2008 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 transmission problems

Filed Apr 13, 2018 · Transmission · 99,500 miles · WA

I was driving on a city road doing 35-40mph in 4th gear. I let off the gas while in 4th and coasted to about 20mph then shifted to n and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I tried to shift to 1st an the shifter went half way in between r and 1st, so I shifted back to n and tried 1st again. Then the whole shifter broke off and was just laying there. Now my car is stuck in 3rd gear.

Filed Jun 14, 2016 · Transmission · 43,000 miles · MN

Manual shift lever came detached while driving in rush hour traffic. Car stuck in 4th gear. I was up shifting when it happened.

Filed Jul 25, 2015 · Transmission · 86,000 miles · VA

While shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear at low speed, the shifter for my manual transmission broke off in my hand. After coasting to the side of the road and removing the console, I discovered it snapped in half at the location of the retention pin.

Filed Oct 26, 2014 · Transmission · 84,332 miles · NY

As I was slowing down to make a right turn I placed the car in neutral. After making the turn and going to put the car back in gear the shifter breaks at the point where the pin goes in above the ball. I do not track my car nor shift hard ever.

Filed Oct 5, 2014 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · MO

The shift lever complete broke off and no longer had any affect on engaging any of the gears. I was stopped at a light and it broke when I tried to engage 1st gear out of neutral. Luckily I was able to feel for the shift cable mechanism through the leather shifter boot and engage 3rd gear. Limped home in 3rd.

Filed Sep 26, 2014 · Transmission · 42,000 miles · WA

I have a 2008 mazdaspeed 3 with a manual transmission. While I was driving to work on 9/9/2014, the steel rod that the shifter knob is attached to sheared off suddenly while I was shifting from first to second. This left the transmission in neutral and I had no power since I couldn't shift into gear. This was a very dangerous situation since I was traveling through an intersection in heavy traffic. Luckily, I avoided an accident and coasted to a stop. The car had to be towed home. The steel shaft separated completely in two without any warning. The break occurred right where the shaft has a hole drilled through it for the metal pin that locks it into the lower part of the shifter assembly. I have saved the broken part and I also took photos of it at the time of the incident. I'm very concerned that this part, which is critical to the safe operation of the vehicle failed without warning while I was driving. This appears to be a serious design or manufacturing defect. There are other reports of similar shifter failures for this year/model car on internet forums. I reported this problem to a mazda customer service representative via mazda's customer experience hotline on 9/9. I emailed them a description of the problem and sent photos of the part. I also showed the part to my local mazda dealership, lee johnson mazda in kirkland, wa and they confirmed that the part should not have failed in this fashion. I have made repeated follow up calls to the mazda customer experience hotline and on 9/26 they have informed me that mazda will not investigate the issue and is not interested in examining the failed part. The case file number they gave me is [xxx]. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Aug 11, 2014 · Transmission · 73,000 miles · TX

While shifting from 2nd gear to 3rd gear, shifter lever sheared, and detached, at the retaining pin.

Filed Apr 5, 2014 · Transmission · 58,900 miles · CA

Stopped at a stoplight, I attempted to shift in to first gear. While shifting, the transmission select lever sheered at the insertion point to the transmission at the retention pin. I was left with a stick shift that was completely removed from the car and immobile.

Filed Dec 12, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 41,000 miles · OR

Defective engine/transmission mount. Driving home at 45mph I suddenly felt a huge thunk and then metal pounding against metal as the car rolled. I was in the left lane of a 2 lane road and when I pressed the gas pedal to pull to the side safely all I could hear was a terrible thumping noise and the car wouldn't move. I had to stop in the left hand turn lane blocking a busy intersection. After having the car towed home I could finally pop the hood to look at the damage. The #4 (driver side) engine and transmission mount had completely failed, breaking the rear engine mount (#1) and severely damaging the #3 (passenger side) engine mount. The only thing keeping the engine from falling to the ground was the severely damaged #3 mount and the rest of the engine had landed on the chassis! Picture of broken engine/transmission mount - http://I.imgur.com/mwtnubd.jpg explanation of repairs at my local mazda dealership: "customer states motor mount is broken, engine has shifted. Check and advise. Tow in. Verified customer concern, found transmission mount has failed causing engine to drop and break left axle. Also caused damage to engine mounts #3 and #1. Replaced left front axle. Transmission motor mount #3, and #1. Test drove vehicle, repair verified" mazda has a recall for this exact issue for all mazdaspeed3s manufactured june 2006 through may 2007. My car was manufactured in september of 2007, 4 months after the recall expired... The federal safety agency campaign number: 07v295000. Mazda recall number: 4607f. $1500 and 2 weeks later I have my car back. I called mazda USA and filed a complaint and was told they would do nothing to help. Mazda knows that they have defective engine mounts in mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured after their recall expired. There are many additional complaints all over the web and in the federal safety agency database yet mazda has done nothing. Mazda complaint number: 149448083.

Filed Oct 25, 2013 · Transmission · 38,974 miles · DE

Shifted from 1st to second gear, shifter snapped in half. Told be dealer that replacement shifter is on "galactic back order."