2011 Mazda MAZDA3: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Jun 29, 2022 · Electrical, Visibility · RI

The Dashboard is peeling above the display screen that shows information for Radio,CD, AUX, Time, Volume, Temp Outside, etc (black display screen with orange text/font). Above this display screen the dashboard is lifting up. Which has created about a 1 inch+ gap/spacing between the display and dashboard This gap has resulted in the following: 1). Inhaling of windshield fluid through AC vents (4 total on dashboard) -- when using windshield wipers to dispense windshield fluid to wipe windshield clean of dirt/debris. You can smell the funes from the windshield fluid. And windows are not open when using the windshield wipers. 2). The material used for the dashboard has peeled off and gone in between the gap. It has resulted in the AC vents dispensing the material when adjusting the open and close feature of the AC vent or making any direction adjustment of where I want the air conditioning to blow in the car. 3) The gap/spacing between dashboard and display screen has also resulted in the interior side of the windshield to have a buildup of smog on the windshield. It has resulted in issues seeing at night time when cars are driving towards me with their headlights on. When i wipe down, it will be covered again with smog/film in a few days.

Filed Apr 15, 2022 · Airbags, Electrical · PA

When I’m driving the car, electricity of the car goes off, including headlights. The steering wheel gets locked. It doesn’t do that regularly. Sometimes, it takes weeks to do that, but sometimes it happens once in every five minutes. The red airbag light on the odometer turns on or off randomly. But, the worse case is that the airbags are not working while my steering wheel gets locked at the same time. They all start happening around the same time. I took my car to the Mazda Service and another mechanics. Neither of them found the issue. When I leave the car with them, the car doesn’t show these malfunctions. It literally randomly occurs. Therefore, they told me that I need to bring the car when it start happening in regular basis to understand the exact cause for the issue. I don’t know when it becomes a regular issue. 4-5 days ago, when I was turning right on a small street, the wheel locked again. I was about to crash. It’s a deadly malfunction, so I don’t want to wait until then.

Filed Sep 14, 2021 · Electrical, Lights · CA

my Mazda 3 2011 passenger headlight always had water coming into the headlight itself. It has condensation and it is hard to see when using the headlight itself at night. have to wait a few days or so to clear up and then my headlights will flicker because of the water seeping inside of it.

Filed Oct 8, 2020 · Airbags, Lights · VA

Passenger airbag light will go on and off with nobody in the seat. This happens randomly and not consistently. Sometimes while stationary, sometimes while driving. The dashboard has come apart from the center piece on the dash with the digital display. Car was purchased in texas in 2013, drove to maine in 2015 and driven to virginia since 2018. Progressively gotten worse rear view mirror has strange brown marks inside the mirror making it difficult to see. Owner does not smoke. Strange clunky noise from rear suspension, not consistent very random. Smooth road, bumpy road, fast or slow, the sound just randomly happens from time to time. Headlights form moisture, owner bought new headlights with mechanic install and they started to collect moisture about a year after installation. Owner of vehicle since 2013 to present. Vehicle purchased at approx 60k miles, currently approx 130k miles.

Filed Dec 30, 2019 · Lights · 36,100 miles · CA

Mechanic's report 12/28/2019: "right front (passenger side) headlight assembly has major moisture contamination. Hid controller failure due to moisture; hid bulb out. Repair est. $1,500 - $2,000." my 2011 mazda 3 mileage is 36,915. I will take this to mazda service dept. On 1/2/2020 for evalutaion. Their repair est. On phone was $2,000+ - parts only. This is a known problem reported online by many owners of this make and year. Clearly this is a factory defect issue. One that has caused accidents at night. (I first noticed moisture sometime after a drive-thru car wash 3 months ago.)

Filed Nov 1, 2016 · Body, Lights · 29,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda 3. While the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed water in the passenger side head lamp. As a result, the head lamp failed to illuminate. The dealer diagnosed that the head lamp needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was also included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v644000 (structure). The part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 29,000. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Oct 15, 2016 · FL

The vehicle has unintended surges in acceleration during driving or backing out the drive. Was told to service department at local dealership during routine maintenance; I was told that they could find nothing. There has been no accident from this as of yet. This has been ongoing since the date of purchase. At first, I thought I was unused to the accelerator. Also, the headlights on this vehicle are fogged from the inside (water under the headlights) this results in the light beam not being strong enough at night to be as visible as should be to others or myself.

Filed Oct 7, 2016 · Body, Electrical · 60,000 miles · TX

Passenger headlamp getting excessive condenstation build up after car wash or rain storm eventually causes hid bulb and ballast failure due to short caused by water ingress. Housing has been changed and still leaks in almost exact same pattern as old housing. This is a safety defect as it affects my ability to safely, and legally drive my car in low or no light conditions and could cause an accident.

Filed Jun 17, 2016 · Airbags, Lights · 28,000 miles · GA

1) after moving the empty passenger seat back a few inches at a red light, passenger airbag deactivation light illuminated on dash and has remained on ever since. At the same time, the airbag light on the instrument cluster began flashing a code 16. There are no visible loose wires or connections under the seat. 2) condensation appearing in driver's side headlight assembly.

Filed May 17, 2016 · Lights · 495 miles · DE

Headlight seal failure; water condensation in the headlight (passenger side). Occurs after a car wash, a drive in the rain, drizzle or downpour in highway or city. Road illumination diminished from water condensation.

Filed Apr 2, 2016 · Lights · 32,000 miles · FL

Vehicle headlight failed due to faulty seal allowing moisture to enter the headlight assembly. I brought the headlight into the dealer while still under warranty when I noticed moisture in the headlight but before it failed. My claim was denied stating that it was a cosmetic issue. Now this is a safety issue that costs several hundred dollars to correct. Research online indicates many others have experienced similar warranty claim avoidance and failed headlight assemblies.

Filed Sep 22, 2011 · Driver assistance, Steering · 500 miles · CA

On september 3, 2011 I purchased a brand new 2011 mazda 3 from mazda of escondido. On tuesday september 13, 2011 I started my vehicle and turned on the headlights at which point the power steering light and also the traction control warning lights came on. As I was trying to park my vehicle I noticed difficulty with the power steering. Also, the dsc button would not turn on/off while the light was on. On monday september 19, 2011 the same two lights came on again. I took a picture of the lights and the odometer reading so we could show the dealer. Due to a prior wrist injury power steering is a must for me.