Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The car leaks gas when the tank is full and if the car is inclined slightly. I've noticed the problem several month ago with an occasional odor but finally saw the gas leaking recently when it was parked on a sloped street.
Our fuel tank is leaking for no reason. Brought it in last year (2024) for state inspections and let them know we smell gas when we park sometimes. They poke around and find nothing, but note there is a faint gas smell and to bring it to the dealer. We take it to Mazda to see if they can fix, they find nothing and charge my wife $250. Fast-forward to a year later, go for the same state inspection and we get failed. Our mechanic says theres a noticeable gas leak from the fuel tank and to take it to Mazda. There is clearly some issue with the fuel tank parts. The car itself only has 77k miles and it is 13 years old.
The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside and outside the vehicle for the next 5 days, prompting the contact to only fuel the vehicle halfway. The contact observed fuel leaking underneath the vehicle near the fuel tank. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the welded fuel tank nipple fuel line connector. The contact stated that the component was cracked along the bottom of the weld. The contact was informed that the fuel tank needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.
After topping off my fuel tank at a gas station, fuel begins to leak from the top of the tank. Prior to noticing the leak, I had noticed a strong smell of gas after topping off and driving home. Symptoms include smell of gasoline, and a gasoline puddle on the ground. The fuel appears to be leaking from the top of the fuel tank, running down the side, and dripping onto the ground. Because of other nearby components that generate heat, this is a very dangerous situation that may lead to fires. Other 2012 Mazda 3 owners have experienced the same exact situation. The following threads shows comments from various people that have experienced the issue. The component that seems to have failed is the vent hose which allows gasoline to seep to the exterior of the tank. Fuel leaks are extremely dangerous as sparks, matches, cigarettes, or other heat sources can ignite the fuel leading to a total loss. https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/fuel-leaking-from-gas-tank-area-after-filling-up.236569/ https://www.mazdaspeeds.org/index.php?threads/resolved-fuel-leak-by-tank.14228/ Quotes for repair seem to vary with some people claiming up to $900.
WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD.MY CAR SPEEDS UP AND I DON'T PRESS ON THE EXCILERATOR ANY HARDER. THE CARS IDOL GOES UP AND DOWN WHEN DRIVING AND AT PARK. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL TYPES OF ROAD WAYS. SOMETIMES IT SPEEDS UP ON ME SO FAST I HAVE TO HIT THE BRAKE WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD.
SMELL OF FUEL IS VERY NOTICEABLE AFTER FILLING UP THE GAS TANK. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INDICATES THERE IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE NEAR/AROUND THE TANK BUT NOT ON TOP WHERE THE FUEL PUMP IS. IT IS OBSERVED THAT THE LEAK HAPPENS WHEN TANK IS FILLED UP FULL AND MORE SO IF PARKED UPHILL. IF FILLED UP FULL, THE LEAK SEEMS TO STOP IF CAR IS PARKED DOWNHILL. RESEARCH INDICATES SEVERAL OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS. FOR A PART THAT IS NOT MOVING OR WEARING OUT, WHETHER THE TANK OR ATTACHED HOSE, TO BREAK FOR A 7-8 YEAR OLD CAR IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS CAN CAUSE A FIRE OR EXPLOSION LEADING TO DEATH.
GAS LEAKING FROM BACK OF FUEL TANK AFTER FILLING IT UP. IT I ONLY FILL UP HALF WAY NO LEAK
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNSPECIFIED SPEED, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JENKINS MAZDA OF OCALA (352-815-2425, LOCATED AT 1740 SW COLLEGE RD, OCALA, FL 34471) WHERE THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED SIX MOTHS LATER. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSMISSION AXLE. SEVEN MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLUNKING SOUND AND WAS TOWED TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AND REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND OFFERED TO PROVIDE A DISCOUNT TOWARDS THE COST OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE OFFER WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,740.
FUEL FILLER LINE LEAK. WHEN GAS TANK IS FULL FUEL LEAKS FROM SMALL WHOLE IN LINE THAT GOES INTO GAS TANK. MY MECHANIC SAYS IT IS WHERE THE LINE IS WELDED TO GAS TANK HAS BROKEN THE MAZDA SERVICE MANAGER TELLS ME IT'S NOT AN ISSUE THAT MAZDA WILL FIX, EVEN THOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2013 MODELS, SO IF THE SAME THING HAPPENS TO A 2012 MODEL WHY IT NOT BE REPAIRED BY MAXDA?
EACH TIME THE VEHICLE IS FUELED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON. I HAVE CLICKED THE FUEL CAP SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE HAD THE CAP REPLACED. THERE IS AN EVAP CODE SHOWING. THE CAR CANNOT PASS ANY STATE INSPECTION
WHEN I FILL MY GAS TANK, GASOLINE GUSHES OR SPURTS OUT WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. I KNOW NORMALLY THE GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF AUTOMATICALLY WHEN TANK IS FULL. THE AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF WHEN FUELING DOES NOT WORK. GAS ALWAYS OVERFLOWS (REGARDLESS OF WHAT GAS STATION I GO TO OR IF I HOLD THE PUMP WHEN FUELING). IT IS A MAJOR OVERFLOW. NOT A LITTLE GAS COMES OUT, A LOT COMES OUT, AND FORCEFULLY. I CANNOT FILL MY TANK MORE THAN 10 GALLONS. GAS WILL LITERALLY SHOOT OUT AROUND THE PUMP. FUEL HAS HIT MY LEGS AND FEET SEVERAL TIMES. THE CAR IS ALWAYS TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION WHEN FUELING.
GAS CAP. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE GAS CAP WORKS ITSELF LOOSE AND CAUSES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE SINCE A LOOSE GAS CAP INTRODUCES AN OXYGEN LEAK. THE DEALER'S FIX IS TO TIGHTEN THE CAP. HOWEVER, ONCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THIS CAUSES THE OWNER TO HAVE TO EITHER BUY A CODE SCANNER TO RESET THE CODE OR GO TO THE DEALER AND PAY FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE TYPE OF DRIVING OR ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CAP WORKS ITSELF LOOSE AND THAT TRIGGERS THE WARNING LIGHT.
WHEN DECELERATING, I'LL PUSH IN CLUTCH, APPLY BRAKE, AND SHIFT TO A LOWER GEAR. AS I LET OUT THE CLUTCH, CAR WILL SOMETIMES LURCH FORWARD (AS IF I'M DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR EVEN THOUGH I'M NOT). I MUST IMMEDIATELY DEPRESS CLUTCH AGAIN AND LET OUT SLOWLY TO PREVENT THE SUDDEN SURGE IN ACCELERATION. MOST OFTEN HAPPENS WHEN I AM COMING OUT OF A TURN AND BEGIN TO LET OUT CLUTCH. ALSO, AT 3 1/2 YEARS OLD, WITH 95,000 MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS STARTED POPPING OUT OF 4TH GEAR WHILE DRIVING. I'LL BE DRIVING ALONG AND FOR NO REASON SHIFTER WILL POP OUT OF GEAR. INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP SAID CAUSE IS LIKELY BAD BEARINGS INSIDE TRANSMISSION AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT WITH MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2010 MAZDA 5 WITH 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I'VE REPORTED PROBLEMS TO MAZDA SERVICE AND OF COURSE THEY CAN NEVER GET PROBLEM TO REPEAT ITSELF WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING.
I JUST GOT OFF WORK AND GOT IN MY CAR TO LEAVE. I TURNED ON THE CAR AND EVERYTHING SEEMED NORMAL. I PULLED OUT OF THE PARKING LOT AND AS SOON AS I PULLED UP TO THE LIGHT, WHICH WAS 1BLOCK AWAY, MY CAR SHUT OFF. I WAS JUST AT THE RED LIGHT WAITING THEN MY CAR TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT TURN BACK ON. ALL THE POWER IN THE CAR WAS THERE BUT MY CAR WOULD JUST NOT TURN BACK ON, MY VEHICAL WAS BEING OPERATED IN THE AUTOMATIC POSITION.THIS WAS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON DURING THE 5 O'CLOCK TRAFFIC AND I HAD ALL THESE VEHICALS LINED UP BEHIND ME HONKING AND I HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICALS OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALL A TOW TRUCK. MY VEHICAL WAS LUCKILY ON THE CITY STREET.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY - I WAS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED. THE CAR LOST SORT OF RESET ITSELF - DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON (ACCORDING TO MY WIFE). RADIO/CD STOPPED MUSIC - ABS LIGHT WENT ON (THAT'S ALL I CAN SEE FROM PASSENGER SIDE). MY WIFE SAID OTHERS TOO BUT SHE WAS FOCUSED ON THE ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. SHE WAS NERVOUS AND SAID THE CAR WAS NOT RESPONDING TO THROTTLE. LUCKILY ALL WENT BACK TO NORMAL AFTER 2 OR MAYBE 3 SECONDS. THE MUSIC CAME BACK ON ALSO. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY SIGN OF TROUBLE. WE PULLED OVER AND I CHECKED THE FRONT TO SEE IF WE HIT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED IT. RESTARTED THE CAR - ALL SEEMED NORMAL AND REACHED OUR DESTINATION. THIS WAS OUR FIRST 200 MILE TRIP OR MORE ON THIS CAR. 1 DAY AFTER ARRIVAL - I DID A ONCE OVER SAFETY CHECK (FLUIDS, TIRE PRESSURE, ETC) NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. GOT MY OBD2 CODE READER AND IT HAD THE FOLLOWING U3003 U0140 U0428. SO I WILL TAKE THIS TO OUR DEALER FOR CHECKUP. *TR
DRIVING AT APPROX 45MPH, CAR LOST ACCELERATION, POWER STEERING, AND MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS ON. CAR MOVED TO SITE OF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO DEALER. *TR
DRIVING AT 70MPH, LOST ACCELERATION AND MULTIPLE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. HAD TO MOVE OVER TO EMERGENCY LANE ON INTERSTATE AND DRIVING TO NEAREST EXIT AT APPROX 40MPH. CAR TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. *TR
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON FOR A WEEK; THE DEALER SAID IT WAS NO BIG DEAL AND TO BRING IT IN AT ANY TIME. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER ONE DAY AND OTHER WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A BAD FUEL INJECTOR AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, NOW, FOUR MONTHS LATER, THE CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM -- THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME BACK ON. THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN GETTING THE MAXIMUM MPG (ABOUT 10 PERCENT LESS) AND THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HESITATION WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS. I WILL BE BRINGING IT BACK TO THE DEALER. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE SAME COMPLAINT OF OTHERS REGARDING THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER -- THANK GOODNESS I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY. *TR
UPON TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE EXHAUST FUME SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN EGG SMELL. THE MAZDA DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE MAZDA DEALER SUGGESTED USING ONLY SHELL GAS. THE MAZDA DEALER ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE IS NOT ENOUGH INCIDENTS YET FOR MAZDA TO RECALL THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR
I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN TRAFFIC WHEN I NOTICED A LARGE WHITE SPIDER ABOUT THE SIZE OF MY THUMB COME OUT OF THE DASHBOARD (WHERE THE MPG DISPLAY IS LOCATED). THE FOLLOWING MORNING, I NOTICED ANOTHER SPIDER ON MY DASHBOARD NEAR THE VENT AT THE VERY FRONT. BOTH SPIDERS LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE WHITE SAC SPIDERS DESCRIBED IN THE MAZDA 6 RECALL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TODAY TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS THESE SPIDERS ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE IN THE FUEL TANK. MAZDA REFUSED TO LOOK AT MY CAR STATING THAT MY MODEL WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL AND THEREFORE IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. GRANTED MY MODEL IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST, I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I ASKED THEM TO WRITE, SIGN AND DATE A PAPER STATING THAT THEY ARE DECLINING TO LOOK INTO MY CAR'S PROBLEM IN THE OFF CHANCE THAT SOMETHING HAPPENS. I WANT TO BE SURE THAT MAZDA IS HELD LIABLE FOR REFUSING TO EVEN LOOK AT MY FUEL TANK. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 MAZDA 3 SKYACTIV AND A COUPLE SPIDERS CAME OUT OF NOWHERE ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. I KNOW, STUPID. I WAS ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE SPIDERS AS THE SAME SPIDER THAT MAZDA HAD ALREADY RECALLED FOR OTHER MODEL YEARS, YET DID NOT FOR OURS. I'M A LITTLE ANNOYED THERE ARE STILL SPIDERS IN THERE CARE AND MAY CAUSE FUEL PROBLEMS, AND I DON'T BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM REMOVED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THERE WERE SPIDERS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM AREA. THE VEHICLE ALSO BEGAN TO JERK WHEN ACCELERATING. THE DEALER WOULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE, STATING THAT BUGS AND SPIDERS WERE NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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