all
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Apr 10, 2013
MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV HATCHBACK WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. AFTER DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, OR AFTER COASTING IN ONE OF THOSE GEARS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE CAR "SURGES" FORWARD UPON RE-ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ONLY BEING SLIGHTLY PUSHED, BUT THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT HAS BEEN PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL EITHER REV TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM, OR THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FORWARD UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND I TOLD THEM THAT YOU HAVE TO DRIVE IN THOSE CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM. I ALSO TOLD THEM THAT I"VE BEEN DRIVING MANUALS FOR THE LAST 28 YEARS AND DON'T THINK ITS A DRIVER ISSUE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF THIS SAME ISSUE ON THIS SITE AND OTHER MAZDA FORUMS. THIS NEEDS TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY MAZDA!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Feb 15, 2013
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN. THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT TURNED ON AT THIS TIME. PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOTHING. WHEN I SWITCHED THE MANUAL MODE FOR THE TRANSMISSION THE GEAR WAS NOT DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD AND TRYING TO UP OR DOWNSHIFT DID NOTHING. AFTER PULLING OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. I LIFTED THE HOOD AND CHECKED FOR FLUID LEAKS OR SPILLS OF WHICH THERE WERE NONE. AFTER TURNING OFF THE CAR AND WAITING A COUPLE OF MINUTES I TURNED IT BACK ON AND NOW HAD THE TRACTION CONTROL, AT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS LIT. AFTER PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND PUSHING THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH IN ACCELERATION AND WOULD SHIFT THROUGH THE FIRST FOUR GEARS BUT AT RPMS MUCH HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE VEHICLE HOME AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALREADY CLOSED. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE SIT FOR 15 MINUTES OR SO I TURNED IT BACK ON AND NOW ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT. WILL BE TAKING TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 6, 2013
THERE IS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE FROM THE CAR. MAZDA DEALER IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WHEN I WENT BACK FOR SERVICE. I CHANGE GAS TO SHELL AS RECOMMENDED BY THE DEALER, AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALER SAID THAT THIS IS COMON PROBLEM AND BLAMED IT ON THE GASOLINE BLEND. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jan 1, 2013
MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV HATCHBACK WITH THE 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION IS EXHIBITING UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE SYMPTOMS EXHIBITED ARE CONSISTENT WITH MULTIPLE OTHER REPORTS IN THIS SYSTEM. AFTER DOWNSHIFTING INTO 2ND OR 3RD GEAR, OR AFTER COASTING IN ONE OF THOSE GEARS WITH THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED, THE ENGINE REVS AND THE CAR "SURGES" FORWARD UPON RE-ENGAGEMENT OF THE CLUTCH. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS ONLY BEING SLIGHTLY PUSHED, BUT THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT HAS BEEN PUSHED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR. DEPENDING ON THE POSITION OF THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE ENGINE WILL EITHER REV TO 3000 TO 4000 RPM, OR THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FORWARD UNTIL EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH PEDAL IS PRESSED. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY MAZDA AFTER MULTIPLE TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. UPON THE LAST VISIT, A DATA RECORDER WAS INSTALLED AND RECORDED 7 SPECIFIC UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENTS BETWEEN THE DATES OF 11/13/12 AND 11/20/12. ACCORDING TO AN EMAIL I RECEIVED FROM THE DISTRICT SERVICE & PARTS MANAGER FOR DISTRICT 2 OF MAZDA NORTH AMERICA OPERATIONS (MNAO) ON 12/23/12, "THE CONCERN FOUND ON THE DATA RECORDINGS TAKEN FROM YOUR VEHICLE WERE FOUND TO BE A PCM CALIBRATION ISSUE. MAZDA CORPORATION IS WORKING ON A NEW CALIBRATION FOR THE PCM WITH AN UNKNOWN TIME OF COMPLETION." WHEN I REQUESTED THAT MY VEHICLE BE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER OF THE SAME MODEL, THIS WAS THE RESPONSE FROM THE SAME DISTRICT SERVICE & PARTS MANAGER: "SINCE THE CALIBRATION OF THE PCM IS THE SAME ON A 2013 LIKE MODEL WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IT WOULD NOT BE ADVISED TO TRADE YOU INTO THAT VEHICLE AS IT COULD POTENTIALLY EXHIBIT THE SAME CONCERN DEPENDING ON YOUR DRIVING HABITS AND CONDITIONS." I AM CURRENTLY AWAITING A RESPONSE FROM MNAO'S MEDIATION DEPARTMENT REGARDING EITHER REPLACING MY CAR WITH ANOTHER MODEL, OR BUYING BACK THE CAR FROM ME. *TR
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 27, 2012
APPROXIMATELY TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OUT OF A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND CURVE OR TURN, MY 2012 MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. THIS IS CHARACTERIZED BY A VARYING INCREASE OF RPMS: 2100 RPMS TO 4500 RPMS, DEPENDING ON THE INCIDENT, AND A SUDDEN LURCHING OR SURGING FORWARD OF THE VEHICLE ITSELF. WHEN APPROACHING CURVES OR TURNS, AT 30 OR 40 MPH, THAT DO NOT HAVE TO BE TAKEN AT A COMPLETE STOP, I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, APPLY THE BRAKES, AND SLOW THE VEHICLE TO 15-20 MPH. UPON COMING OUT OF THE TURN I SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO SECOND GEAR. WHEN I SLOWLY RELEASE THE CLUTCH, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE GAS PEDAL AT ALL, THE CAR'S ENGINE WILL REV, RPMS WILL SURGE TO AS HIGH AS 4000 - 4500, AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS ONCE AGAIN DEPRESSED. THESE INCIDENTS ARE RANDOM AND ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON SPEED, WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR LOCATION. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE ONLY BEEN DUPLICATED WITH A MINIMAL INCREASE OF RPMS AND NO LURCHING FORWARD WHEN A MECHANIC IS PRESENT. THESE INCIDENTS CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED FOR THE DEALERSHIP AT THEIR FULLEST AND MOST DANGEROUS. *TR
Power train, Engine, Dec 9, 2012
WHEN DOWNSHIFTING (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD TO 2ND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM WENT WAY UP, MAYBE AROUND 4,000 RPM. I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO AVOID THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AND HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND HAVE ONLY OWNED IT 5 MONTHS. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Nov 26, 2012
WHEN THE CAR DECELERATES (BRAKING OR DOWN-SHIFTING) THE HEADLIGHTS FLASH. WHEN I TAKE THE CAR BACK TO MAZDA SERVICE, THEY TELL ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT IS EFFECTING MANY OF THE NEW SKYACTIV ENGINES. THEY SAY THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT THAT IS MAKING THE LIGHTS FLASH. THEY STATE THAT MAZDA ENGINEERS HAVE NOT GIVEN THEM A FIX FOR IT YET, SO THEY CAN'T FIX IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A REAL SAFTEY HAZARD. PEOPLE ON THE HIGHWAY THINK I AM FLASHING MY LIGHTS AT THEM. I BOUGHT A SECOND CAR (SAME MODEL AND YEAR) AT THE SAME TIME AND IT DOESN'T HAVE THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I TELL THIS TO MAZDA, THEY ACT SURPRISED AND STATE THAT I MUST HAVE GOT LUCKY BECAUSE MOST OF THE CARS HAVE THESE FLASHING LIGHTS. THEY SEEM TO JUST WANT ME TO LIVE WITH IT. YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE THIS SINCE THEY ARE SAYING IT IS A COMMON ISSUE. I THINK THESE CARS NEED A RECALL. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 15, 2012
CRUISE CONTROL: PEDAL DOES NOT STAY WHERE IT IS SET - IT RETURNS TO A 0 MPH POSITION. THIS MAKES IT UNCOMFORTABLE TO KEEP YOUR FOOT RESTING ON THE PROPER PEDAL WHILE IN CRUISE, LEADING TO LOSING OF 'PLACE'. IT COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. ACCELERATION ANOMALIES. WHEN STEPPING ON IT (GOING STRAIGHT) ENGINE WILL HESITATE, SEEM TO WIND UP AND THEN GO, NOT GIVING YOU THE POWER YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT, BUT SECONDS AFTER THE FACT. OTHER TIMES ENGINE WILL ACCELERATE UNEXPECTEDLY WITH MORE POWER THAN ANTICIPATED MOST FREQUENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING INTO A TURN. SEEMS UNSAFE. *TR
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Oct 18, 2012
I WAS DRIVING HOME ON A BUSY HIGHWAY BUT LUCKILY CROSSING AT AN INTERSECTION WITH LIGHTS. I TURNED LEFT AND IT WAS AS IF MY CAR WENT IN NEUTRAL. I HIT THE GAS AND I DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE. I HAD TO GLIDE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS CARS WERE BEEPING AT ME. I NOTICED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON. I REGULARLY TURN LEFT AT OTHER SECTIONS OF THIS HIGHWAY WHERE THERE ARE NO LIGHTS AND YOU JUST HAVE TO GO WHEN YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH QUICK. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED THEN? I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT MY MULTIPLE CARS GOING VERY FAST. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RESET AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. "SHOULD BE FINE"! I HAVE A FAMILY AND BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO WE ARE SAFE THEN THIS HAPPENS AND I HEAR "SHOULD BE FINE". *TR
Traction control system, Engine, Oct 8, 2012
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, MY CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER. IT WAS AS IF MY CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL. I LOOKED AT THE GEAR SHIFT TO ENSURE IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE, AND IT WAS. SOMEHOW I MADE IT THROUGH THE TURN AND INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I TURNED THE CAR OFF, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, AND THEN WAS ABLE TO LEAVE. IT WAS SCARY AND UPSETTING AS MY CAR IS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD. THE DEALER SAID THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED SINCE THE INDICATOR IS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED. I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY WAY AT ALL TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THEY SAID NO. I AM HAVING A HARD TIME BELIEVING THIS. I'M JUST GLAD I WASN'T REAR ENDED WITH MY GRAND BABY IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
Power train, Engine, Aug 8, 2012
THE CAR SOMETIMES SURGES DURING DOWNSHIFTING. I WILL BE DRIVING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC IN THIRD GEAR. THE TRAFFIC SLOWS, AND I LET IN THE CLUTCH AND APPLY THE BRAKE. WHEN THE TRAFFIC STARTS TO PICK UP AGAIN, I AM GOING TOO SLOW FOR THIRD, SO I SHIFT INTO SECOND AND LET THE CLUTCH OUT. MY RIGHT FOOT IS JUST RESTING LIGHTLY ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IDLING FAST, BUT AS SOON AS THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ROARS AND THE CAR LEAPS FORWARD, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NOT PRESSED THE GAS AT ALL. I LET IN THE CLUTCH AGAIN TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. WHEN I LET IT OUT AGAIN, IT WORKS NORMALLY. THIS HAPPENS ONCE, TWICE, OR NOT AT ALL IN A 40-MILE ROUND TRIP OUT OF TOWN AND BACK. IT ALSO HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN WITHOUT STOPPING, BUT WHERE I NEED TO SLOW AND DOWNSHIFT. I COAST INTO THE TURN WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL IN, SHIFT DOWN, AND ATTEMPT TO LET THE CLUTCH OUT WHEN COMING OUT OF THE TURN. I WOULD EXPECT THE CAR TO SLOW WHEN I SHIFT DOWN UNLESS I AM PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, BUT SOMETHING OTHER THAN ME IS GIVING IT GAS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN, AND IT NEVER HAPPENS TWICE IN A ROW. I HAVE MADE IT HAPPEN ON PURPOSE, BUT I THINK THAT WAS PURE LUCK. IT HAPPENS WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO ANY GEAR, BUT BECAUSE OF THE HEAVY TRAFFIC IN OUR AREA, IT ENDS UP USUALLY BEING THIRD TO SECOND. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WHEN DOWNSHIFTING INTO THIRD OR FOURTH ALSO. *TR