2005 Mazda MAZDA3: engine failure

Filed Aug 17, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 190,000 miles · MI

Engine failed entirely during routine highway driving, vehicle lost forward propulsion, eventually coming to complete stop on the road. There were zero warning or any notice at all that the engine was dying. I was stranded on the side of the road for over 1 hour, while help arrived.

Filed Sep 8, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 169,000 miles · PA · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 mazda 3. While driving approximately 38 MPH around a ramp, the steering wheel seized and required excessive force to maneuver. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the engine suddenly stalled. The contact crashed the vehicle into a guardrail. There were no injuries and the vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 10v374000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 169,000.

Filed Sep 7, 2011 · Electrical · 42,679 miles · OH · fire

I was driving home on residential streets when thick smoke started billowing out of my air conditioning vents and the front passenger wheel well. Since it is out of warranty and I didn't want to risk driving it to the nearest mazda dealer is 6.5 miles away, I took it to a mechanic within walking distance. He diagnosed that the air compressor seized and began melting two drive belts. He had to replace the compressor, 2 belts, refrigerant, fuse and dryer s (?) for a total about $850. Now I am reading others' complaints and see that someone was reimbursed by mazda for this, and that there are numerous other mazda 3 owners who have experienced the same thing. I'm very concerned about what may have happened if I'd been on the highway. Also, the smoke smelled quite acrid; was likely breathing in toxic substances. It seems like mazda should be recalling this. I am contacting them to request that they reimburse my costs, even though I was unable to have it repaired at a dealer.

Filed Oct 3, 2009 · Engine · 40,000 miles · CO

Within 3 months, 2005 mazda 3s has had a seized AC compressor (near fire) and blown passenger side electrical junction box.

Filed Aug 17, 2009 · Engine · 39,000 miles · CO

2005 mazda 3s with only 39k miles broke down with heavy smoke, near fire, fortunately at dia airport. Towed to local denver mazda dealer, who diagnosed a seized A/C compressor. Contacted mazda national customer care, who covered the $1k cost of the new compressor, with me picking up the labor. Out of warranty, barely; this kind of thing should not happen for a young vehicle, original owner, with pampered preventative mnx per schedule. I do appreciate the fact mazda stepped up to compensate a majority of the repair cost. I continue to be very annoyed at the poor brake design, that squeals most of the time, using oem parts, especially in reverse in colder temps.

Filed Apr 4, 2009 · Engine · 56,000 miles · CO

We have had a 2005 mazda 3 hatchback for little over a year and a half. We bought the car with 30,000 miles and have added around 26,000 more. Regularly keeping it serviced on our own accord with out taking it in to the dealership. The engine began making a knocking sound in the engine that seemed to be getting worse with time. After about a week we decided to take the car into the dealership. Their investigation found that there were metal shavings in the oil and that engine was failing (in 2005 car with only 56,000 miles on it) and that it would cost 7000$ for a new engine. We believed this to be a faulty engine rather than owner liability. We tried to contact mazda customer service. They were rude and belligerent. When asked to speak to the supervisor, she was also rude and unresponsive. When asked to speak to someone else at the company above her, she denied us the right to complain to anyone further. Since then, we have had to park the car until enough money can be saved to fix an engine that in our eyes is defective, and further deal with a company that is not very helpful to it's customers.