2012 Mazda MAZDA3: sudden loss of power

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 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.

Filed Aug 8, 2017 · Electrical, Lights · 38,000 miles · DE

The headlight have been flickering since a few months after purchasing the car, & it causes inadequate alternator output, it has also caused issues with losing my power steering. The headlight not only flicker when breaking, but have gotten to the point they will completely go out, & will also flicker all interior lights when braking & turning the wheel. I have been pulled over due to police thinking I am flashing my lights when breaking, but was lucky to be able to show the police officer the service bulletin 01-019/13 & he let me go with a warning & strongly advised me to get it fixed. It is now time for my car to go through inspection, & it will not pass with the lights flickering & going completely out. The problem has only continued getting worse to the point the headlight are going completely off while driving during hours when headlights are needed. I have lost my power steering multiple times after starting my car and began driving, with a brand new battery installed by a mechanic, & when I have lost power steering I have almost crashed into the side of my work office & have had to try pulling over to the side of the road due to losing power steering while driving. It is time for action to be taken & this be a recall before someone is killed, gmc can recall for the same computer system upgrade that is needed for my mazda 3, but have only been told that it is not covered and that I have to pay out of pocket, which I have gotten quotes from several mazda dealers over the several years I have owned & continue to deal with the issue and it will cost me over $500 to have repaired!! Due to not having the money to afford to computer upgrade which I consider a huge safety issue that should be mazda's problem to fix before they have a class action law suit brought against them, because someone driving a mazda 3 get seriously injured or serious injure someone else!

Filed Aug 17, 2015 · Steering · 81,000 miles · CO

As I was driving the power steering light came on, and I lost all power steering. I pulled over and checked the fluid, it was fine. When I got back in and drove the light went out. I called the dealer and explained what happened, made an appointment, took my car in and they said they couldnt get the car to do it again so just watch it. About a month later the car did it again but I was traveling at about 67 miles an hour, and lost power steering! The light stayed on long enough for me to record what what happening and to drive to the dealer. Again the light went out as I entered the dealership and they said there werent any codes on the car nor were there any in the memory. This is dangerous as I was turning into the dealer, the power steering turned back on and I almost spun in a donut because I was turning the wheel really hard due to no power at the time. Its annoying and I would really like to have it fixed but nobody can tell me what it is!

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Fuel system, Transmission · 41,500 miles · MA

The check engine light had been on for a week; the dealer said it was no big deal and to bring it in at any time. However, the vehicle lost power one day and other warning lights came on. I was able to drive home at a very low rate of speed and had it towed to the dealer. The dealer said it was a bad fuel injector and replaced it. However, now, four months later, the car is having the same problem -- the check engine light has come back on. The car has not been getting the maximum mpg (about 10 percent less) and there is a noticeable hesitation when the car shifts gears. I will be bringing it back to the dealer. This is very similar to the same complaint of others regarding the sudden loss of power -- thank goodness I was not on a highway.

Filed Apr 11, 2014 · Driver assistance · 25,000 miles · CA

Driving on the freeway and car lost power, even when pushing on the gas pedal I could not get the speed to go past 40, very dangerous on a freeway. Had to get all the way over to get off the freeway, going 40, with people going 80 miles per hour around me! Lucky I was not hit! Traction control light was on and stayed on the entire time. Pulled off freeway and called the dealer they had me come in and said they reset the computer because they could not find an error code. Then it just happened again on the freeway, I was changing lanes and the traction control light came on and again I had no power even with the gas pedal pushed all the way down. It was a sunny 75 degree day so no reason for it to come on. This happens randomly and is very dangerous!! I took into the dealer and again they said no error code so if it happens again bring it in. I tried to tell them when this happens it is not safe to drive it. This needs to be investigated before some one gets injured or killed because of this malfunction!

Filed Nov 22, 2013 · Transmission · 5,900 miles · CT

Driving at a steady 65 MPH, the car suddenly lost power and rapidly began decelerating. Traction control light came on and stayed on. Pressing the accelerator down resulted in only a minor change in RPM. Narrowly avoided a collision and made it to the shoulder. I took the next exit and just made it home as the car was barely able to climb the slightest grade. It felt like I was piloting a large motor boat. At home, I turned the car off and restarted. Tcs light came on and then off as it normally does. The light stayed off and the car then performed normally.

Filed Sep 2, 2013 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 13,200 miles · WI

While driving at approx. 45 MPH with cruise control engaged; the headlights turned off for about 2 seconds then came back on. When the headlights came back on the traction control light illuminated. The whole issue gave the appearance of part of the electrical system losing power and the power then being restored. During the incident the engine did not appear to lose power, nor did the cruise control disengage.

Filed Apr 12, 2013 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 12,000 miles · TX

I have an automatic skyactiv 2012 5dr hatchback. I was pulling out on a back road that was 60mph and as soon as I pressed the gas to speed up with traffic it was as if the car lost all power. The traction control light came on and the car slowly accelerated as I had the gas pressed to the floor. It very slowly sped up to 60mph and would not go any faster. I tried pressing the traction control button to turn it off and nothing happened. My wife and I got lunch and afterwards it worked fine. Last time I was at the dealership they told me there was a recall for the stalling issue and that they had fixed it. This was about a month or so before I experienced the stall. Before then I had not had any issues with stalling, just with pulling out onto roads. That leads me to mention that this car does not do well when pulling out onto roads. The car does not respond well. It lags and then when it realizes you have your foot pressed on the gas it throws you back into your seat. It's as if the car is in 3rd gear when you pull out and then throws itself into 1st gear. The car feels very unsafe. I wish I wouldn't have bought mazda's 2012 mazda3 since, afterall, it was their first attempt at their new skyactiv engine.

Filed Feb 15, 2013 · Driver assistance, Engine · 17,758 miles · TX

While driving down the highway the vehicle all of a sudden lost power and began to slow down. The traction control light turned on at this time. Pushing the accelerator did nothing. When I switched the manual mode for the transmission the gear was not displayed on the dashboard and trying to up or downshift did nothing. After pulling off to the side of the road I was able to place the transmission in park. I lifted the hood and checked for fluid leaks or spills of which there were none. After turning off the car and waiting a couple of minutes I turned it back on and now had the traction control, at, and check engine lights lit. After putting the transmission in drive and pushing the accelerator the vehicle was extremely sluggish in acceleration and would shift through the first four gears but at rpms much higher than normal. I was able to limp the vehicle home as the dealership was already closed. After letting the vehicle sit for 15 minutes or so I turned it back on and now only the check engine light is lit. Will be taking to the dealer in the morning.

Filed Oct 8, 2012 · Driver assistance, Engine · 6,000 miles · CA

I was driving on the freeway when suddenly the traction control indicator lit up on my dashboard. When I exited the freeway and attempted to make a left turn, my car suddenly lost power. It was as if my car was in neutral. I looked at the gear shift to ensure it was still in drive, and it was. Somehow I made it through the turn and into a nearby parking lot. I turned the car off, waited a few minutes, and then was able to leave. It was scary and upsetting as my car is only 4 months old. The dealer said they won't be able to determine what happened since the indicator is no longer illuminated. I asked if there was any way at all to do a diagnostic test and they said no. I am having a hard time believing this. I'm just glad I wasn't rear ended with my grand baby in the back seat.

Filed Apr 23, 2012 · Driver assistance, Transmission · 2,700 miles · CA

I was driving a steady 55 MPH on the freeway on a dry sunny day with my wife and kids. The roads were smooth and dry, and the gas tank was 1/2 full. The car was 3 months old with 2700 miles on it. The car suddenly lost power and started to decelerate. The engine was still running, but pressing the gas pedal had no effect on engine RPM or vehicle speed. I looked down and the stability control light was on (steady lit, not blinking). I thought that maybe the stability control was confused, so I tried hitting the stability control switch to turn it off. No luck, the light was still on and the car continued to slow. I then moved the shift lever over to manually select gears since I though maybe the tranny was stuck in 6th gear - no luck as the display didn't even show what gear it was in. There was no freeway exit in sight and I was not able to coast to the next exit. I finally pulled over the car at less than 30 MPH dodging cars zooming by at 60 MPH. I turned off the car and restarted. The stability control light was now finally off and I was able to drive off.