2004 Mazda Mazda3 Engine Problems

THE CAR RAN GREAT FOR THE END OF 2019. I BOUGHT IT USED AT 145,000 MILES. THEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. NOW ITS STUCK IN LIMP MODE.

NHTSA ID

11318945

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

45 mi

NO PROBLEMS FROM CAR NO WARNING LIGHT. BIG BANG THEN ENGINE MAKING VERY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE...ON INTERSTATE... STILL CRANKS BUT NEEDS MOTOR...READ THAT LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEMS

NHTSA ID

11021388

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

187,000 mi

CLUTCH SLIPPING, HIGH RPMS, NOT RED LINING. TRANSMISSION EXPLODED CAUSING ENGINE FIRE AND BURNING MOTOR AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

NHTSA ID

10722690

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED AND THE CAR'S ENGINE LURCHES APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN EACH DIRECTION AND VIBRATES WHILE IDLING. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATES THEY HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE ENGINE MOUNTS FAIL ON THIS MODEL DUE TO POOR/FLIMSY DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10549986

Incident

Oct 29, 2013

Mileage

55,650 mi

2004 MAZDA 3. PURCHASED CAR USED IN MARCH 2007. PER OWNER SERVICE RECORDS, MOTOR MOUNT #3 FAILED AND IN 11/2006, PER SERVICE BULLETIN, AND WARRANTY, LOCAL DEALER PERFORMED PARTIAL ENGINE REPLACEMENT, INCLUDING RUBBER ON MOUNT #3. NO PROBLEMS WITH CAR LEADING UP TO INCIDENT, REGULAR MAINTENANCE PERFORMED DURING OWNERSHIP 2007 - CURRENT. CAR USED PRIMARILY TO AND FROM WORK, APPROX. 12K PER YEAR DRIVEN. ON 8/29, CAR JUST STOPPED, MOTOR AND TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF CASING, CAR CRASHED ON HWY 9. TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP. INITIAL ESTIMATE OF REPAIR $990 APPROX. ESTIMATE REVISED TO $3500 APPROX. TRANSMISSION BRACKET SHEARED/BROKEN AT METAL. MOTOR MOUNT #4 & TRANSMISSION MOUNT SCREW COMPLETELY DISLODGED. RECOMMENDED REPAIR INCLUDES COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION CASE AND MOUNTS. NOT SURE IF ANY DAMAGE DONE TO TRANSMISSION ITSELF. FAILURE REPORTED TO DSM AND MAZDA CORPORATE. DUE TO CAR OUT OF WARRANTY AND MILEAGE ON CAR $100K, DENIED ANY RECOURSE FROM MAZDA FOR STRUCTURAL FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10422904

Incident

Aug 29, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH AN OIL FILTER HOUSING CRACK. THE DEALER ALSO OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR EXPENSES. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 51,000.

NHTSA ID

10410203

Incident

Jun 14, 2011

Mileage

51,000 mi

POWER STEERING FAILURE, ENGINE MOUNT FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386272

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

Mileage

125,000 mi

I OWN A 2004 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK THAT I PURCHASED NEW. THE CAR HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FAITHFULLY BY MAZDA TECHNICIANS. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. TO REITERATE, THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. HAD MY WIFE NOT NOTICED, AND HAD WE PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE, IT WOULD HAVE BURNED DOWN THE HOUSE WITH US IN IT. WE MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR OUT AND TOOK IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP. THE TECHNICIAN TOLD US THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR FROZE AND THE BELT CAUGHT FIRE FROM THE FRICTION; THIS THEN IGNITED PLASTIC SPLASH GUARDS UNDER THE VEHICLE. ALL TOTAL - $1500 IN DAMAGE. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE COMPRESSOR SHOULD NOT HAVE CAUSED A FIRE, AND IN FACT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME HE HAD SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND ASKED THEM TO RECOMPENSE THE DAMAGE FROM THE FAILED COMPRESSOR AND THE FIRE, AND THEY REFUSE TO ASSIST ME (OR EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ONE OF THEIR PRODUCTS' SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION IS A PROBLEM), OR COMPENSATE ME. I AM LESS CONCERNED ABOUT COMPENSATION THAN I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS ON THE ROADS, BEING DRIVEN BY FAMILIES, WAITING TO CATCH FIRE AND BURN. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND ADDRESSED QUICKLY BEFORE SOMEONE LOSES THEIR LIFE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS OR EVEN WARNINGS FROM MAZDA THAT THIS IS A POTENTIAL PROBLEM. PLEASE, I AM ASKING THAT THE NHTSA ASSIST IN DOING SOMETHING BEFORE THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL MANUFACTURER DEFECT COSTS SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10363507

Incident

Oct 26, 2010

Mileage

74,000 mi

2004 MAZDA 3 WITH 2.3 LITER ENGINE AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAZDA HAS A POOR DESIGN ENGINE OIL FILTER HOUSING. THE END IS MADE OF PLASTIC. THESE END CAPS TEND TO FATIGUE AND CRACK WITH AGE. THIS PART IS EXPOSED TO HIGH HEAT, VIBRATIONS, AND TORQUE. WHEN IT CRACKS AND LEAKS IT LEADS TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355198

Incident

Sep 10, 2010

Mileage

65,000 mi

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN VAN HOLLEN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE SAFETY PROBLEMS (RANDOM STALLING) WITH HIS 2004 MAZDA3 *TGW THE CONSUMER WENT TO SEARS TO PURCHASE A BATTERY THINKING THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE RANDOM STALLING, BUT WAS TOLD THE BATTERY WAS FINE AND IT APPEARED THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT WAS. THE CONSUMER THEN WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD DIFFERENT THINGS WERE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS CAUSING IT TO STALL. THE CONSUMER PAID FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10344349

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR THAT I HAVE HAD SINCE 2004 MAZDA 3. ON SUNDAY, I WAS HIT BY A CAR AT ABOUT A 20 TO 30 DEGREE ANGLE AND THE IMPACT HIT MY PASSENGER DOOR. NEITHER ONE OF US WAS GOING AT A SPEED THAT SHOULD HAVE HAD A RESULT IN THE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED. WHEN HE HIT US AND THE CAR CAME TO REST, THE POLICE AND TOWING PEOPLE DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE HAD SNAPPED OFF ITS' MOUNTING. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. HE TOLD ME THAT BOTH HE AND THE TOWING AGENT HAD EVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE TO A CAR WITH AS LITTLE DAMAGE TO IT. I WENT TO THE TOW PLACE WHERE THEY WERE HOLDING MY CAR TO TAKE PICTURES AND LOOK AT THE CAR, AND BOTH OF THE PEOPLE (DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAN THE ORIGINAL TOW DRIVER) SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THE ONE GUY SAID ONLY TWICE HAS HE SEEN THAT HAPPEN AND BOTH HAD MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND THAT THEY WERE DEMOLISHED UP TO HALF OF THE CAR. HE ALSO SAID THE MOUNTING PIECE OF HARDWARE LOOKED LIKE IT WAS MADE OF DIECAST NOT METAL OR ALUMINUM, WHEN WE INSPECTED IT WE NOTICED THE PART THAT WAS SNAPPED AND I MUST ADMIT IT LOOKED LIKE PLASTIC. I HAD TO HAVE THE STRUTS REPLACED IN 2008, BUT YET I HAD NEVER HIT THE TIRES HARD ON ANYTHING. MY QUESTION IS THIS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AND COULD IT BE DANGEROUS TO OTHER DRIVERS OF THIS YEAR. I KNOW THAT THEY HAVE MADE ENGINES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DROP IN ACCIDENT RECENTLY, BUT NOT FOR THIS YEAR AND NOT FOR THAT TYPE OF ACCIDENT. I HAVE WRITTEN TO MAZDA REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION AND I AWAIT THEIR RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10319918

Incident

Mar 7, 2010

Mileage

96,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN AS AN AUTOMATIC OR A MANUAL. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH IN MANUAL MODE SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS, TO NO AVAIL. SHE HAD TO TAKE HER FOOT OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE GEARS TO RELEASE AND AFTERWARDS THE GEARS STARTED TO SHIFT ON THEIR OWN. SHE WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER, BUT CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE OR MAKE A TURN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING FROM ONE LANE TO ANOTHER AND ACCELERATED THROUGH A RED LIGHT TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ACCELERATING WITHIN IN A FEW MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD MELTED, DAMAGED THE SENSOR AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, SENSORS, AND THE GASKETS; HOWEVER, SHE HAD TO ADD OIL TO THE ENGINE BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE ENGINE ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A REPORT; HOWEVER , THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

NHTSA ID

10316321

Incident

Dec 24, 2009

Mileage

25,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. SINCE 2007, THE CONTACT HEARD A TICKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE NOISE INTENSIFIED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE REPAIR WOULD COST $1,036. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER AS WELL. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,200.

NHTSA ID

10252637

Incident

Dec 18, 2008

Mileage

82,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FLASHED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED MORE THAN THREE TIMES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ID

10244496

Incident

Oct 3, 2008

Mileage

24,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD, AT A LOW SPEED, CHANGING GEARS FROM 2ND TO 3RD, THE CAR STALLED. UPON TRYING TO RESTART THE CAR, IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. AFTER THE CAR WAS PUSHED OFF OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF OIL LEFT BEHIND. REALIZING THAT THE CAR WASN'T GOING TO RESTART, IT WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. AFTER BEING PUT UP ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ROD SLAMMED INTO THE ENGINE BLOCKING, SEIZING THE ENGINE. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN NO REASON FOR THE ROD TO CRACK ON A WELL MAINTAINED ENGINE, ON A 2004 VEHICLE. IN ORDER TO GET THIS CAR BACK ON THE ROAD, THE ENGINE WILL NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. I DON'T SEE ANY RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL, AND I TRULY FEEL THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING COMPROMISED WITH THE VEHICLE, IN ORDER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. THE OIL WAS CHANGED JUST 5K MILES BEFORE. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON... WE ARE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS NEWS AND ARE HOPING MAZDA HAS EXPERIENCED OTHER PROBLEMS SUCH AS THIS ONE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10205612

Incident

Oct 13, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A THUMPING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BELT ON THE PULLEY FOR THE POWER HAD FAILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 56,000.

NHTSA ID

10189982

Incident

May 6, 2007

Mileage

56,000 mi

I AM WRITING YOU TO SEEK YOUR ASSISTANCE IN REVIEWING A COMPLAINT THAT I FILED WITH MAZDA, BUT HAVE YET SEEN NO RESOLUTION. ON DECEMBER 27, 2005 - THE OIL FILTER HOUSING CARTRIDGE ON MY 2004 MAZDA3 BASICALLY FRACTURED AND ALL OF THE OIL WAS RUN OUT OF THE CAR, AND THEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES, AND 5 OIL CHANGES, ALL WITH SYNTHETIC OIL. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO TOM BUSH MAZDA, WHERE THEY VOLUNTEERED TO DO SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF THEY COULD DETERMINE THE CAUSE, AND THEN PERHAPS ASK MAZDA FOR "GOODWILL" ON THE CAR ITSELF. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 3RD, I WENT INTO THE MAZDA DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE "OIL FILTER HOUSING CARTRIDGE" HAD BEEN CRACKED BY FAULTY WORKMANSHIP AT ONE OF THE OIL CHANGE LOCATIONS THAT HAD CHANGED THE OIL. UPON DOING FURTHER RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT MAZDA CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE TO NO LONGER USE THE PLASTIC CARTRIDGE HOUSING, BUT WENT TO A CANISTER FILTER, AND ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO ALL OF THEIR LOCATIONS THAT SEVERE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IF THE PROPER TOOL WAS NOT USED TO REMOVE THE CARTRIDGE. THEY NO LONGER USE THIS DESIGN. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS VIA WEB SEARCH OF SIMILAR FAILURES OCCURRING TO THIS FAULTY DESIGN FEATURE. IT IS FURTHER COMPLICATED BY THE FACT THAT I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT TOM BUSH MAZDA PRIOR TO THE RELEASE OF THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN - IT ADDS MORE CONFUSION TO WHO MAY BE CULPABLE FOR THE PROBLEM. I AM TRYING TO BE RATIONAL ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND AM FINDING THAT MAZDA WILL NOT DESCRIBE THE CHANGE IN DESIGN OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEFECT OF THE PRODUCT/DESIGN. THE OIL LOSS IN QUESTION WAS CATASTROPHIC - NOT A MINOR LEAK, THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE ENGINE EMPTIED IN 30 OR LESS SECONDS. I HAVE CONTACTED THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, MICHAEL VON BALSOM, AT 904-731-4010, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RETURN PHONE CALLS, HAVE REQUESTED AN ESTIMATE OF REPAIRS FROM TOM BUSH MAZDA FROM PAM BUSBY, AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED AN ESTIMATE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146887

Incident

Dec 27, 2005

Mileage

54,826 mi

ON OCTOBER 2004 I BOUGHT A NEW 2004 MAZDA 3 . AFTER THE 1ST WEEK I NOTICED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL . THE DEALER DENIES THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BAD AND WILL NOT REPLACE IT. THIS SMELL IS SICKENING. HOW CAN YOU HELP.*JB

NHTSA ID

10141106

Incident

Oct 26, 2004

Mileage

40 mi

VEHICLE WILL NOT START OR IDLE FALLS VEHICLE, MAZDA3 MANUAL, WOULD NOT START IN DRIVEWAY ON COOL SPRING SUNDAY EVENING. TOWING SERVICE WAS DISPATCHED AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CLOSEST MAZDA DEALERSHIP. AFTER SEVERAL DEALERS CALLS TO MAZDA'S CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS, THE SERVICE PROFESSIONAL WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE IGNITION KEY AND MICROCHIPS. AFTER FOUR DAYS I WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE DEALERS LOT THE IDLE BEGAN TO FALL ONCE AGAIN; HOWEVER, IT DID START THIS TIME. A FEW MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP THE IDLE BECAME SO HARD TO DEAL WITH THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SERVICE DEALERSHIP ONCE AGAIN. SEVERAL MORE CALLS WERE PLACED TO THE HEADQUARTERS AND FINALLY THE DECISION WAS MADE TO REPLACE THE O2 SENSOR. THE CAR HAS STARTED AND RUN EVER SINCE THE REPAIR, BUT THE IDLE IS MUCH LOWER THAN IT WAS ON ORIGINAL RECEIPT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE ENGINE AT IDLE SPEEDS IS MUCH LOUDER AND SOUNDS LABORED. ONCE WINTER COMES I FEAR THE PROBLEM WILL REAPPEAR. THE FUTURE OF THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE IS UNKNOWN. POSSIBLE SAFETY COMPROMISE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10138299

Incident

Apr 20, 2005

Mileage

16,034 mi

THE LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE KEEPS POPPING ON. FIRST IT WAS THE AIR BAG LIGHT THAT TOOK 4 UNSUCCESSFUL VISITS TO THE DEALER. THAT PROBLEM SUBSIDED? AND NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS POPPING ON... *NM

NHTSA ID

10118213

Incident

Apr 18, 2005

Mileage

15,000 mi

THE A/C ON MY NEW CAR DOES NOT COOL THE CAR TO ANY COMFORT LEVEL.. I SWEAT IN THE HEAT WITH THE AC ON.IT DOESN'T COOL THE CAR INSIDE.I HAD IT CHECKED BY MY MAZDA DEALER THEY SAID IT IS UP TO THE MAUFACTUER'S STANDARDS.I TOLD THEM THAT I HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING WITH THE AC ON WHEN PASSING AT 40MPH THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE IT DRAGGED.I HAD TO FLLOOR THE GAS PEDAL ON A MAJORR INTERSTATE TO MOVE FROM 40-60,FROM TOO SLOW TO TOO FAST.I HAD SECONDS TO MOVE OR GET KILLED.THE AC DOES NOT WORK AND THE SERVICE MANAGERR TOLD ME I HAVE TOO SMALL AN ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE LARGER ENGINE THE( 2.3) YET THEY DENY ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE AC SYSTEM.THE AC HASN'T WORKED SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN MAY I NOTICED IT IN JULY.IT TOOK THREE WEEKS FOR THE DEALER TO GET BACK TO ME ABOUT AN APPT. PLEASE IGNORE THE HOOD EQUIPMENT ADDED BELOW( NOTHIGN ADDDED AFTER CAR WAS SOLD) COULD NOT REMOVE EQUIPMENT ADDED IN THIS REPORT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10082903

Incident

Jul 6, 2004

Mileage

1,200 mi