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: exterior lighting
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 25, 2016
WHEN DRIVING, THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICKER/STROBE/DIM WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS ENGAGED OR WHEN MY FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE GAS PEDAL. USUALLY THE LIGHTS WILL HAVE A MORE PRONOUNCED FLICKER AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 45-60 MPH; HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED THE FLICKER AT SPEEDS AS LOW AS 30 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED EVERY MORNING/NIGHT FOR A WEEK OR SO AND EVERY DEALERSHIP I HAVE TALKED WITH DOES NOT KNOW OF THIS ISSUE. I RESEARCHED A FEW MAZDA FORUMS AND FOUND MULTIPLE POSTS REGARDING A PROGRAMMING UPDATE FOR THE VEHICLE THAT WOULD BE A FIX. I AM WORKING ON GETTING IN TOUCH WITH MAZDAUSA FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BECAUSE GOING TO A DEALERSHIP FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SUCH IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND NOT AT ALL CUSTOMER FRIENDLY.
Exterior lighting, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Aug 12, 2015
PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON AUG 27TH 2014 AS A USED VEHICLE AND DID THE INITIAL TEST DRIVE DURING THE DAY. A FEW DAYS LATER WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT I DECELERATED WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY (SPEED IS 55MPH) TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A 4 WAY INTERSECTION. THE MOMENT BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AND CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL FULLY STOPPED. I'VE TESTED THIS AT MULTIPLE SPEEDS AND ROAD TYPES AND IT HAPPENS EACH TIME. WE LIVE IN A HEAVILY POPULATED AREA WITH PLENTY OF CHILDREN AS WELL AS WILD LIFE AND THIS DECREASES MY CHANCES OF SEEING THEM IF THEY RUN OUT (EVEN WHILE BRAKING, SAY IF I WAS DOING SO SLOWLY A CHILD RUN OUT I CAN E-BRAKE OR APPLY MORE PRESSURE TO BRAKES TO STOP QUICKER...CAN'T DO THAT IF I DON'T SEE THEM IN TIME). IT ALSO IS EXTREMELY DISTRACTING AND ANNOYING. I'M SURE OTHER DRIVERS DON'T APPRECIATE IT WHEN IT'S IN THEIR REAR VIEW MIRRORS NOR WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING TOWARDS ME ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HONESTLY I'M SURPRISED I HAVEN'T BEEN PULLED OVER AND TICKETED FOR "ILLEGAL MODIFICATION TO HEADLIGHTS" ETC. I'M NOT SEEING A RECALL ON THIS, HOWEVER THERE IS SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T THE PCM OR THE ALTERNATOR BEEN RECALLED? THIS PROBLEM AMONG OTHERS I'VE DEALT WITH SINCE PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE AND THE FACT THAT PROBLEMS ARE BEING FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURE MAKE IT TO WHERE I'LL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER MAZDA IN THE FUTURE.
Exterior lighting, Dec 3, 2014
THE RIGHT FRONT HEADLAMP ASSY. GET'S MOISTURE IN IT THAT MADE THE HEADLAMP BULB BLOW OUT. *JS
Exterior lighting, Structure, Dec 10, 2013, crash
CAR HIT COYOTE AT 75MPH. CAR NEVER WAVERED FROM WHAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO. IT SAVED OUR LIVES THAT NIGHT. HEADLIGHT NOT HIT BY COYOTE BUT BARES A LARGE "BLIND SPOT" ON DRIVERS SIDE MAKING CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE AFTER DARK. CAR TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, DEALERSHIP SAYS HEAD LIGHT IS WITHIN SPECS AND WAS COMPARED TO ANOTHER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL YEAR AND THE "BLIND SPOT" IS NORMAL. THIS PARTICULAR MAZDA 3 "DOESN'T LIKE TIRES". THAT IS WHAT THE GUY WHO PUT ON THE 3RD FULL SET OF TIRES TOLD ME. MILEAGE 46,000 THE CAR KEEPS BREAKING MOTOR MOUNTS AND MAZDA CLAIMS THIS IS ALL FROM THE ACCIDENT NOW 15 MONTHS AGO. THEY REFUSE TO FIX HEADLIGHT AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR AFTER DARK AS MY INSURANCE COMPANY MAY FIGHT IF I SHOULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAULTY HEAD LIGHT. I HAVE NEVER KNOW A CAR MANUFACTURER TO OFFER HEADLIGHTS WITH BLIND SPOTS BUT I HAVE AN INVOICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP SAYING THIS IS NORMAL ON THE MAZDA 3. THESE CARS ARE NOT MADE TO TAKE THE IMPACT OF A COYOTE SO I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THE MAZDA 3 SHOULD IT HIT SOMETHING LARGER THAN A DOG. *TR
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 2, 2013
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 45 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED; THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS THEN CAME BACK ON. WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS CAME BACK ON THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE WHOLE ISSUE GAVE THE APPEARANCE OF PART OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM LOSING POWER AND THE POWER THEN BEING RESTORED. DURING THE INCIDENT THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO LOSE POWER, NOR DID THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGE. *JS
Exterior lighting, Dec 6, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE AIMED TOO HIGH, CAUSING DIFFICULTY WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.