Mazda MAZDA3 hesitation problems

Filed Oct 13, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 100,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that while driving uphill at 45 MPH, the vehicle sputtered, hesitated to accelerate, and the check engine warning light illuminated. When the contact firmly depressed the accelerator pedal, the engine made a knocking noise, and the vehicle stalled. Diagnostic testing at AutoZone retrieved DTC related to the knock sensor. The vehicle underwent a tune-up, and the knock sensors and ignition coils were replaced; however, the failure persisted. While driving, the vehicle hesitated and failed to exceed 40 MPH. The contact pulled over, restarted the vehicle, and drove to the residence with the hazard lights activated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V487000 (Back Over Prevention) was completed. The contact associated the engine hesitation and stalling failures with the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 17V745000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 21V875000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the dealer informed the contact that the VIN was excluded from both recalls. The manufacturer was notified of the failure by phone. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

My 2018 Mazda 3 has an intermittent electrical failure on the high-speed CAN network that causes multiple safety-critical systems to fail while driving. When the fault occurs, the dash lights up with warnings for powertrain, ABS/traction, lane departure, collision-avoidance, TPMS, immobilizer, and the check-engine light. The car also hesitates or “lurches” between 15–30 mph during these events. At one point in 2024, the vehicle went into limp mode on the freeway, creating a safety hazard. These failures are intermittent but repeatable. Diagnostic scans from 2023–2025 show multiple U-codes for lost communication between control modules; two later became permanent. The issue appears unrelated to any one component and affects many systems at once. The vehicle has been to every Mazda dealership in the North Texas region (Mesquite, Freeman, Hiley, Norm Reeves, Town North). All performed only basic scans; none completed a full CAN-bus or wiring-harness diagnostic. Town North kept the vehicle for six weeks (Sept–Oct 2025), replaced a coil and spark plugs, performed a camera calibration and a TCM update, but the network failures returned within 38 miles. We sought independent inspection only after dealerships repeatedly refused diagnosis whenever the warning lights were not on at the moment of arrival. In November 2025, a technician found significant internal corrosion inside the negative battery cable; touching the cable reproduced the full failure immediately. The corrosion extends deep into the wire sheathing. This appears to be an electrical defect affecting CAN communication and power/ground integrity. When the fault occurs, multiple safety systems disable at once and the vehicle behaves unpredictably. Mazda Corporate has declined further assistance, and the defect remains unresolved. I am filing this report because this is a recurring safety issue that may affect other vehicles of the same model and year.

Filed Nov 20, 2024 · NY

My 2021 Mazda 3 was bought used in August 2023 and is about a year old in my possession. it has been at the Mazda dealership for repairs multiple times since August 2023. it dangerously stalls and hesitates when trying to accelerate from a stop position. When the brake pedal is released and I start to accelerate like merging onto highways,the car rumbles or shakes slightly and then shuts off. I Came across a review online that had the exact same problem and it stated a PCM update solved the issue. I have been to the dealer frequently since purchased and they kept my car for over a week and claimed they could not reproduce the customers complaint and there is no diagnostic code generated. There is Frequent parking light malfunction alerts, switch operation not accepted alerts, Brake alerts on desolate roadways I believe this vehicle behavior is dangerous on multiple levels, but the dealer Refused to remedy the complaint or give me copies of the papers that I signed, stating they are only for the dealership. I also received a notice in the mail for a class action settlement for faulty fuel pump used in MAZDA vehicles but not the 2021 Mazda 3 although it displays the same Dangerous behavior. So between the faulty fuel pump or required PCM update the vehicle is questionable to drive safely under certain circumstances. The dealer inferred I should have purchased a used certified Mazda from them instead. Thanks

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 Apr 20, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 34 miles · WA

Purchased a brand new 2018 mazda 3 2.5l touring hatchback. I had only driven the vehicle as its new owner once, from the dealership back to my home, which was less than 20 miles, when the following occurred: I started the engine for my second trip with the vehicle, and noticed the check engine light was illuminated and remained illuminated. I drove the vehicle around the block and did not experience any unusual driving performance characteristics so I drove to my intended destination which was only 7 miles away. When I started the engine to make my way back I noticed that now five warning lights were illuminated and remained illuminated, which corresponded to the following warning guidances: an engine system malfunction, a dsc malfunction, a TPMS system malfunction, along with two scbs malfunction warnings. When attempting to drive the vehicle, I found that the engine was clearly not running properly, as it jerked violently, surged, hesitated and at times seemed poised to stall. The vehicle was clearly unsafe for me to proceed on the road. As it was sunday, I had to arrange on the next day for a tow truck to transport the vehicle to the nearest mazda service center, which was not the mazda dealership I had purchased the vehicle from. It took over a week for mazda service center to determine I had a faulty throttle body, which had caused these problems and this was what needed replacement. Importantly, the service technician indicated that the warning lights indicating problems with this new mazda were known previously by the original mazda dealer before the sale transaction was completed: prior to the vehicle's arrival for service at mazda service center, the warning lights and malfunction codes were previously cleared by the mazda dealer, rather than addressing the issue or resolving it. This is fraud and corporate malfeasance on the part of the mazda dealership.

Filed Jan 2, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 40,000 miles · SC

Occasionally the engine will hesitate when accelerating, and then the check engine light, tpm, and stability control light will illuminate on the dash. Less frequently, the engine will occasionally stall while driving or while sitting at a stop light. The lights on the dashboard will remain illuminated, so I do not think it's a total loss of power.

Filed Oct 3, 2017 · Steering · 90,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda 3. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated to start. After a few attempts, the vehicle started, but there was no power steering. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence very slowly. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired in 2010 by star mazda in glendale, california for the same failure per an unknown recall issued by the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired this time and the dealer was not contacted again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Jul 24, 2017 · Engine, Fuel system · 113,500 miles · PA

Car continuingly shows evap dtcs including p0443 and p0446 as well as either too rich or too lean fuel mixture and and o2 sensor issue code. Both o2 sensors were replace previously. The main concern is dangerous and has already almost caused several accidents while the issue has occurred after driving from a stopped position. The issue is, when the vehicle stops at 0 MPH, the normal idling RPM speed is around 750rpm. During stops longer than a second, the car will lower the idle rpms to about 500rpm and stay until the throttle is engaged. When the throttle is engaged the vehicle hesitates and comes close to stalling. The vehicle will not power the wheels above about 1000rpms when the throttle is fully depressed and the car will hesitate until the car starts to gradually move forward. This all is happening in the intersection. As the car gets to the intersection, the car starts to pick up to about 1000 to 1500rpm and only then will the car start to fully drive forward without relation to driver's forced depression of the throttle. Basically the vehicle is defiantly not going above 1500rpm until the vehicle is a certain ways forward. This is very dangerous and I have already had very close calls with a dodge durango, a tractor trailer, an unidentified sedan, and a toyota prius (of all the vehicles in the world). I was almost "t-boned" by a prius. This issue is I believe to be an issue with the fuel system or engine as this issue only really occurs when it is very very humid or hot out. Usually above 80 degrees with any humidity at all. Could be a vaporlock, although somewhat unusual for a fuel injected vehicle, it isn't impossible.

Filed Jun 29, 2016 · Electrical, Transmission · 20,000 miles · NV

When breaking my headlights flicker on and off. It only occurs when breaking. Second issue: when backing up from reverse gear and putting car into drive the transmission hesitates to engage and the car surges forward like it is not in gear. It will also make a metal on metal sound when foot is not on the brake pedal. Third issue: at 55 MPH the vehicle shakes. Dealer said they cannot duplicate it but it happens always at 55mph.

Filed Apr 27, 2015 · Electrical · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 mazda 3. The contact stated that there was an electrical short or malfunction in which the gauges, sensors, and warning lamps flickered on the instrument panel. The contact also noticed the radio was shorting intermittently. Later, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the technician was not able to replicate or diagnose the failure. The contact continued to experience the failures and the vehicle stalled more than five times without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle each time. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.