2011 Mazda Mazda3 Steering Problems

UNKNOWN. Electric power steering just suddenly stopped working for no apparent reason. Very hard to steer. DANGEROUS!

NHTSA ID

11485378

Incident

Sep 20, 2022

When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn’t show these malfunctions. It literally randomly occurs. Therefore, they told me that I need to bring the car when it start happening in regular basis to understand the exact cause for the issue. I don’t know when it becomes a regular issue. 4-5 days ago, when I was turning right on a small street, the wheel locked again. I was about to crash. It’s a deadly malfunction, so I don’t want to wait until then.

NHTSA ID

11460872

Incident

Apr 12, 2022

WHEN DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP . SUPER HARD TO PULL OVER. VERY DANGEROUS. COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT COME UNILL I TURN VEHICLE OFF AND ON. I HAVE READ MANY POST ON LINE OF THIS HAPPENING TO THIS VEHICLE AND I'M SHOCKED THIS IS NOT A ACTIVE RECALL OR HAVEN'T CAUSED ANY DEATHS.

NHTSA ID

11355694

Incident

Sep 5, 2020

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF ANY INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO MAZDA OF ARLINGTON (1400 TECH CENTRE PKWY, ARLINGTON, TX 76014, (817) 575-6000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11217481

Incident

May 28, 2019

Mileage

120,000 mi

ON APRIL 8 WHILE PICKING UP MY DAUGHTER FROM SCHOOL ON NAUTILUS STREET IN LA JOLLA, POINTED DOWNHILL ON A STEEP GRADE, MY IDLING VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING, I LOST CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITH THE HANDBRAKE, THE PASSENGER CAR DOOR WAS OPEN AT THE TIME MY DAUGHTER WAS TRYING TO STEP INTO THE VEHICLE AS THE CAR TOOK OFF, THE DOOR HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME BREAKING HER TAIL LIGHT, IT TOOK ME THREE TRIES TO GET THE ENGINE TO TURN BACK OVER.

NHTSA ID

11196467

Incident

Apr 8, 2019

Mileage

65,000 mi

MY 2011 MAZDA 3 IS HAVING POWER STEERING PROBLEMS. IT GOES ON AND OFF AND CREATES DANGEROUS SITUATIONS FOR MYSELF AS THE DRIVER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE POWER STEERING GOES OFF AND THE CAR BECOMES VERY VERY DIFFICULT TO HANDLE AND STEER. ITS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AND MAKE TURNS.

NHTSA ID

11079182

Incident

Mar 14, 2018

Mileage

88,800 mi

MY CLUTCH BLEW ON 2/7/17 WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A MULTILANE BUSY CITY STREET. ALL FUNCTION OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION CEASED AS I WAS DRIVING, AND I COASTED ACROSS A LANE AND TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I AM THANKFUL THAT I DID NOT GET HURT. HOWEVER, I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY CAR, A 2011 MAZDA3, STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING! THIS DIRECTLY PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER! I AM AWARE THAT MAZDA HAS A KNOWN CLUTCH RELEASE ASSEMBLY DEFECT - "A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS AS OFTEN, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION AND BECOMES INOPERABLE.' (HTTPS://TOPCLASSACTIONS.COM/LAWSUIT-SETTLEMENTS/LAWSUIT-NEWS/333511-MAZDA-CLASS-ACTION-SAYS-AUTOMAKER-HID-CLUTCH-DEFECT-DECADE/).

NHTSA ID

11014909

Incident

Feb 7, 2017

Mileage

77,745 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAY THE POWER STEERING STOPPED FUNCTIONING. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE MANUEL STEERING. A LESS EXPIERIANCED DRIVER WAS OPPERATING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. HAD HIM TURN THE CAR OFF WAIT A SHORT TIME AND START THE CAR. POWER STEERING WAS BACK. PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE CAR IS IN FOR REPAIR. I ALSO SEE STEERING PROBLEM RECALLS ON THE 2008-2009 MODELS.

NHTSA ID

10981183

Incident

Apr 18, 2017

Mileage

66,000 mi

OEM YOKOHAMA AVID ENVIGOR, FIRST SET OF TIRES LASTED 20,000 MILES. SECOND SET LASTED 20,000 MILES. THE MIDDLE OF THE TIRE KEEPS THE TREAD VERY NICE, IT'S THE SIDEWALLS THAT GO COMPLETELY BALD. VERY DANGEROUS IN THE SNOW AND WET ROADS. FIRST I TOOK STS TIRES (YOKOHAMA AUTH.) DEALER TO COURT FOR LYING ABOUT TIRES BEING STILL GOOD. THEN TOOK YOKOHAMA TO COURT....... DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME DOING THIS..... YOKOHAMA IS PAYING SOMEONE OFF AND GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER. LITERALLY THE JUDGE DIDN'T EVEN LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. GOT SCREWED BIG TIME. SOMEONE LET ME KNOW WHEN YOKONUMBNUTS FINALLY GETS NAILED FOR SELLING CRAP AND GETTING AWAY WITH IT?

NHTSA ID

10787609

Incident

Nov 6, 2012

Mileage

20,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS MAZDA ON JUNE 2014 AND WAS RUNNING GREAT TILL FEW DAYS AGO WHEN THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING , I WAS TOLD TO CHANGE THE BATTERY BECAUSE THE POWER TAKES ALOT OF ELECTRICAL POWER BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED. SO I DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER IN ARLINGTON FOR DIAGNOSTIC, THE RESULT WAS THAT THE PUMP HAS INTERNAL FAILURE AND THAT'S WILL COST ABOUT $1200 TO FIX IT . I HOPE MAZDA WILL FIX IT FOR ME FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY AND IT IS HAS TO DO WITH SAFETY . *TR

NHTSA ID

10628991

Incident

Aug 25, 2014

Mileage

29,200 mi

ON OR ABOUT APRIL 15TH , DURING AN OIL CHANGE AND ALL FLUID INSPECTION BY EWING ,PLANO ,TX, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A POWER STEERING LEAK. AND WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD BRING THE CAR TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP ASAP AFTER I CALLED MAZDA USA. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THAT LASTED A WEEK, TO GET MAZDA USA ON THE PHONE, I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK TO A [XXX] THAT REFUSED TO GIVE HIS LAST NAME, I EXPLAINED HIM ALL THE DETAILS AND HE TOLD ME THAT THE CAR 3/36 WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED BY FEW DAYS( I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON 3/16/2011) I ONLY HAD LESS THAN 32000 MILES ON THE CAR,HOWEVER GOOD NEWS HE SAID THE POWER STEERING WAS COVERED UNDER THE 5/60 WARRANTY, OF COURSE HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT, BECAUSE EVERYONE I SPOKE TO TOLD ME THAT THE CAR STEERING WAS NOT COVERED,AFTER LENGTHY PHONE CONVERSATIONS WITH [XXX] AT 18002225500 OPT 6- 2 AND THEN EXTENSION [XXX] COMPLAIN # [XXX], I WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT AT EL DORADO MAZDA IN MCKINNEY,TX AND A LOANER CAR FOR 2 DAYS, THE MANAGER [XXX], A TOTAL RUN AROUND ,[XXX] TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A SEEPAGE OF FLUID FROM THE POWER STEERING AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE 5/60. I CALLED MAZDA HEADQUARTERS INFURIATED BUT [XXX] WAS NEVER AVAILABLE AND NEVER RETURNED MY PHONE CALLS , MY YOUNG CHILDREN DRIVE THE CAR, POWER STEERING LEAKAGE ARE DANGEROUS, I FOUND OUT THRU INTERNET BLOGGING MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANTHER MAZDA,AND HOPE THE AGENCY WOULD INVESTIGATE MAZDA ,SAFETY ITEM SHOULD ALWAYS BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ( [XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10596559

Incident

Apr 14, 2014

Mileage

31,500 mi

DRIVING FROM WISCONSIN TO CHICAGO ILLINOIS THE POWER STEERING FAILED. WHEN I STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH AND STARTED ON THE ROAD AGAIN, THE POWER STEERING WAS OK AS SOON AS THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE. SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE SAME DAY DRIVING ON SOUTH ON HWY I55 ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME. WHEN I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT COMING INTO TOWN AND THEN LEFT THE STOP LIGHT, AGAIN THE POWER STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ON ANOTHER DAY, IT HAPPENED ONE TIME AFTER THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED ON AN INCLINED. I BACKED THE CAR UP AND COULD FEEL THE POWER STEERING WAS GONE BUT AFTER THE STOP AND THEN GOING FORWARD, THE POWER STEERING WAS OK. AGAIN ANOTHER DAY, IT HAPPENED BACKING OUT OF MY GARAGE BUT AFTER STOPPING AND THEN GOING FORWARD, IT WAS OK ONCE AGAIN. STOPPING THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO FIX ITSELF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. NO CODES COULD BE RETRIEVED. I ONLY SAW THE LITTLE STEERING WHEEL LIGHT ON THE DASH ONE TIME DURING THESE EPISODES ALTHOUGH THE LIGHT MAY HAVE BEEN ON AND I DIDN'T NOTICE IT EXCEPT FOR THE ONE TIME. NOT GETTING ANY SATISFACTION FROM MY DEALERSHIP, I CALLED [XXX] , THE CAR DOCTOR. I WAS TOLD BY HIM, THAT THIS SHOULD BE REPORTED AT THIS SITE AS HE FELT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10485020

Incident

Sep 4, 2012

Mileage

12,000 mi

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2011 I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2011 MAZDA 3 FROM MAZDA OF ESCONDIDO. ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND TURNED ON THE HEADLIGHTS AT WHICH POINT THE POWER STEERING LIGHT AND ALSO THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. AS I WAS TRYING TO PARK MY VEHICLE I NOTICED DIFFICULTY WITH THE POWER STEERING. ALSO, THE DSC BUTTON WOULD NOT TURN ON/OFF WHILE THE LIGHT WAS ON. ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2011 THE SAME TWO LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK A PICTURE OF THE LIGHTS AND THE ODOMETER READING SO WE COULD SHOW THE DEALER. DUE TO A PRIOR WRIST INJURY POWER STEERING IS A MUST FOR ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10426834

Incident

Sep 13, 2011

Mileage

500 mi