2012 Mazda Mazda3 Interior & seats Problems

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The vehicle was transported from the east to Texas, and the vehicle was bought used. The contact stated that the dashboard was sticky and that a gap was between the instrument panel and cover. The contact stated that a small to medium bubble had started to form. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11704211

Incident

Jul 10, 2023

Mileage

100,000 mi

The Seat Lifter on the driver's side seat frame broke, the metal has a clear stress fracture right near the bracket where the frame connects to the rail. This is the same part that was recalled in the 2010 and 2011 Models by Mazda in 2017. NHTSA Campaign No. 17V-082 It causes the driver side seat to change positions while driving creating hazardous conditions and does not appear structurally stable if involved in an accident potentially putting the driver's life at risk.

NHTSA ID

11659410

Incident

May 2, 2025

Driver seat rocks back and forth. There was a recall for 2010-2011 models for this exact issue but 2012 and 2013 are not included in the recall. This is an issue for later models and was even an issue for the 2014-2018 as a separate recall was issued for that generation. 2012 and 2013 need to be recalled for the seats rocking back and forth. This is a safety concern.

NHTSA ID

11526758

Incident

Nov 1, 2020

driver seat support links are broken and seat rocks back and forth, same as recall for 2010-2011 models

NHTSA ID

11518401

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

The seat track on the drivers seat has come apart, so now the drivers seat rocks back and forth with every acceleration and brake, and feels like it's about to come off entirely. There was no incident that seemed to cause this, just one day I got in the car and the seat was loose. I took it to the dealership and they confirmed the seat track is coming apart, but there is no recall out for this VIN so I would have to pay $2400 to replace this defective part.

NHTSA ID

11517801

Incident

Apr 15, 2023

Driver seat has become loose and rocks forward in an up and down fashion while driving. Can be rock by hand as well when not sitting in the seat. A prior recall addressed this issue with 2010-2011 Mazda 3's. This is a 2012 that is having the same problem, but the recall does not apply to it. The recall needs to be expanded to included all vehicles experiencing this issue. NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V082 Manufacturer Mazda North American Operations Components SEATS Potential Number of Units Affected 173,859

NHTSA ID

11446147

Incident

Jan 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while at a standstill, she heard a popping sound coming from the driver’s side seat resulting in the seat moving and not maintaining an appropriate driving position. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V082000 (Seats) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID

11436695

Incident

Oct 6, 2021

Mileage

95,000 mi

Seat height adjustment lifter link has lost the push nut which retained it to the seat rail. Driver seat, left hand front link.

NHTSA ID

11434288

Incident

Sep 24, 2021

The dashboard on my Mazda3 has popped up and is causing me to be distracted while I drive, and I am concerned that this could have an impact on airbag deployment, as the lifted dash provides an opening to the wiring and airbags within. I became aware yesterday that this is an issue that Mazda tried to remedy by extending their warranty in 2017 for my car model. However, I was never notified, and the warranty has now expired. I spoke with Mazda Corporate (call reference # 1-4144339276) and they would not honor the extended warranty to remedy the issue because the time frame has expired. Had I been notified by Mazda and known that this were an issue, I would have had the dash replaced when the warranty was extended. Mazda did not do their due diligence and notify me of their dashboard issue, and denied their failure to notify me when questioned. This places a concern about the practices of Mazda and caring for the safety of their car buyers.

NHTSA ID

11423801

Incident

Jul 6, 2021

MOTOR CYLINDER #1 LOW COMPRESSION TOOK IT TO MAZDA THEY COULDNT FIGURE IT OUT AND LESS THAN 20 MILES AFTER THE MOTOR THREW A ROD AT 70,001 MILES TOTAL. CYLINDER 1 WALLS WHERE NOT MADE CORRECTLY

NHTSA ID

11405847

Incident

Jan 31, 2020

Mileage

69,009 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SEATED IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER IN LINE WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CARDINALEWAY MAZDA - PEORIA (8424 W BELL RD, PEORIA, AZ 85382; (623) 738-0755) WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT TRACK AND ADJUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE PARTS BEING ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 183,000.

NHTSA ID

11375923

Incident

Nov 21, 2020

Mileage

183,000 mi

MY MAZDA3 HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME MANUAL SEAT LIFTER FAILURE ISSUE AS ADDRESSED IN NHTSA RECALL 17V-082. I WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2020 WHICH CAUSED ME TO EXPERIENCE WHIPLASH DUE TO THE SEAT BECOMING LOOSE. THE COLLISION CENTER FOUND THE SEAT IS MISSING THE PUSH NUTS AND THE LIFT BRACKET HAS BROKEN AT THE WELDS WHICH IS IDENTICAL DUE TO SAFETY ISSUES STATED IN THE ABOVE RECALL. MAZDA STATES THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE BUT I COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERELY INJURED DUE TO THIS. MY CAR WAS GOING SLOWLY BEFORE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH PUSHED THE CAR FORWARD ON A STANDARD CITY STREET IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE. I WAS GOING LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR.

NHTSA ID

11355002

Incident

Sep 8, 2020

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT NOW WOBBLES BACKWARD. THE SEAT IS NOT SECURELY IN PLACE, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE. THE SAME MODEL VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR THE 2010-2011 VERSIONS FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE FOLLOWING LINK SHOWS THAT OTHER 2012 MAZDA 3 OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/MAZDA/MAZDA3/SEATS-PROBLEMS.PHP I HAVE EMAILED MAZDA TODAY ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ARE AWAITING THEIR REPLY, BUT I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR A TRANSMISSION ISSUE AT THE MOMENT, IF NEEDED I CAN HAVE THE SHOP TAKE PHOTOS.

NHTSA ID

11270664

Incident

Aug 1, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

DRIVERS SEAT SNAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND CHAIR FELL BACKWARDS. I SEE A SIMILAR RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2011 MAZDA 3 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED A PART USED IN 2011 WAS USED FOR THIS 2012 CAR. THE ELECTRONIC BASE OF THE CHAIR WORKS, BUT THE SEAT WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED.

NHTSA ID

11221342

Incident

Jun 17, 2019

Mileage

106,000 mi

THE LINK CONNECTING THE FRONT LEFT OF THE SEAT SHEARED OFF. IT SOUNDS EXACTLY LIKE THE RECALL FOR THE 2011 MODELS.

NHTSA ID

11160654

Incident

Dec 8, 2018

Mileage

75,000 mi

AS I WAS ENTERING MY VEHICLE ON A SATURDAY MORNING A METAL PIECE UNDER THE SEAT SNAPPED. THE SEAT WAS NO LONGER STABLE AND I BROUGHT IT TO A MAZDA DEALER A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER TO INSPECT THE ISSUE. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH THE PART NUMBER FOR THE BROKEN PART IN MY VEHICLE. THAT PART NUMBER, BBM4-88-H50A, IS THE SAME ON ALL MAZDA3S FROM 2010-2012. IT IS ALSO THE SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED ON 2010-2011 MAZDA3S BUT NOT THE 2012 MODEL. THIS PART SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE RECALLED ON 2012 MODELS SINCE IT IS THE SAME PART AND I AM EVIDENCE THAT THE PART WAS STILL FAULTY ON THE 2012 MODELS. I HAVE ATTACHED 4 PIECES OF EVIDENCE THAT SHOW PROOF OF THE INSPECTION, THE PART THAT WAS BROKEN, THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS THE SAME FROM 2010-2012 MODELS, AND THE NHTSA DOCUMENT SHOWING THE RECALL OF THAT PART. I AM NOT A LARGE PERSON, ~145 LBS, AND THERE IS NO REASON A METAL PIECE HOLDING MY SEAT IN PLACE SHOULD HAVE SNAPPED IN TWO.

NHTSA ID

11130666

Incident

Sep 15, 2018

Mileage

66,500 mi

MY CAR WAS T-BONE, IT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN. MY DAUGHTER WAS MADE TO DRIVE THE DAMAGED CAR HOME INSTEAD OF USING A TOW TRUCK TO TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST BODY SHOP. THE SUSPENSION WAS BENT COMPLETELY INWARDS (DOUGHNUT TIRE WAS USED TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME WITH A BENT SUSPENSION). I WAS TOLD BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST SHOP THEY DO BUSINESS WITH, AND I DID. I ASKED THE SUPERVISOR/ADJUSTER TO TOTAL THE CAR BEFORE EVER SEEING THE INTERNAL DAMAGE. I KNEW THE CAR COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS, ALMOST NEW CONDITION. WE WENT BACK AND FORWARD ABOUT TOTALING THE CAR. HE REFUSED TO TOTAL ONLY AFTER PLEADING WITH HIM, HE AGREED TO DO SO. AFTER SEEING THE CAR STRIPPED FROM LID OF TRUNK, TIRES OFF, I SAW THE RIGHT TIRE COMPLETELY BENT INWARD. I WAS TOLD IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY. I TOLD THE ADJUSTER I DID NOT WANT THE CAR THAT IT IS DESTROYED, AGAIN I ASKED HIM TO TOTAL THE CAR. HE SAID NO, THE CAR COULD BE REPAIRED. I WAS ASSURED BY THE BODY SHOP OWNER THAT HE WOULD REPAIR IT BACK 100%. HE DID NOT. THE SHOP KEPT MY CAR APPROX. 2 MONTHS FROM THE 15 DAYS PROMISED TO BE FIXED. I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 6/24/15. MY DAUGHTER AND I EXAMINED IT AND THE BACK SEAT PULLED AWAY FROM THE BACK AND BASE OF THE SEAT; WOULD NOT STAY LOCKED DOWN. IT PULLED COMPLETELY AWAY FROM THE BACK, OUT, AND UP; TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT WORK; SUSPENSION WAS UNBALANCED, THE CAR PULLED LEFT. THE RIGHT SUSPENSION WAS LOWER ABOUT 5/8" LOWER THAN THE LEFT SUSPENSION; NAIL IN TIRE WHICH MADE THE TIRE SENSOR LIGHT STAY ON; CAR SMELLED OFFER INSIDE; IT WAS NOT WASHED BEFORE GIVEN BACK TO ME; PAINT HAD DRIPPED AND DRIED UP AT THE BASE OF THE CAR WHERE REPAIR WORK HAD BEEN DONE; RIGHT DOOR DID NOT ALIGN; BACK PANEL DID NOT ALIGN; SUSPENSION WAS NOT COATED, LEFT TO RUST OUT; RADIO HAD BEEPING SOUND WHEN CHANGING STATIONS; MY DAUGHTER HAS 13 MONTH OLD WHO RIDES IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10735022

Incident

May 17, 2015

Mileage

53,000 mi

TOOK DELIVERY OF 2012 MAZDA3 I GRAND TOURING WITH 19,293MILES ON IT. NOTICED DRIVER'S SEAT ROCKED BACK AND FOURTH UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE I GOT IT AND WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO MAZDA DEALER AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO LOCAL MAZDA DEALER ON FEB 17 2014 AND THEY NOTICED THE ROCKING IN THE SEAT AND REPLACED THE SEAT TRACK. AFTER REPLACING THE TRACK, THE SEAT STILL ROCKED AND THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED THE FACT IT WAS STILL DOING IT. THEY CONTACTED MAZDA TECHNICAL SUPPORT WHO GOT BACK WITH THEM TODAY, FEB 21 2014, AND MAZDA TECH SUPPORT SAID IT IS NORMAL FOR THE SEAT TO DO THIS. I FIND IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE THAT EVERY TIME I HIT THE BRAKES MY SEAT ROCKS FORWARD, WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN AN ACCIDENT? IS THE SEAT GOING TO HOLD UP? I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES A HARD LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, THERE ARE NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS ALL OVER THE MAZDA3 FORUMS AS WELL, WITH SIMILAR RESPONSES FROM MAZDA. I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565305

Incident

Feb 10, 2014

Mileage

19,293 mi