2013 Mazda Mazda3 Problems

There seems to be a lot of people who own 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3 Sedans (with SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and Halogen Type Headlights) that are dealing with the same issue I am dealing with myself. I have just purchased a used 2013 Mazda 3 with Skyactive Technology and I noticed that when I was braking the headlights would pulse on and off and would continue while I braked. I have been told there is a TSB on this issue (attached) and Mazda is well aware of this happening. This concern is caused by inadequate alternator output controlled by the PCM when the battery is under a heavy load. They are to the point now of charging people for a doing the TSB on the car that is causing the problem of the alternator not producing the proper wattage to support both the headlights and the brake lights at the same time. There are numerous online forum entries that speak of this issue with 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3's. I am very concerned that my headlights may stop working which could result in my death or the death of my occupants of my vehicle not to mention the other motorists on the road around me if my head lights were to eventually fail at night due to lack of proper wattage to the headlights. There are videos on you tube that show these pulsing headlights on Mazda's. I believe that headlights are important enough safety issue that their failing could result in death if the headlights completely failed due to the known fault in these vehicles over time.

When driving at highway speeds and applying brakes, the headlights will pulse bright to dim for the duration of braking. I have seen this problem reported online by several dealers and it has a known software update to fix the problem, but it is not listed under the recalls for this vehicle. A similar problem exists on the 2014 Mazda's and a recall does exist for that vehicle.

There seems to be a lot of people who own 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3 Sedans (with SKYACTIV-G 2.0L and Halogen Type Headlights) that are dealing with the same issue I am dealing with myself. I have just purchased a used 2013 Mazda 3 with Skyactive Technology and I noticed that when I was braking the headlights would pulse on and off and would continue while I braked. I have been told there is a TSB on this issue (attached) and Mazda is well aware of this happening. This concern is caused by inadequate alternator output controlled by the PCM when the battery is under a heavy load. They are to the point now of charging people for a doing the TSB on the car that is causing the problem of the alternator not producing the proper wattage to support both the headlights and the brake lights at the same time. There are numerous online forum entries that speak of this issue with 2012 and 2013 Mazda 3's. I am very concerned that my headlights may stop working which could result in my death or the death of my occupants of my vehicle not to mention the other motorists on the road around me if my head lights were to eventually fail at night due to lack of proper wattage to the headlights. There are videos on you tube that show these pulsing headlights on Mazda's. I believe that headlights are important enough safety issue that their failing could result in death if the headlights completely failed due to the known fault in these vehicles over time.

ABS Module suddenly start failing causing brake sinks down. Almost crashed because of it. It appears to be a very common issue but Mazda still does not recall these ABS modules made by Ford/ATE. Also, it does not show any ABS warning light, which might be why not many people have called on this as they probably thought it was normal. There is all sort of communication error codes if you read with a OBDII scanner. In fact, Ford had a recall for these ABS modules, citing "stuck or slow-responding valves due to reaction with brake fluid".

Transmission Control Module malfunction. The AT light came on and the car made a jerking motion and a clunking noise. It lost power and would not shift which is very dangerous in moving traffic. It put me at risk for getting hit by another vehicle not expecting the abrupt change in speed by my vehicle. The check engine light is now lit up. There were no warning lights before the vehicle’s transmission malfunctioned. A code came up on the vehicle when tested. U0101 lost communication with TCM. From what I have read, researched, and have been told this issue is very common for certain years of Mazda 3’s including mine.

Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882

The Brake Pedal consistently malfunctions, even after the replacement of the master cylinder (by independent service center). The master cylinder does not hold pressure due to a faulty ABS control unit (which, when Mazda was contacted, said that part was on backorder until September). If the manufacturer knows this is an issue and can't supply the part due to so many replacements needed in their vehicle, why is there no recall? There is no warning to the driver on the dashboard of this issue and has causes repeated issues while breaking.

ABS Module suddenly start failing causing brake sinks down. Almost crashed because of it. It appears to be a very common issue but Mazda still does not recall these ABS modules made by Ford/ATE. Also, it does not show any ABS warning light, which might be why not many people have called on this as they probably thought it was normal. There is all sort of communication error codes if you read with a OBDII scanner. In fact, Ford had a recall for these ABS modules, citing "stuck or slow-responding valves due to reaction with brake fluid".

The contact owns a 2013 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V644000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS COME LOOSE, AND THERE IS A OPENING, THE INSIDE OF IT IS CHIPPED AS WELL AND IT IS FOGGY. JUST NORMAL DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. MAZDA OFFERED A SPECIAL SERVICE WARRANTY, WHICH MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE THIS GAP HAD NOT OCCURRED YET. CONVENIENTLY, THE EXTENSION EXPIRED BEFORE MY PANEL STARTED COMING APART. I SPOKE WITH MAZDA TODAY AND THEY TOLD ME I WAS TO LATE. WELL I WAS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE IT HADN'T COME APART YET. APPARENTLY THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY DID OFF A SPECIAL WARRANTY FOR IT. ALL MODELS THAT HAD THESE DEFECTIVE PANELS OR BAD ADHESIVE FROM THE SAME LOT REGARDLESS IF THEY HAD STARTED TO COME APART YET, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED SO THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN. I UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. IF THIS IS JUST CHOCKED UP TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THE REST OF THE INTERIOR SHOULD ALSO BE FALLING APART, BECAUSE THE WHOLE CAR HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AND THAT IS NOT FALLING APART YET. I AM ONE PERSON, WITH ONE VOICE MAYBE OTHER MAZDA OWNERS WHO WERE DENIED ELIGIBILITY TO HAVE THIS INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED, WILL ALSO COMPLAIN AND SOMETHING CAN HAPPEN TO FIX THIS MANUFACTURER PROBLEM. AS THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD HAVE PASSED QUALITY CONTROL. DATE IS APPROXIMATE AS IT OCCURRED GRADUALLY OVER TIME AND DID NOT BECOME NOTICEABLE UNTIL LATE LAST YEAR.

Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882

Blower motor stopped working summer of 2020. Had it replaced at the dealership and it again stopped working in summer of 2021. Had it replaced once again and it is now making horrible noises again as it did right before it blew up the last two times

Steering becomes unpredictable and stiff accompanied by surging and loss of power. Check engine light comes on. Code P0882

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE POWER STEERING ABILITY WAS LOST. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AT LEAST TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

EXACT SAME ISSUE AS CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V082 THE SEATS IN THIS YEAR OF MAZDA 3 ARE THE SAME AS IN THE 2010-2011 MODELS. THE METAL HAS SNAPPED IN HALF CAUSING THE NEED FOR REPAIR FOR SAFE DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING A CORNER ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 30KM/H DRIVER IS 260LBS

THE SEAT LIFTER LINK ON MY 2013 MAZDA 3 POWER SEAT HAS A BROKEN WELD THAT ALLOWS THE DRIVERS SEAT TO WOBBLE FRONT TO BACK. THE WELD HAS OPENED UP SHOWING THE MOTOR SHAFT. WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FEELS LIKE IT WILL SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME. CALLED LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND THEY HAVE NO RECALL ON THIS AND MY WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THIS. VEHICLE HAS 187,400 MILES. FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A PREVIOUS ISSUE IN THE 2010 - 2011 VEHICLES. MAZDA HAD A RECALL CAMPAIGN 0917B FOR THAT ISSUE. APPARENTLY THERE IS STILL AN ISSUE WITH DEFECTIVE WELDS IN THE SEAT FRAME. FIRST NOTICED THIS CONDITION AFTER ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. HAS GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.

TAKATA RECALL: ONCE I GOT THE AIRBAG OF MY MAZDA3 IS NOT SAFE, IT WORRIES ME A LOT. I HOPE THE RECALL COULD BE COMING SOON AND I PREFER TO STAYING IN A SAFE ZONE. THANKS!

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN I NOTICED MY AIRBAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING WHILE IN MOTION. I DID NOT BRAKE EXCESSIVELY AND I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING OR SWERVE. IT JIST RANDOMLY LIT UP OUT OF THE BLUE. THEN I NOTICED MY PASSENGER AIRBAG SIGN WAS OFF. I CALLED THE MAZDA DEALER AND THEY QUOTED ME $160 JIST TO DIAGNOSE THE LIGHT. I TOLD THEM I GOT A POSTCARD ABOUT AN AIRBAG RECALL AND THEY INSISTED MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED IN THAT RECALL. IT SHOULD BE.

All my seatbuckels are tearing. I thought it could of been my dog, but I a certain I did not give up my seat or let him drive. My driver side is also tearing. I noticed the buckle catching when securing it, and now it has moved past snag and had a quarter inch tear that it catches on. The buckle is not wide enough for the belt. The belt is no longer able to constraint as good as when it was whole. Unknown

I PURCHASED A 2013 MAZDA 3 IN MARCH OR 2020 WITH ABOUT 35000MILES. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER I PUT DOWN MY BACK SEATS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND NOTICED THE MIDDLE SEAT BUCKLE WAS FRINGED AND LOOKED CUT ABOUT A HALF OF INCH IN. IT COULD NOT RETRACT DUE TO THE BUCKLE SNAGGING ON THE CUT. IT IS NOVEMBER 2020 AND I HAVE NOW DESCOVERES THAT THIS SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER BUCKLES AS WELL. I RARELY HAVE ANYONE IN MY BACK SEAT, MAYBE TWICE SINCE THE PURCHASE, SO THE BUCKLES ARE NOT FREQUENTLY USED. I THINK SOMETHING IS CUTTING THE BELT CAUSING THE BUCKLES TO STOP RETRACTING- RENDERING THEM USELESS. MY CAR HAS 49000MILES NOW. I DISCOVERED ALL OF THE BELTS WHILE STATIONARY. BUT THE DRIVERS ONE WOULD NOT RETRACT CAUSING ME TO LOOK FOR IT.

I HAVE A 2013 MAZDA 3I 5-DOOR HATCHBACK WITH APPROXIMATELY 61,000 MILES, 90% HIGHWAY DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK. AFTER HAVING THE BATTERY REPLACED (ORIGINAL) EARLIER THIS YEAR, I THEN NOTICED THAT MY HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLASH INTERMITTENTLY, AT THAT TIME. AS THE YEAR PROGRESSED, THE HEADLIGHT FLASHING, WHICH PRESENTS ITSELF ONLY UPON BRAKING OR DECELERATION, BECAME MARKEDLY INCREASED AND BRIGHTER, INCLUDING THE DASHBOARD INFORMATION SYSTEMS WINDOW INSIDE. I WENT TO AN AUTHORIZED MECHANIC, WHO FIRST PUT MY CAR ON DIAGNOSTIC, WHICH SHOWED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS VERY WEAK/WORN. SINCE I HAD EXTENDED WARRANTY, THROUGH A PRIVATE COMPANY, BUT ONLY UNTIL 60,000/5 YEARS, I RUSHED TO MAKE TIME FOR THE MECHANIC TO RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION AND REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH HE DID, AND MY CAR RUNS GREAT. THERE REMAINS, THOUGH, THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS FLASHING. SINCE THE MECHANIC DID RESET THE COMPUTER, WE WERE STUMPED. THEN MY HUSBAND FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM MAZDA DEALING WITH THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE, STATING THAT THE CAR MUST GO TO THE DEALER BECAUSE ONLY THE DEALER CAN RESET ALL THE PARTS OF THE COMPUTER. I THEN CONTACTED MAZDA, BUT HAVE YET TO RECEIVE A RESPONSE. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR THIS ADJUSTMENT/REPAIR SINCE MAZDA APPARENTLY IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. JUST GOOGLE IT, THERE ARE ALOT OF M3 OWNERS OUT THERE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS, MOST GOT RESOLVED BECAUSE THEY WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. GREAT FOR THEM, BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP ME. NOT ONLY IS THIS A PROBLEM FOR ME SINCE I DRIVE NEARLY 40 MILES EACH WAY TO/FROM WORK EACH NIGHT, BUT I AM TIRED OF OTHER DRIVERS FLASHING THEIR LIGHTS AT ME, HONKING, OR YELLING. IT IS MOST ANNOYING, NOT TO MENTION A SAFETY HAZARD, SINCE I AM A NIGHT-TIME/EARLY MORNING DRIVER, PREDOMINANTLY DRIVING IN THE DARK. PLEASE ADVISE.

WHEN BRAKING, THE HEADLIGHTS PULSE. WHEN BRAKING, THE CAR RIDES BUMPY. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WILL COME ON AT RANDOM TIMES. THESE HAVE BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST COUPLE YEARS, AND ALL MECHANICS HAVE SAID THAT EVERYTHING LOOKS FINE ON THE VEHICLE.

WHEN YOU PRESS ON THE BRAKES ALL THE VEHICLES LIGHTS FLASHING FROM BRIGHT TO DEEM THE HEADLIGHTS, INSIDE PANEL LIGHTS FLASHING FROM BRIGHT TO DEEM MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT IT ACTS LIKE CAR IS LOSING POWER

LIGHTING:WHEN APPLYING BREAKS, HEADLIGHTS FLICKER. WINDSHIELD: LEAKS. ADHESIVE EXPANDED, CAUSING SEAL TO BREAK. WATER POURS IN ON DASH FROM SIDE DURING BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS OR CAR WASH. ADHESIVE ALSO EXPANDED ON GAUGE PANEL, CAUSING DISPLAY WINDOW TO LIFT. WAS THIS WAY WHEN PURCHASED. DID NOT NOTICE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDOW SEAL AT TIME OF PURCHASE.

PURCHASE 4 CONTINENTAL EXTREME CONTACT TIRES (PK15-46-1960: 205/55R-16) ON 1/12/2015 . ON SATURDAY 8/6/2016 AROUND 5 PM THE 2 TIRES ON THE PASSENGER BLEW OUT AT THE SIDE WALL AT THE SAME TIME. LUCKY MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT (WITNESS SAY SHE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING). NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON INDICATING A PROBLEM. HAD TO GO TO FIRESTONE FOR REPLACEMENT TIRES. REPLACED THE ONES ON DRIVER SIDE FOR I DIDN'T TRUST THEM. FILE A WARRANTY ISSUE AND EVEN CALL CONTINENTAL THEY TO BAD ABOUT THE OTHER 2 TIRES. I BELIEVE THESE TIRES HAVE A DEFECT FOR THEY HAVE PLENTY OF LIFE LEFT ON THEM

BRAKE CALIPERS AND PISTONS WERE DEFECTED AND WOULDN'T RELEASE AFTER YOU RELEASED THE BRAKE. THE WHEELS HAD TO BE MOVING FOR THE BRAKES THE BE RELEASES. CAUSING THE THE BRAKE PADS TO GRIND DOWN TO NOTHING AND HAVE METAL ON METAL CONTACT. IT WAS WORSE IN THE FRONT THEN THE BACK. I RECEIVED ALL NEW BRAKE CALIPERS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T BE FIXED.

After filing up the gas tank, there is a strong smell of fuel coming from the car. It remains strong until the tank is run down to about 3/4. Gas can be seen dripping down the tank under the car. Gas drips are clearly visible on the ground. This has been an ongoing problem for approximately two years.

CAR'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL CUT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE. THE RADIO SHUTS DOWN, THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE IS LOST, AND POWER STEERING GOES. SEVERAL SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON. I HAVE TO FIGHT TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF. WHEN RESTARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON BUT THE CAR WORKS FINE. THIS WILL ALSO HAPPEN WHEN THE CAR IS IDLING WITH THE SAME LOSS OF POWER. I TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON AND IT WORKS OKAY AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED IN A VERY MOUNTAINOUS PASS RECENTLY AND THERE WERE NO SHOULDERS TO PULL OVER ON AND I HAD NO POWER STEERING OR ACCELERATION. I'VE TAKEN TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE ISSUE.

CLICKING NOSIE IN THE REAR END OF CAR.