2007 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Engine Problems

ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 131, 18 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND RAPIDS, MI WHEN WITHOUT NOTICE THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 1 CYLINDER BLOW A HOLE THROUGH THE CASTING AND DAMAGING THE INNER AXLE SHAFT CARRIER BEARING. WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW, IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME, THE DRIVER, TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CAR SWERVED INTO AN ADJACENT LANE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION AND HAD JUST PASSED THE VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. ALL OF THE REGULAR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLES MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. EACH SERVICING THAT WAS COMPLETED WAS DOCUMENTED IN MY OWN PERSONAL RECORDS FOR REFERENCE. THIS BEING SAID, THIS VEHICLE CAUSED A MAJOR SAFETY INCIDENT WITHOUT NOTICE, WHICH UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE OR EVEN A FATALITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES OF THESE MAZDA 2.3 LITER TURBO MRZ ENGINES BLOWING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10625871

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

74,200 mi

ON SATURDAY 19 JULY 2014, MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 131, 18 MILES SOUTH OF GRAND RAPIDS, MI WHEN WITHOUT NOTICE THE ENGINE'S NUMBER 1 CYLINDER BLOW A HOLE THROUGH THE CASTING AND DAMAGING THE INNER AXLE SHAFT CARRIER BEARING. WHEN THE ENGINE BLEW, IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY CAUSING ME, THE DRIVER, TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE CAR SWERVED INTO AN ADJACENT LANE. PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD RUNNING CONDITION AND HAD JUST PASSED THE VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION A FEW MONTHS PRIOR. ALL OF THE REGULAR VEHICLE MAINTENANCE WAS COMPLETED ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLES MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. EACH SERVICING THAT WAS COMPLETED WAS DOCUMENTED IN MY OWN PERSONAL RECORDS FOR REFERENCE. THIS BEING SAID, THIS VEHICLE CAUSED A MAJOR SAFETY INCIDENT WITHOUT NOTICE, WHICH UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE OR EVEN A FATALITY. THERE ARE SEVERAL CASES OF THESE MAZDA 2.3 LITER TURBO MRZ ENGINES BLOWING UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS. THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT WHICH MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10621872

Incident

Jul 19, 2014

Mileage

74,200 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA MAZDA SPEED3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT OIL PRESSURE MODULE HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

NHTSA ID

10532479

Incident

Jul 23, 2013

Mileage

96,000 mi

I HAVE AN 2007 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3 BOUGHT IN MAY 2007. I HAD THE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT REPLACED DURING AN ASSOCIATED RECALL IN AUGUST 2007. A FEW MONTHS LATER IT FAILED (JULY 2008). THE BOLT HAD BACKED OUT, AND SHEARED THROUGH THE LAST FEW THREADS. I HEARD THIS LOUD BANG, FOLLOWED BY CLUNK-CLUNK NOISES AND IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER INTO A GAS STATION. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ON THE RIGHT LANE AT 30 MPH IN 3RD GEAR. I HAD IT TOWED TO JIM ELLIS MAZDA OF MARIETTA (GA). THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINEERS FROM MAZDA HAD A LOOK AT IT AND THE WHOLE MOUNT BRACKET AND THE BOLT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS I'VE BEEN HEARING A SLIGHT CLUNKING NOISE ESPECIALLY DURING SLOW TURNS, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AGAIN ON LAST MONDAY (03/02/09) TO HAVE THEM LOOK AT IT. THEY FOUND THAT THE STEERING RACK FLOW CONTROL VALVE WAS POPPING AT TIMES AND REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAD ALSO ASKED THEM TO HAVE A LOOK AT MY MOUNTS, JUST TO BE SURE. I GOT MY CAR BACK ON THURSDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT MY MOUNTS WERE FINE. BUT ON FRIDAY (03/06/09) I STILL HAD THOSE CLUNKING SOUNDS ON SLOW TURNS AND WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOTS/BACKING UP. I ALSO NOTICED SOME ODD VIBRATIONS ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHILE GIVING GAS AND DURING IDLE. THE LAST TIME HAD THESE VIBRATIONS WERE JUST BEFORE THE MOTOR MOUNT FAILED ON ME. SO I DECIDED TO HAVE A LOOK INTO MY MOUNTS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CLOCK AND TRIP METERS WERE NOT RESET. IF THE DEALER HAD INSPECTED MY MOUNTS THEY WOULD'VE BEEN RESET WHEN THE BATTERY IS BEING REMOVED. THAT RAISED MY SUSPICIONS. I REMOVED THE BATTERY AND TRIED TURNING THE MOUNT BOLT. IT WAS I COULD TURN IT WITH JUST ONE HAND. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED THEM WHAT TO DO. THE ASKED TO BRING THE CAR OVER AFTER TIGHTENING IT, OR GET IT TOWED IF I COULDN'T. I TIGHTENED THE BOLT AND IT TOOK ME ABOUT 6 TURNS TO FULLY TIGHTEN IT!!! THE BOLT WAS ALMOST OUT AND I CAUGHT IT BEFORE SOMETHING SERIOUS HAD OCCURRED. THE DEALER HAS RE TIGHTENED THE BOLT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261307

Incident

Mar 6, 2009

Mileage

33,800 mi

HAD MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT RECALL DONE ON MY 2007 MAZDASPEED3 DONE AS SOON IT RELEASED IN 2007. FEB 2009 WITH 26000 MILES ON THE CAR THE MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT BRACKET TORE APART WHILE DRIVING. AXLES, AND ALOT OF OTHER PARTS, DAMAGED. NEEDLES TO SAY THANK GOD I WAS ONLY DOING 5MPH WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED. CAR WAS REPAIRED AT MAZDA DEALER, AND BEFORE I PICKED UP VEHICLE AFTER SUPPOSEDLY BEING FIXED, MOTOR/TRANSMISSION MOUNT FAILED AGAIN WHILE THE MAZDA TECH WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. MAZDA HAS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THAT THEY DO NOT SEEM TO WANT TO ADDRESS PROPERLY. THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM NOW BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED SERIOUSLY. NOT AN ACCEPTABLE PROBLEM ON ANY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258514

Incident

Jan 29, 2007

Mileage

26,478 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE MOTOR MOUNT BROKE WHEN HE SHIFTED FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. AS A RESULT, THE DRY SHAFT PULLED FROM THE TRANSMISSION AND TORE THE CB AXLE BOOT. THE CONTACT INSTALLED AN INTAKE MANIFOLD PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #07V295000) HOWEVER, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO THE INSTALLATION OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,700.

NHTSA ID

10210923

Incident

Nov 29, 2007

Mileage

11,700 mi

MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE. MY TRANSMISSION/MOTOR MOUNT FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FALL IN THE ENGINE BAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHERS AS POSTED ON HTTP://WWW.MAZDA3FORUMS.COM/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=68975.0. *TR

NHTSA ID

10191833

Incident

May 28, 2007

Mileage

16,000 mi

2007 MAZDA ASPEED 3 IS PRONE TO MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE, I AM TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS LOOSE MOTOR MOUNT, WHICH ACCORDING TO RECENT DATA ON THE WEB , IS PRONE TO POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF THE MOUNT FAILS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10191205

Incident

May 17, 2007

SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR WAS ROUGH SOMETIMES. I CHECKED THE TORQUE ON BOLT OF DRIVER'S SIDE ENGINE MOUNT AND IT WAS LOOSE. IT TURNED UNDER 30 FEET-LB. BOLT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 70-80 FEET-LB FROM THE FACTORY. AFTER BOLT WAS TIGHTENED TO SPEC SHIFTING BECAME A LOT SMOOTHER. I WAS CONVINCED THAT IF BOLT WAS NOT TIGHTENED FAILURE OF DRIVER' S-SIDE ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A COUPLE THOUSAND MORE MILES. VEHICLE ONLY HAD 3000 MILES ON IT -ENGINE WOULD HAVE DROPPED OVER LEFT SIDE DRIVESHAFT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. REFER TO INVESTIGATION PE07015 . *AK

NHTSA ID

10190851

Incident

May 15, 2007

Mileage

2,000 mi

HAVE A 2007 MAZDA SPEED 3 WITH 4224 MILES 4 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. REPORTED A STRANGE POPPING SOUND TO THE DEALER ON SATURDAY AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT NORMAL , AND TO DROP OFF THE CAR AT THE EARLIEST CONVENIENCE. WHILE DRIVING TO A FRIEND'S HOUSE I TURNED LEFT ON A STREET AND ACCELERATED ONCE INTO 2ND GEAR. I ACCELLERATED SOME MORE AND HEARD A LOUD BANG, AND THEN SEVERAL SEQUENTIAL POPS AND NOISES. I POPPED THE HOOD TO SEE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE MOTOR HAD FALLEN DOWN. SO FAR THE DEALER NOTED THAT IT WAS A MOTOR MOUNT/BOLT FAILURE , AND THE ESTIMATE WAS STILL TO COME ON HOW MUCH TO FIX THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10190646

Incident

May 13, 2007

Mileage

4,224 mi

I WAS ROLLING IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC AND WENT TO SECOND GEAR DOING MAYBE 15 MPH AND HEARD A CLUCK. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS REFLECTORS ON THE ROAD AS THAT WAS WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE. I MADE A TURN , AND AS THE THUNK PERSISTED, I IMMEDIATLY STOPPED AND POPPED THE HOOD AND OBSERVED THE MOTOR FELL FORWARD IN THE THE RADIATIOR. IT WAS DUE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE TRANSMISSION MOUNT THAT CAME LOOSE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10187417

Incident

Apr 9, 2007

Mileage

8,063 mi

I WAS SHIFTING INTO SECOND ON MY 07 MAZDASPEED 3 AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE MOUNT OR BOLT BROKE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DROP.

NHTSA ID

10185466

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

3,500 mi

IN THE SPIRIT OF BEING PROACTIVE; I WILL LIKE TO SHARE A POSSIBLE MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WITH ALL NEW 2007 MAZDASPEED 3 CARS. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I HAVE BEEN OBSERVING ON VARIOUS WEB FORUMS A DISTURBING TREND OF THE POSSIBILITY OF THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT COMING LOOSE CAUSING THE MOTOR TO FALL WHILE DRIVING. I'M INFORMING THE NHTSA IN HOPES THAT AN INVESTIGATION WILL ENCOURAGE MAZDA INTO A RECALL/TSB BEFORE THIS ISSUE CAUSES A SERIOUS INJURY/FATALITY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS MATTER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185228

Incident

Mar 15, 2007

2007 MAZDASPEED 3 : TRANSMISSION MOUNT BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED MIS-SHIFTS, LOUD CLUNKING NOISES AND STABILITY DEGRADATION. ASKED DEALER TO TIGHTEN BOLT BUT WAS UNABLE TO GET THEM TOO. ON PERSONAL INSPECTION BOLT WAS LOOSE AND TRANSMISSION WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND. AFTER TORQUING BOLT TO SPEC ALL PREVIOUS MENTIONED SYMPTOMS WENT AWAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185062

Incident

Mar 11, 2007

Mileage

6,000 mi

THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW COMPLAINTS OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTOR MOUNT BOLT COMING LOOSE ON MAZDA SPEED3S. I HAD VISUALLY CHECKED MINE FROM THE BOTTOM SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, AND IT LOOKED OKAY, BUT TODAY I DECIDED TO PHYSICALLY CHECK IT. I PUT THE FRONT ON RAMPS AND REMOVED THE BATTERY AND BOX. I GOT UNDERNEATH AND REMOVED THE UNDER TRAY, BUT COULDN'T LOCATE THE BOTTOM OF THE BOLT (OR SO I THOUGHT). THEN I PUT THE JACK UNDER THE TRANSAXLE AND JACKED UP A BIT UNTIL THE CAR STARTED TO LIFT. I DIDN'T SEE THE HEAD OF THE BOLT POP UP, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS TIGHT. THEN I TURNED THE BOLT COUNTERCLOCKWISE, CAREFULLY NOTING THE AMOUNT OF TORQUE REQUIRED TO BREAK THE BOLT LOOSE. IT WAS NO MORE THAN 30 FT-LBS. I GAVE IT A COUPLE OF TURNS AND NOTICED THAT THE HEAD OF THE BOLT WAS NOT MOVING UP, WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. I PUMPED THE JACK HANDLE TWO MORE TIMES, AND THE BOLT JUMPED UP QUITE A BIT, MORE THAN WHAT I THOUGHT I HAD LOOSENED IT. SO I TIGHTENED THE BOLT BACK DOWN, AND IT DEFINITELY TOOK MORE TURNS TO GET IT TIGHT THAN WHAT I HAD TURNED IT LOOSENING IT. I THEN REMOVED THE BOLT COMPLETELY AND LOOKED AT EVERYTHING. THE BOLT DID NOT HAVE LOCTITE ON IT, AND THERE WERE SOME SMALL BITS OF LOOSE METAL IN THE THREADS. I LOOKED IN THE HOLE AND SAW THAT THE THREADED HOLE IN THE TRANSAXLE WAS NOT CENTERED WITH THE HOLE IN THE MOUNT ITSELF. IT WAS AS FAR OFF TOWARD THE FRONT AS IT COULD GO, PROBABLY DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE CAR AND THE JACK. IN THE METAL SLEEVE IN THE MOUNT (THIS PIECE IS UNTHREADED) I SAW MARKS CORRESPONDING TO THE THREADS OF THE BOLT WHEN I LOOSENED IT. THIS BINDING BETWEEN THE BOLT AND THE SLEEVE COULD HAVE BEEN THE ONLY REASON I FELT ANY BREAK OUT TORQUE AT ALL. THE THREADS IN THE ALUMINUM PIECE BELOW LOOKED TO BE IN REASONABLE SHAPE (CAN'T SEE MUCH DOWN THERE). THE THREADED HOLE IS ABOUT AN INCH LONG, WHICH SHOULD BE PLENTY OF THREADS IF THEY ARE ALL ENGAGED. I CLEANED THE BOLT, PUT SOME RED LOCTITE ON IT, AND TIGHTENED IT TO 75 FT-LBS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184612

Incident

Feb 4, 2007

Mileage

2,970 mi