2009 Mazda Mazda3 Other / unspecified Problems

TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 OF THE SENSORS BECAUSE OF BROKEN RETAINING NUTS OR CORRODED STEMS. 3 OF THE SENSORS FAILED DURING DRIVING, CAUSING AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE, CAUSING ME TO ALSO REPLACE 3 OF MY TIRES. ANOTHER FAILED AS I WAS CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE, FALLING INTO THE TIRE. PER GOODYEAR TIRE STORES, OTHER MANUFACTURES HAVE GONE TO A REPLACEABLE RUBBER STEM BECAUSE OF THIS, BUT NOT MAZDA. FIRST SENSOR REPLACED AT MAZDA DEALERSHIP APPROXIMATELY MID 2011, SECOND SENSOR REPLACED 6/01/2013, THIRD SENSOR REPLACED 9/17/2014, AND FOURTH SENSOR REPLACED 3/12/2016 ALL BY GOODYEAR TIRE STORES.

NHTSA ID

10865196

Incident

Mar 12, 2016

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, IMMEDIATELY WENT TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TIRE RUINED. HAD TROUBLE DIRECTING CAR TO SIDE OF ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS AROUND. THE TIRE SENSOR CAME APART. ON 2 OTHER TIRES, THE WERE BREAKING, SO HAD TO BE REPLACED. RUINED TIRE HAPPENED IN 2014, BUT REPAIRED TIRES WERE IN 2015.

NHTSA ID

10862302

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

35,000 mi

TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS CORRODE AND FALL APART CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT INSTANTLY. I HAVE HAD 3 OF THE ORIGINAL SENSORS FAIL AND THE MOST RECENT ONE (2-16-16) ALSO DESTROYED THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE ON 2-16-16. THESE ORIGINAL SENSORS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.

NHTSA ID

10836602

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I HEARD A LOUD CLATTER LIKE A ROCK IN THE WHEEL WELL AND THE SAW SOMETHING BOUNCE OUT FROM THE SIDE OF MY CAR. MOMENTS LATER THE CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE AND VEER TO THE LEFT. I WAS ABLE TO MOVE OVER AND PULL OF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO FIND THAT MY VALVE STEM ON MY WHEEL HAD LOST THE NUT HOLDING IT IN PLACE SO THAT THE VALVE FELL INTO THE TIRE LEAVING A LARGE HOLE. AFTER HAVING THE TIRE REPLACED (IT WAS DESTROYED) I SAW THAT THE VALVE (WHICH WAS PART OF THE TPMS) WAS CORRODED AND COULD BE EASILY SNAPPED IN HALF. ANOTHER OF THESE VALVES HAD FAILED FOUR MONTHS PRIOR SO I THINK THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. MAZDA REFUSES TO BELIEVE THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEIR PART AND SUGGESTS THAT I CONTINUE TO DRIVE WITH THE REMAINING SENSORS.

NHTSA ID

10744122

Incident

Jul 25, 2015

Mileage

80,000 mi

TIRES PRESSURE MONITORS SENSORS WON'T HOLD AIR.TIRES GO FLAT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10588776

Incident

Jan 22, 2014

THE TIRE SENSORS VALVE STEMS CRACKED AND THE TIRES WOULDN'T HOLD AIR IN THE TIRES. MAZDA DID REPLACE 2 BUT SAID IT WAS DONE AS A ONE TIME OFFER. NOW THE OTHER STEMS WON'T HOLD AIR PRESSURE THE TIRES ARE ALWAYS LEAKING AIR. I AM AFRAID THAT THE STEMS MIGHT BREAK OFF AS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ARE DEFECTIVE STEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578772

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

50,000 mi

I CONSTANTLY HAVE ISSUES WITH MY TIRE PRESSURE BEING LOW. I WENT TO FILL MY TIRES UP FOR THE 3RD TIME IN 4 MONTHS AND AS I PUT THE COMPRESSOR TO THE TIRE VALVE, THE VALVE SNAPPED OFF. ALL THE AIR POURED OUT OF MY TIRE. LUCKILY I WASN'T DRIVING AT THE TIME. I CHANGED THE TIRE TO MY DONUT AND DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO MY TIRE CENTER. THEY LOOKED AT THE BROKEN VALVE AND TOLD ME IT HAD CORRODED AND THAT THE WHOLE TPM SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE ALSO WENT ON TO TELL ME THAT THIS IS COMMON. I ASKED HIM "SO, SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN WITH A DIFFERENT TIRE?" AND HE SAID THAT HE WOULD BE LYING TO ME IF HE TOLD ME THAT I SHOULDN'T BE CONCERNED. $150 AND 4 HOURS LATER, I HAD A NEW TPM SYSTEM IN THAT TIRE. KEEPING MY FINGERS CROSSED EVERY DAY THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10557059

Incident

Nov 25, 2013

Mileage

52,000 mi

TWO OF THE TPMS (TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING S___?) SENSORS WERE CRACKED AND REPLACED AT A DISCOUNTED COST TO ME OF $325. THE CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD WITH UNDER 52,000 MILES AND TWO OF THEM CRACK AT THE SAME TIME (!). THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THAT THEY GET A NUMBER OF THESE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY THINK IT IS DUE TO POOR QUALITY METAL BEING USED. THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THEY CRACK TOO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CUSTOMER HAS NO WAY OF DETERMINING THIS OR EVEN KNOWING HOW OR WHERE TO LOOK. I AM NOW VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THE REMAINING TWO.

NHTSA ID

10542330

Incident

Aug 14, 2013

Mileage

51,291 mi

ON AUGUST 16TH 2013 I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING CAME ON AND A FEW MILES LATER FELT THE CAR PULLING TOWARDS THE LEFT AND REALIZED I HAD A FLAT TIRED AND PULLED OVER. I CHANGED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE AND CONTINUED ON MY WAY. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP AND REQUESTED THEY LOOK AT THE TIRE. THEY INFORMED ME THE TIRE WAS PERFECTLY FINE AND WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT WAS THE TPMS SENSOR. THE SENSOR THREADS HAD CORRODED AND RELEASED ALL OF THE AIR FROM THE TIRE. THEY THEN INFORMED ME ALL OF THE REMAINING SENSORS WERE IN JUST AS BAD SHAPE AND COULD FAIL AT LITERALLY ANY MOMENT. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKED THE VEHICLE AND CONFIRMED THAT TPMS SENSOR WAS WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO GO FLAT AND THE OTHER SENSORS ARE BAD AND READY TO FAIL AS WELL. I HAD THREE SENSORS REPLACED AND I WENT HOME AND DECIDED TO CALL MAZDA DIRECTLY AND SPEAK WITH A REPRESENTATIVE AND SEE WHAT COULD BE WORKED OUT. I SPOKE TO A REPRESENTATIVE BY THE NAME OF [XXX] AND I ASKED IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THE VEHICLES TPMS SENSOR. SHE INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THE ITEM I SPECIFIED AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE DOCUMENTED. THAT WAS IT. BASICALLY I WAS TOLD GOOD LUCK WITH MY PROBLEM. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD THEM REPLACE THE FINAL TPMS SENSOR SINCE IT WAS GOING TO FAIL SOON AND I DIDN'T WANT ANOTHER FLAT TIRE OR WORSE, AN ACCIDENT. I'VE LOOKED AROUND THE INTERNET AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE ON MAZDA VEHICLES IN A VERY CLOSE YEAR RANGE AS MINE. I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS NOT NORMAL FOR AN ITEM OF A VEHICLE TO FAIL AND RELEASE ALL OF THE AIR FROM THE TIRE IF THE ITEM WASN'T DAMAGED BY SOME SORT OF EXTERNAL FORCE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10537062

Incident

Aug 16, 2013

Mileage

67,979 mi

I HAVE HAD THREE OEM VALVE STEMS ROT OUT AND COMPLETELY FALL INTO THE TIRE CAUSING A RAPID DEFLATION AND RISK OF CONTROL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST VALVE STEM ROTTED OUT IN 2012 AND WAS REPLACED. I ASSUMED IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT (STUFF HAPPENS). IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS THE SECOND AND 3RD VALVE STEM ROTTED OUT AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY BELLETIRE (2ND IN JULY, 3RD TODAY). LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING ON SIDE ROADS WHEN THESE OCCURRED. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WAS ON THE FREEWAY. I LOOKED UP AND SAW THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE 2009 MAZDA 3 SO I CALLED TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND WAS TOLD CORROSION IS NEVER COVERED IN WARRANTY. THIS IS NOT ABOUT CORROSION, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536865

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

40,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TPMS FAILED AND THE TIRE WENT FLAT. THE VEHICLE TIRE WAS CHANGED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VALVE STEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000.

NHTSA ID

10515351

Incident

Jun 15, 2011

Mileage

38,000 mi

12/26/12, TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED OFF HIGHWAY IMMEDIATELY, TIRE FLAT, NUT HOLDING PRESSURE STEM HAD DISINTEGRATED AND STEM WENT INSIDE TIRE. 1/2/13, ANOTHER TIRE WENT FLAT IN PARKING AREA, NEIGHBOR CAME OVER TO PUT AIR IN TIRE, NUT HOLDING PRESSURE STEM HAD DISINTEGRATED AND STEM WENT INSIDE TIRE. MAZDA DEALERSHIP MADE REPAIR AND SAID THE OTHER TWO TIRE STEM NUTS WOULD GO IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS. ALL FOUR TIRE STEM NUTS WERE REPLACED. RESEARCH ON INTERNET SHOWS THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURED TO MANY PEOPLE OWNING DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLES. APPARENTLY A DEFECTIVE NUT AND STEM SYSTEM WITH ONE OF THREE SERIAL NUMBERS WERE ON ALL THE VEHICLES EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. I BELIEVE THESE NUT AND STEM SYSTEMS WITH THESE SERIAL NUMBERS SHOULD BE RECALLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS TO AVOID ANYONE EXPERIENCING A DANGEROUS BLOWOUT. A NUT ON THE WHEEL SHOULD NOT BE MADE OF A MATERIAL THAT DISINTEGRATES IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS EVEN IF IT IS IN CONTACT WITH ROAD SALT. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE FACT THAT TWO NUTS DISINTEGRATED IN 8 DAYS AND PROBABILITY OF NEXT TWO IN TWO WEEKS SHOULD RAISE RED FLAGS IMMEDIATELY. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO ANYONE! I AM SUBMITTING THIS INFORMATION FOR MY DAUGHTER AS SHE IS STILL VERY UPSET OVER THIS HAVING HAPPENED AND HAVING INCURRED GREAT EXPENSE ON HER PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10491888

Incident

Dec 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA MAZDA3 EQUIPPED WITH SIEMENS SENSOR CDOV 847D TIRE VALVES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE CHECKING THE TIRE PRESSURE, BOTH OF THE REAR TIRES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRES COLLAPSED INWARD AND BECAME DEFLATED. THE VALVE STEMS WERE REPLACED WITH RUBBER VALVES STEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID

10487485

Incident

Dec 5, 2012

Mileage

76,000 mi

TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON I PULLED OVER AND VALVE STEM BLEW A PIN OUT. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE CALLED TO HELP ME AND VERIFIED IT WAS A PRESSURE VALVE STEM FAULT. SEEMS TO BE A LONG REPORTED ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND YEAR. WAS INFORMED TO CHECK ALL OTHER TIRE STEMS FOR DEFECTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478931

Incident

Oct 7, 2012

Mileage

58,612 mi

MAZDA HAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE STEMS BREAKING EVEN WITH THE OEM CAPS BUT THEY STILL INSIST OPERATOR ERROR AND OR THERE WHERE AFTERMARKET ONES ON AT THE TIME OF THE BREAKAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471431

Incident

Aug 18, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

AUG 2011, I WAS DRIVING ON THE AUTOBAHN IN GERMANY WHEN MY REAR TIRE SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY DEFLATED AT HIGH SPEED. THE MECHANIC SAID THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS VALVE HEX NUT BROKE OFF AND CAUSED THE TIRE TO DEFLATE, ALSO DESTROYED MY TIRE. JAN 2012, THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME THE FRONT TIRE WAS NEARLY FLAT AND THE SENSOR HEX NUT WAS BROKEN AND BARELY ATTACHED. I TOUCHED THE NUT AND IT DISINTEGRATED IN MY HAND. THE TIRE IMMEDIATELY LOST PRESSURE AND DEFLATED. THE INSIDE OF THE NUT WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED, ALONG WITH THE SENSOR VALVE. I WROTE MAZDA AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T HELP ME BECAUSE THE MILEAGE WAS PAST MY WARRANTY AND THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF ANY PART. THEY DIDN'T ADDRESS MY SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT A TIRE SUDDENLY DEFLATING AT HIGH SPEED. I STRONGLY SUGGEST MAZDA INVESTIGATE THIS CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS. ANY PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE THE TIRE TO SUDDENLY DEFLATE AT HIGH SPEED IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. I REPLACED ALL MY SENSORS AT A COST OF AROUND $450, PLUS AN ADDITIONAL $180 FOR A NEW TIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450774

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS THE THIRD INSTANCE OF THIS PART/SYSTEM FAILURE! THE ALUMINUM TIRE AIR VALVE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING AND BREAKING! THE METAL TIRE VALVE CRACKED WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A SUDDEN AND INSTANT LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE. THESE ARE FAULTY VALVES, THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON DIFFERENT TIRES. IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS THE CHANCES OF THIS FAILURE ACCRUING IS SEVERELY MULTIPLIED. THESE VALVES ROT AND JUST GIVE OUT WITH NO WARNING. PLEASE RECALL THIS PART! THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF REPORTS AND VIDEOS ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AFTER ALL THREE OF THESE OCCURRENCES AND THEY ARE CLAIMING "DRIVER ERROR"! THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT THIS IS A PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VALVES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10444774

Incident

Jan 21, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. THE TPMS WARNING CAME ON. ON INSPECTION THE TIRE VALVE WAS MISSING, IT LOOKED SHEERED OFF. TOOK THE CAR INTO A TIRE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT CENTER AND HAD A NEW TPMS VALVE INSTALLED. I'VE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON FAILURE IN MAZDA 3'S, AND LIKELY MANY MAZDA'S. AT THE TIME, I CONTACTED A MAZDA DEALER WHO OFFERED NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW A VALVE STEM CAN SHEER CLEAN OFF WHILE DRIVING ON A FLAT, CLEAN HIGHWAY. ALL THEY OFFERED WAS A REPLACEMENT PART, NOT WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS UNDER THE BASIC WARRANTY AT THE TIME. SINCE THEN WE'VE HAD ANOTHER TIRE AIR VALVE SHEER OFF ON A SECOND MAZDA 3 (2009) WE HAVE. WE BOUGHT 2 - 2009 MAZDA 3'S AT THE SAME TIME. THE SECOND MAZDA 3 HAD LOW TIRE PRESSURE. ON INSPECTION, THE VALVE CAP WAS REMOVED AND THE VALVE BROKE OFF. IT BROKE WAS THE CAP WAS BEING REMOVED. THIS IS A VERYDANGEROUS CONDITION AS THESE THINGS CAN SHEER OFF ANY TIME WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION, AND YOU HAVE A SUDDEN LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. WE'VE NOW EXPERIENCED 2 FAILURES ON 2 CARS, AND ONE FAILURE OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED THAT RESULTED IN A VERY SCARY EXPERIENCE FOR A YOUNGER LADY OF COLLEGE AGE. THIS IS DANGEROUS. MAZDA NEEDS TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND MANUFACTURE A PROPER VALVE THAT CAN BE USED IN A VERY COMMON USE SCENARIO, NAMELY, DRIVING DURING THE WINTER MONTHS WHEN SALT IS BEING USED FOR SAFETY REASONS. THAT SHOULD NOT BE USED AS AN EXCUSE AS TO WHY THAT PART FAILS. HERE ARE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF WEBSITES WHERE YOU CAN SEE THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2009/MAZDA/MAZDA3/TIRES/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/2009/MAZDA/MAZDA3/TIRE+PRESSURE+MONITORING+SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10441241

Incident

Jun 30, 2011

Mileage

15,000 mi

PURCHASED MY 2009 MAZDA IN JANUARY, 2009. I HAD TO REPLACE THE TIRES 7/ 30/10 BECAUSE THEY WERE ALMOST BALD. THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE 16,000 MILES ON THEM! LESS THAN 16,000 MILES IN 18 MONTHS SHOWS I'M NOT A HOT RODDER WHO ABUSED MY TIRES. I HAD THEM ROTATED AT LEAST ONCE DURING THE TIME I HAD THEM; I DON'T THINK LACK IN ROTATING THE TIRES WOULD CAUSE ALL FOUR TIRES TO GO BALD! GOOD THING I NOTICED IT BEFORE I GOT A BLOW OUT. EVEN IF THEY ARE SPECIALTY/PERFORMANCE TIRES, TO NEED REPLACEMENT OF TIRES BEFORE 16,000 MILES IS RIDICULOUS! THIS IS MY 4TH MAZDA AND I MUST SAY I AM DISAPPOINTED AT THE QUALITY OF TIRES THEY HAVE ON A NEW VEHICLE, LESS THAN 16,000 IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I NOW HAVE NEW TIRES WHICH HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THEM AND YOU CAN HARDLY TELL THEY HAVE BEEN USED. COST ME $650!

NHTSA ID

10414230

Incident

Jul 30, 2010

Mileage

15,900 mi