2008 Mazda MAZDA3: jerking or lurching

Filed Feb 13, 2020 · Transmission · 135,000 miles · GA

The vehicle suddenly jerks, pulls, stops after about 10 minutes running time. Told by mechanic that it is the transmission control module. He said this model is notorious for having them fail. They are on back order with mazda with no lead time, which also says something. The vehicle is very dangerous to drive. Mechanic said the original design has bad placement which causes them to heat up and fail.

Filed Apr 18, 2019 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

While driving the speed goes up and down on its own the automatic transmission of my 2008 mazda 3 shifts down from the 5th to the 3rd gear. This causes the car to jerk violently and the controls to illuminate including check engine, no traction and at. My mechanic could not find a cause of this, and he serviced the transmission by changing the filter and transmission fluid but the problem persists. One mechanic said it is the speed sensor another the transmissions computer I have spend about 1,800 and I still have the same problems. It is very scary for my kids and myself while driving and I can't afford to get another car. What is the problems with mazda with my car? Can someone please help?! Also all the electrical stop working about two years ago, another thing is the steering wheels problems when making a turn it really time forever and it is really slow and heavy.

Filed May 29, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 127,000 miles · KY

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda 3. While driving at various speeds, the atv and check engine lights illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the highway to restart the vehicle, but the warning lights were still illuminated. In addition, the vehicle jerked while driving and accelerated on its own. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the housing rod was cracked. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was 127,000.

Filed Apr 14, 2015 · Electrical, Transmission · 82,360 miles · OH

On 04/01/2015 while driving in the city at about 25 MPH the transmission went from 4 to 1, and the car jerked really hard. At light and check engine light came on. After pulling over and turning the car off and waiting a couple of minutes, at light went away, check engine light was still on. The same happened in two days, then in 5 days while driving on a freeway with speed 65 MPH - the car jerked and bucked at full speed, at light and check engine light on, transmission went from 5 to 1 to 3, tachometer went from 2500 RPM to over 4000 RPM - thankfully I did not hit anyone and I wasn't hit by other cars when that happened (I was very scared!). I got the car towed to the dealership, and after two days of diagnostics the answer - transmission control module (TCM) is bad. I did research online - very common problem with cars of this make, model and year. Dealer can not fix it because TCM is on nationwide back order! I have no car for a week now and it could be a month when the part will be available. This kind of problem worth of a recall due to the safety concerns and the cost of the replacement - over $1000 including diagnostics.

Filed Apr 2, 2013 · Transmission · 85,234 miles · MD

I was driving at normal speed when with no warning, the car jerks suddenly. I was extremely startled as it felt like I had broken an axle or ran over something big in the road. For unaware drivers it can cause an accident if they swerve in reaction. It happened about 5 more times in a 1 hr drive and just kept on happening whenever I drove it for the next 2 days at higher speeds or lower speeds, I then noticed that my display showed the gear to drop from 5th suddenly into 3rd or 4th to 3rd. If this is happening to a lot of mazda 3s, the manufacturer should do a recall as it is not safe especially at highway speeds.

Filed Oct 21, 2008 · Fuel system · 12,311 miles · AZ

I own a 2008 mazda3 that my daughter was driving when the car started lurching & bucking as she applied pressure on the gas pedal. It finally quit running & she had to leave it on the side of the road. When I arrived I found that the car did the same to me. I called a tow truck & had it towed to the dealership where the car was purchased, thinking it would be a warranty issue. When I was contacted by the dealership I was told that it was not covered under warranty because the car had been over filled with gas, which allowed gas to flow into the purge solenoid & the charcoal canister. I didn't even know this was possible! The dealer told me that these being full of gas was the reason the car would not run properly. I questioned them that this was a design flaw by mazda & should be addressed! They told me that mazda would do nothing for me because it was my fault that the tank was over filled with gas. To me if you have gas flowing into components of the car witch aren't intended in holding gas, there is a design problem with the car not to mention a safety hazard if the car is ever in a collision! I fear for the safety of my daughter & do not want her trapped inside of a burning car if these components keep filling up with gas & she is involved in a collision. I called mazda customer service & they also told me there was nothing they would do for me because the car was overfilled with gas. I was told that this will keep happening as long as I over fill the tank & to not make a complete fill up to keep this from happening. I had to pay for the repairs & I do have the parts that were removed. I hope someone, with you, can help me solve this problem before someone is seriously injured in a collision & a fire erupts from gas being able to flow into places it shouldn't be. Thanks for your help.