2012 Mazda MAZDA3 steering problems

Filed Mar 5, 2022 · Driver assistance, Steering · NE

I can be turning left from a full stop and a few times almost went up onto the median seperating traffic. The car doesn't keep straight in it's own lane unless i put a lot of pressure with both hands on steering wheel and that doesn't always keep it straight, it veers left and right going down the road. Tire pressure light keeps coming on. when backing up hear like a grinding sound in passenger front tire. I bought this used at a Ford car dealership in June 2021. thats all i can think of right now. This has happened more than once no just one time.

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 Dec 16, 2019 · Steering · 100,000 miles · ID

Power steering light came on, steering became impossible at first, checked fluid, and lines, all was ok, then steering wheel locked up, could not drive anymore. Car was in motion when it all started, on a public road.

Filed Apr 22, 2019 · Steering · 164,000 miles · OH

Steering gets really stiff when stationary and when speed is less than 5mph.

Filed Dec 1, 2017 · Electrical, Engine · 55,000 miles · CA

More that one problem with this vehicle. 1) it starts honking while driving, instrument panel and interior lights flash on and off, the car will only make right turns and will not restart when vehicle is turned off. Yesterday, it did it once again immediately as I turned right onto the city street from a parking lot. Luckily there was another parking lot entrance on the right, so I pulled in, parked and turned off the vehicle. It continued to honk, flash interior lights and instrument panel and ignition would not work nor crank. I tried to restart the vehicle several times over a five (5) minutes, when it finally restarted and I was able to get the vehicle home without it happening again. This vehicle has done this several times and it will start honking in the middle of the night while parked and off for no reason. There are times that as quickly as it started honking it will stop, other times, I must go attempt to turn vehicle on and eventually ignition will crank and engine will start. I have taken it to mazda but they are not able to replicate the problem and tell me there's nothing they can do. I am worried I will not be able to turn one of these days and hit someone and get hit by someone else when the car decides it won't turn left. Not to mention if the car will not start while I am in a bad area and be harmed while waiting for the car to stop honking, flashing and refusing to crank and start. 2) when you put gear in drive, from either park or reverse, and take your foot off the brake the car accelerates and lunges forward without pressing the gas peddle. The first time it did it I almost hit a parked car! Thankful I acted quickly and reapplied the brake. Now I allow enough space, as if I driving a truck and am ready to apply the brake. Dealership states nothing is wrong with it. Mazda needs to take these matters seriously. But it's going back!!

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 May 2, 2017 · Steering · 68,000 miles · PA

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda 3. While driving 45 MPH, the power steering warning indicator illuminated and the power steering seized. When the vehicle was turned off and back on, it operated as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Dec 9, 2016 · Steering · 8,000 miles · MI

My battery was dead. I jump started the car and backed out of my driveway. When I started forward, the power steering had an intermittent malfunction and several warning lights activated. I replaced the battery, and everything returned to normal. In my case, there was no problem because the car was in my driveway. However, had I jump started the car elsewhere, a shopping center parking lot for example, the loss of steering may have had adverse consequences. In researching the problem, I found that this frequently occurs in mazda3s regardless of the year.

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 Jul 19, 2015 · Seats, Steering · 53,000 miles · FL · crash

My car was t-bone, it should not have been driven. My daughter was made to drive the damaged car home instead of using a tow truck to take it to the nearest body shop. The suspension was bent completely inwards (doughnut tire was used to drive the car home with a bent suspension). I was told by the insurance company to drive the car to the nearest shop they do business with, and I did. I asked the supervisor/adjuster to total the car before ever seeing the internal damage. I knew the car could not be repaired back to the way it was, almost new condition. We went back and forward about totaling the car. He refused to total only after pleading with him, he agreed to do so. After seeing the car stripped from lid of trunk, tires off, I saw the right tire completely bent inward. I was told it was supposed to be that way. I told the adjuster I did not want the car that it is destroyed, again I asked him to total the car. He said no, the car could be repaired. I was assured by the body shop owner that he would repair it back 100%. He did not. The shop kept my car approx. 2 months from the 15 days promised to be fixed. I picked up the car on 6/24/15. My daughter and I examined it and the back seat pulled away from the back and base of the seat; would not stay locked down. It pulled completely away from the back, out, and up; tail lights did not work; suspension was unbalanced, the car pulled left. The right suspension was lower about 5/8" lower than the left suspension; nail in tire which made the tire sensor light stay on; car smelled offer inside; it was not washed before given back to me; paint had dripped and dried up at the base of the car where repair work had been done; right door did not align; back panel did not align; suspension was not coated, left to rust out; radio had beeping sound when changing stations; my daughter has 13 month old who rides in the car.