2012 Mazda MAZDA3: check engine light

Filed Jul 11, 2024 · Brakes · VA

Weak braking and spongy brake pedal created near accidents at highway speeds. Brake pedal needs to be pumped to get firmness. But the check engine warning light did not come on, either. So I had mechanics replace front rotors, front disc pads, and bleed/refill system with fresh brake fluid and inspect system for leaks. But spongy brake pedal problem was not fixed. So when I researched the problem on the internet, it appears that it's a systemic, long-time (10 model years or more) safety issue with Mazda that they failed to recall nationwide. Totally irresponsible. Among Mazda owners, after replacing all other brake system components and not solving the spongy brake pedal issue, it turned out to be a faulty ABS System Module, a $2,000 to $3,000 repair at Mazda dealerships.

Filed Jun 23, 2024 · Transmission · PA

Car started jerking and on the way home, the car lost all power to the transmission. The check engine light came on as well as the AT and traction lights. Absolutely no power to the transmission. codes P0780 and P0751.

Filed Apr 27, 2024 · WA

My issue is with computer firmware updates the manufacturer (Mazda) needs to have done occasionally to help w/traction control and other issues, that the consumer is stuck paying for it, I had a check engine light come on and took it to the dealer. The dealer said that the TCM (traction control module)and the PCM (power control module)needed to be updated. And being the car was out of warranty that I was going to be responsible for paying $330. I would think that if a manufacturer decided to make new updates to help with safety and performance that it shouldn’t fall on the consumer as we bought the car thinking they had this stuff already figured out. Like our smart phones when there updates we the consumer don’t pay for the updates to help protect our phones from security issues and other things…. So why is it acceptable for consumers to pay for auto industry’s updates to help with safety.

Filed Oct 17, 2023 · Transmission · CA

The car started to stall, hesitate and even stop completely for no apparent reason. The mechanic first recommended a new ECU/TCU which did not help the problem and in the course of duplicating the problem check engine light has come on for the transmission with problems shifting/sticking in a gear and not returning to first gear. My mechanic has stated that there is a known problem with Mazda3 transmission, and I should reach out to Mazda. They indicate there is no recall, but mechanic provided me TSB reference number 0500814 from a service bulletin. The car is a death trap and I have stalled while driving on the streets and freeway so obviously I can't drive the car. The car is still at the mechanics since parts cannot be found. Please help any way possible. Thank you.

Filed Oct 13, 2021 · Steering · CA

my power steering has randomly failed for a second time. It happened once before as I pulled into a store -this time it happened while I was travelling southbound on highway 1 a very curvy road with steep cliffs where the speed limit is 55 so it was very scary when my steering suddenly went to manual steering. Turning the car off and waiting a few minutes seemed to remedy it. I continued to have a check engine light which cleared the next time I turned the car off. The power steering pump is an electric hydraulic pump so no belts involved. No weird noises just sudden scary failure. I researched on Mazda forums and found quite a few others with similar complaints and having spent money on dealers with no resolution. The car has 65k on it. The mfr does not have a change cycle for the fluid and I have verified the fluid clean. I did install a new battery and cleaned the ground on the terminal for the power steering pump as it seemed to help someone else. Mazda of course wants to take it and charge me to diagnose but based on other experiences with the dealer i do not trust them. Here is another person's similar story https://www.mazda3revolution.com/threads/power-steering-failure.108977/#post-1439705

Filed Aug 31, 2021 · Brakes · IN · crash · 2 injuries

I was coming up on a car waiting to make a left turn. While attempting to move to the right-hand passing lane, five lights lit up and the power steering went out. The five lights were "Power Steering Malfunction Indicator Light", "TSC/DSC Off Indicator Light", "Security Light", "ABS Warning Light", and "Seatbelt Warning Light" (even though my seat belt was on and buckled). Realizing I could not turn in time, I attempted to stop instead and could not stop in time to avoid striking the other vehicle. There had been no indication of problems with any of the indicated systems prior to this incident. The vehicle is currently in possession of our insurance company, as it was deemed a total loss, and no inspection for defects has been performed.

Filed Dec 12, 2019 · Transmission · TX

A hot and humid night waiting in line at a drive through with a slight up hill slope, the transmission did not engage from neutral to drive. After shifting from park to drive it went into 3rd gear with and engine light, haz road and at light. Po751 01/02, po780 02/02 codes. Transmission shop stated: transmission solenoids bad and smell of burnt fluid. Fluid was brown, car was one owner 233k ..possible flood damaged from 4 mo earlier.

Filed May 28, 2019 · Transmission · 95,000 miles · OR

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda 3. While driving various speeds, the transmission skipped gears and the rpms accelerated without warning. In addition, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failures occurred intermittently. The dealer was not contacted. An independent mechanic changed the oil and diagnosed that the transmission needed to be repaired. The transmission had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,000. The VIN was unavailable.

Filed Feb 8, 2019 · Engine, Fuel system · 31,740 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda 3. While driving at an unspecified speed, the check engine indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jenkins mazda of ocala (352‑815‑2425, located at 1740 sw college rd, ocala, fl 34471) where the fuel pump and gauge were replaced. The clutch was replaced six moths later. Five months later, the vehicle leaked fluid in the driveway. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer where the technician diagnosed and replaced the driver's side transmission axle. Seven months later, while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle made a clunking sound and was towed to the same dealer where the technician diagnosed and replaced the entire transmission. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures and offered to provide a discount towards the cost of a new vehicle. The offer was not acceptable. The contact's vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 31,740.

Filed Aug 22, 2018 · Engine · 106,000 miles · LA

There is a problem with the variable valve timing system causing reduced acceleration performance. The check engine light is displayed. This problem is exactly the same as the recall on mazda3 vehicles manufactured between july 2011 and november 2011. The car lost acceleration and a vehicle behind me almost rear-ended my vehicle. For some reason mazda is not recognising the recall on later models affected by the same issue. Mazda recall reference is 6511k. The recall should be expanded to cover additional vins

Filed Jun 13, 2018 · Fuel system · 98,000 miles · MA

Each time the vehicle is fueled the check engine light come on. I have clicked the fuel cap several times. I have had the cap replaced. There is an evap code showing. The car cannot pass any state inspection

Filed Jun 3, 2018 · 50,560 miles · CA

I was driving down a winding road when my car started to lose power and and then completely stalled. Pror to it stalling, it was acting strange, would rev high and not kick in to the next gear (not sure if that's a correct description as this is an automatic car). Three lights came on: the check engine light, the automatic transaxile light and tcs/dsc indicator light. It was towed to a local small auto shop who diagnosed it as a computer code issue but they were unable to fix it. It was then towed to mazda who couldn't find anything wrong with it. Since this incident, my car does not have good power, especially on inclines. It seems to shake at times and runs rough and this was not the case prior to the stalling incident. I believe it is a transmission issue but since mazda couldn't diagnose it, I'm not sure.