RoadVitals

2010 Mazda Mazda3 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Jan 11, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 686 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Mazda Mazda3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 11, 2024

TCM has failed to communicate in engine. Car doesn’t not shift properly or has hard shifts if it is able to get back into gear. Car may experience AT engagement making it hard to steer and control vehicle. Can happen in the middle of driving. Independent service Auto mechanic shop Vehicle has no warning lights indicating failure until hard shift when driving 50miles per hour and engine would no longer speed up AT light then came on. Once parked for two days check engine light came on and vehicle no longer would shift into gear.

NHTSA ID
11564796
Incident
Dec 22, 2023
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2022

The contact's friend owns a 2010 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while riding in the front passenger’s seat, there was an abnormal booming sound heard. After exiting the vehicle, the driver and passenger opened the hood and noticed that the engine had fallen. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

NHTSA ID
11456095
Incident
Mar 9, 2022
Mileage
160,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 4, 2021

HORN WORKS ON AND OFF, CAR IS UNABLE TO REVERSE (PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE WAS ABLE TO GO FORWARD,TURNED THE CAR OFF WENT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE REVERSE GEAR DOES NOT WORK,TRANSMISSION CLUTCH GETS STUCK AND TAKES OFF UNEXPECTEDLY AT A FAST SPEED WITHOUT PRESSING THE GAS

NHTSA ID
11394678
Incident
Feb 3, 2021
Mileage
137,534 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 16, 2021

HAS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR HOME FROM WORK. DRIVING ABOUT 35MPH I STARTED TO LOOSE POWER AND THEN THE AT, ENGINE, TCS/DSC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. WHEN I MADE IT HOME I LET IT SIT. WHILE I LOOKED INTO THE ISSUE ON GOOGLE LATER THAT EVENING I WENT BACK TO SEE IF MY CAR WAS STILL HAVING THE ISSUE. I PLACED THE CAR IN REVERSE AND MY CAR JUMPED/ JERKED REAL HARD. AS I LET GO OF THE BREAK I NOTICED MY CAR DIDN'T SLOWLY MOVE ON ITS OWN LIKE PRIOR. I ACTUALLY HAD TO PRESS THE GAS DOWN QUITE A BIT. MY CAR REVVED UP TO 3 MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE CAR HAD NO POWER WOULD HARDLY MOVE. AS I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEMS AND LIGHT ISSUES IT WAS KINDA A SURPRISE HOW EASY IT WAS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS. SINCE THIS IS A VERY VERY COMMON ISSUE FOUND WITH THE MAZDA CARS. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE THAT WHEN YOU ORDER THE PART AT OVER $600.00 IN THE DIRECTIONS THAT IS SENT THEY ACTUALLY RECOMMEND RELOCATING THE TCM TO A DIFFERENT LOCATION USING ZIPTIES. WENT TO HAVE CAR CODES READ ON MY CAR INFORMED THE GUY WHAT I BELIEVED IT TO BE AND THE MOST LIKELY WILL BE U0101 LOST COMMUNICATION WITH TCM, AND I WAS CORRECT.

NHTSA ID
11388410
Incident
Jan 13, 2021
Mileage
152,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 15, 2020

THERE IS A RECALL APPLICABLE TO MY VEHICLE WHICH REQUIRES THAT ENGINE MOUNTS BE STABLILZED. IT MAKES MY CAR VIBRATE AND THE ENGINE SOUNDS LOUD WHILE SEATED IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO A COUPLE OF DEALERS AND THEY SAY THEY DON'T HAVE THE REQUIRED PART. I WAS SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR.BECAUSE IT WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LET IT SIT IN MY GARAGE SINCE 2008. I FINALLY TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD CAUSED A HOLE IN THE COOLANT TANK AND IT WAS LEAKING COOLANT. THAT'S WHY IT OVERHEATED. THE CAR RUNS FINE NOW, BUT NEEDS TO HAVE THE ENGINE MOUNT PUT IN. WHAT DO I DO NOW? IN ADDITION, MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT OPERATE. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A FUSE ISSUE, BUT ANOTHER MAZDA 3 OWNER TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11339602
Incident
Jul 14, 2020
Mileage
260,760 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 22, 2019

WITHIN A WEEK AFTER PURCHASING MY 2010 MAZDA 3 S SPORT SEDAN IN OCTOBER, 2018 FROM A USED CAR DEALER IN MIDVALE, UT, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. USING A CODE READER, I CONSISTENTLY GET A CODE OF P0421, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE CATALYST EFFICIENCY IS BELOW THRESHOLD. I HAVE HAD 3 AUTO REPAIR SHOPS LOOK AT MY CAR, AND THEY ALL SAY THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DESPITE THE FACT THAT MAZDA WARRANTS CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS/PZEV VEHICLES (WHICH MINE IS) FOR A PERIOD OF 15 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES ON ALL EMISSIONS RELATED COMPONENTS, THEY WILL NOT REPAIR MY CAR UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE I CURRENTLY DO NOT LIVE IN A STATE THAT USES CA EMISSIONS STANDARDS WHEN TESTING VEHICLE EMISSIONS. I FEEL THAT SINCE MY CAR IS NOT PERFORMING AS IT WAS DESIGNED AND MAY BE RELEASING MY POLLUTANTS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE THAT IT SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO CHARGE TO ME, REGARDLESS OF WHERE I CURRENTLY LIVE. IN ADDITION, WHEN I START THE CAR ON A COLD ENGINE, I CAN SMELL EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE THE CABIN, WHICH LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A LEAK AT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKET WHICH COULD BE DANGEROUS TO ANYONE DRIVING THE CAR IF THEY INHALE THE EXHAUST GASES THAT MAY ENTER THE PASSENGER AREA THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUES TO GO ON DAILY (UNLESS I RESET IT, AND THEN IT GOES BACK ON AGAIN LATER AFTER DRIVING) AND MY CAR WILL NOT PASS ITS NEXT EMISSIONS INSPECTION WITHOUT THIS ISSUE BEING FIXED.

NHTSA ID
11290720
Incident
Oct 22, 2018
Mileage
131,500 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 6, 2019

THE MAZDA DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE EQUIPMENT TO MAKE THE HARNESS FIX. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY CAR AND ONE DAY, MY CAR HAD LOUD ROARING SOUND. WITHIN A COUPLE DAYS LATER, IT BEGAN TO EMIT WHITE SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD AND BLACK SMOKE FROM TAILPIPE AND BEGIN TO LOSE POWER ON FREEWAY OFF-RAMP. I COASTED TO BOTTOM OF OFF RAMP. THEN I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT TO MOVE IT TO A NEARBY KAISER LOT ADJACENT TO EXIT RAMP. FROM THERE, I HAD IT TOWED HOME AND HAVE NOT DRIVEN IT SINCE.

NHTSA ID
11278526
Incident
Feb 14, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 19, 2019

THE TCM WENT OUT AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE CAR JERKED VIOLENTLY TO THE RIGHT AND ALMOST CAUSED MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO WRECK'. DID THIS NOT HAVE A RECALL?

NHTSA ID
11256624
Incident
Sep 4, 2019
Mileage
169,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 20, 2019

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE DASH LIGHTS START BLINKING AND CAR STOPS ACCELERATING, TURNS ON BY WON'T MOVE. MECHANIC SAYS ENGINE IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH TRANSMISSION. ELECTRICAL ISSUE SEEMS LIKE. WHEN IT RESTS IT WILL WORK BUT THEN AFTER DRIVING IT HAPPENS AGAIN. IT JUST STOPS WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING, DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ID
11233552
Incident
Jun 22, 2019
Mileage
122,000 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jul 1, 2019
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING AND OIL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN MECHANIC, BUT NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO COMPASS MOTORS (200 DOLSON AVE, MIDDLETOWN, NY 10940, (844) 258-3818), BUT THEY REFUSED TO ASSIST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER YELLED AT HER WHILE SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO THEN CONTACTED THE DEALER. THE DEALER CLAIMED TO HAVE DONE NOTHING WRONG AND PROMISED TO HAVE THE OWNER OF THE DEALER CALL HER BACK. THE CONTACT HAD NOT RECEIVED A CALL BACK AND TRADED IN THE VEHICLE BECAUSE SHE WAS TOO SCARED TO DRIVE THE OLD VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,220. *AS UPDATE: THE CONTACT HAS SUFFERED A TORN LIGAMENT DUE TO TURNING WHEEL OF THE CAR WITH NO POWER.*AS

NHTSA ID
11228692
Incident
Jun 25, 2019
Mileage
8,220 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Oct 26, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED AND BEGAN TO SWITCH GEARS INVOLUNTARILY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND OPENED THE HOOD LATCH. AAA WAS CONTACTED AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AAA DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT MAY HAVE FRACTURED WITHIN THE VEHICLE. JIM ELLIS MAZDA ATLANTA (5855 PEACHTREE BLVD, ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30341, (888) 814-7086) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 280,000.

NHTSA ID
11143014
Incident
Oct 21, 2018
Mileage
280,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 13, 2017

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASION THAT WERE SEVERAL MONTHS APART FROM ONE ANOTHER, MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT OFF WHILE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I DID NOT TOUCH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION IN ANY WAY. THERE WERE NO BUMPS OR DRASTIC CHANGES IN THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND I HAD TO HURRY TO GET IT START AGAIN. BOTH INCIDENTS I WAS ACTIVELY DRIVING ON CITY STREETS. I WAS ON A 45 MPH ROAD THE FIRST TIME AND A 35 MPH ROAD THE SECOND TIME. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED THE ISSUE BUT IT HAS HAPPENED TWICE FOR NO APPARENT REASON AT ALL. THE LAST TIME THAT IT OCCURRED, I WAS JUST COMPLETING A TURN.

NHTSA ID
11054622
Incident
Sep 29, 2017
Mileage
96,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 29, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. AT TIMES, WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THERE WAS AN UNKNOWN RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ID
10969311
Incident
Jul 2, 2015
Mileage
106,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2017
1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND AN UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10954887
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2016

MY CAR HAS HAD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE HOOD FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID IT IS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL TO HAVE A MOTOR MOUNT ISSUE.. BUT NOT TO FIX IT YET BECAUSE IT IS JUST NOW STARTING AND IT WILL BE FINE FOR A 6 MONTHS OR SO?!?!? SERIOUSLY ...

NHTSA ID
10851053
Incident
Mar 22, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 14, 2015

VEHICLE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE RUNNING ON HIGHWAY,INMOVILIZING ALL SYSTEMS. TAKEN TO SHOP SCANNED FOR TROUBLE ,CODE U0100 WAS DETECTED.RECALL FOR WIRING WAS CHECKED WIRING IS OK. REPLACED BURN OUT PARTS TAKEN TO TEST SAME PROBLEM ARISE.

NHTSA ID
10781946
Incident
Jan 10, 2015
Mileage
653,400 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 30, 2015
1 injury reported

DURING THE SUMMER THERE WAS A TOXIC SMELL THAT WAS MAKING MYSELF AND OTHERS WHO RODE IN THE VEHICLE ILL. DEALERSHIP SAID THE SMELL WAS PROBABLY THE PURGE VALVE WHICH WAS NORMAL AND THAT BASED ON THE SMELL MY VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE PURGING MORE THAN OTHERS BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. SUMMER OF 2014 THE SMELL BECAME EXTREMELY UNBEARABLE WHILE IN THE VEHICLE I WAS SUFFERING SEVERE NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS, AND BURNING SENSATIONS IN MY EYES AND AIRWAYS. PEOPLE COULD SMELL THE TOXINS JUST BY OPENING THE DOOR. I NOTICED THE HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DASHBOARD AND CAME ACROSS ANOTHER MAZDA OWNER WHO BECAME ILL BECAUSE OF THE OFF-GASSING FROM THE PLASTIC INSIDE THE VEHICLE SO I RAN THE SAME TEST BEFORE TRADING IN THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A TOXIC LEVEL OF CHEMICALS INCLUDING FORMALDEHYDE. MY APOLOGIES TO THE OWNER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS RESOLD TO BY THE DEALERSHIP, I HOPE YOU DON'T BECOME AS SICK AS I DID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10702659
Incident
May 14, 2010
Driver assistanceEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 1, 2015

DROVE 80 MILES TO DESTINATION ON FREEWAY USING CRUISE CONTROL. CAR ACCELERATED ABOVE CRUISE SETTING ON DOWNHILL - DID NOT ENGINE BRAKE TO HOLD SPEED. WHEN PULLING INTO DESTINATION HOTEL PARKING SPOT AND WITH RIGHT FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE REVVED DRAMATICALLY. APPLIED BOTH FEET TO BREAK. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. CHANGED GEARS TO N, R & P, BUT ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV. TURNED ENGINE OFF. SMOKE GENERATED FROM ENGINE ENTERED CABIN. DID NOT USE CAR UNTIL NEXT DAY. RETURNING HOME NEXT DAY USED CRUISE CONTROL AND EXITED FREEWAY FOR BREAK. SLOWING DOWN FOR STOP LIGHT WITH CAR AHEAD AND FOOT ON BRAKE WHEN ENGINE REVVED AGAIN AS BEFORE. SHIFTED CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF CAR THEN BACK ON. DROVE CAR TO DEALER ON WAY HOME WITHOUT ANOTHER INCIDENT. THIS DEALER IS WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CARE AND ALL WORK EXCEPT TIRES/ALIGNMENT AND BATTERY OCCURRED. THEY EXAMINED AND INSPECTED THE CAR AND KEPT IT FOR THE NEXT 10 DAYS LOGGING 200 MILES WITHOUT A RECURRENCE OF THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691367
Incident
Feb 15, 2015
Mileage
32,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 2, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA 3. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THE LOW OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,537.

NHTSA ID
10661792
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
59,537 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 9, 2014

CLUTCH GAVE OUT AT 33,000 MILES. THAT IS ABSURD. MAZDA CLAIMS ITS UNDER THEIR "WEAR AND TEAR" BUT THIS IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON MAZDA 3'S BACK IN 2011. *TR

NHTSA ID
10587446
Incident
Nov 15, 2012
Mileage
33,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 27, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA, MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR MOUNT WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WENT FLAT WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE TIRE SENSOR WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE SENSORS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,000.

NHTSA ID
10537540
Incident
Aug 16, 2013
Mileage
76,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 18, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA3 . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF ALL OF THE PANEL LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER STATED THE HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10520401
Incident
Jun 15, 2013
Mileage
46,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 22, 2013

HAVE HAD A SITUATION OCCUR ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 2010 WITH 93 MILES - NOW AT ~35500 MILES. WHEN COMING TO A STOP ON A COLD ENGINE THAT HAS ONLY BEEN RUNNING ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES, CLUTCH PUSHED IN TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND BRAKES APPLIED ENGINE WILL REV TO ~2500 RPM AND IT WILL STAY THERE FOR ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS. FIRST FEW TIMES IT HAPPENED I FIGURED I HIT THE GAS AS WELL AS THE BRAKE, AFTER THAT I BEGAN TO CHECK MY FOOT POSITION ON OCCURRENCE AND MY FOOT WAS NOWHERE NEAR THE ACCELERATOR. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS WITH A CAR ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AS IT TYPICALLY OCCURS AS I AM PUSHING THE CLUTCH IN TO COME TO A STOP. ONLY HAPPENS WHEN THE ENGINE IS STILL COLD (GENERALLY THE FIRST STOP OF THE DAY) AND IS VERY RANDOM WHEN IT OCCURS. HAVE NOT BROUGHT TO ATTENTION OF DEALERSHIP AS THERE ARE NO COMMON FACTORS TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. UPON NOTICE OF OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS ISSUE I WANTED TO ADD MY OWN EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504208
Incident
Mar 22, 2013
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2012

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, PURCHASED BRAND NEW. IN JANUARY 2012 THE HEATER WHEN TURNING ON MADE A LOUD CLICKING SOUND FOR APPROX. 20 TO 30 SECONDS, EACH TIME. UPON RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, LOCAL MECHANICS, I FOUND OUT THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT, BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THAT THIS HEATER ASSEMBLY IS NOT ONLY USED BY MAZDA, NISSAN, TOYOTA, CHEVY, FORD, AND LEXUS. THIS HEATER IS KNOWN TO HAVE THIS DESIGN ERROR. I THEN DECIDED TO HAVE THE MAZDA DEALER CHANGE IT FOR $130.00. THE DEALER THEN TOLD ME THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED CHANGING FOR $250.00 PLUS LABOR. THIS ASSEMBLY WAS KNOWN FOR THIS. ALSO THE DEALER HAD UNPLUGGED THE HEATER BLEND DOOR ACTUATOR BECAUSE THIS UNIT IS KNOWN TO START A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. THIS MADE ME EXTREMELY NERVOUS. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *TR *JS

NHTSA ID
10451085
Incident
Jan 6, 2011
Mileage
57,890 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Mar 5, 2012

HEAT IS ALWAYS HOT. THERE IS NO TEMPERATURE CONTOL ON THE HEATER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10450415
Incident
Jul 10, 2010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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