Common problems with the Mazda3

hey if you are in mass you may want to check the NEPOC section (New England Protege Owners Club) which really is a Mazda fan club and they probably know a few places.
I hear you on the noise... but i love how it handles and i just crank up the music and forget about it.
 
Got my car March 21, 2007. Brand new 2007 Mazda3s 5spd MT. After 2,000 miles I got the vibrating noise coming from my driver door. Drives me a bit nuts, its intermitant and I only hear it every now and than but I can't stand vibrating or rattling. At around 2,500 miles I hit a sizeable pot hole (LOTS OF construction where I am) and after that started to hear a rattle in the front passenger side. Sounds similar to the vibration/rattle from the drivers side. Visual inspection outside and under the vehicle don't show anything obviously loose but than again I am no mechanic. I do not hear the noise with the windows down, however it could just be the outside road noise and wind covering it up but I'm thinking its window related.

The only other problem I am having is that sometimes the car is difficult about going into REV. I can't figure out whats causing it but sometimes I am locked out of REV even when on a flat surface with clutch fully depressed and brake engaged. I actually have to let it roll a bit for it to come out of REV lockout.

As of May 1st 2007 I have 3,232 miles on the car (Ya I drive 60+ miles a day). So I'm gonna follow the check ups for heavy usage. When I hit the 5,000 mile mark she's going in and I'll have them check everything I have described above out.

I didn't read through the whole thread so if anyone else has a problem getting into REV on the MT let me know. I only saw people having the vibration/rattle in the door issues.

Besides the above minor annoyances this car has been a complete dream.
 
RonH said:
It' interesting...does anyone feel the quality is somehow effected since Mazda is made by Ford? Are these Mazdas made in the USA or Japan?


Just to clear some things up. Ron is correct. the Speeds and the Mazda 3 are the only production lines that are manufactured and assembled in Japan.

Also if your VIN does start with a J, then yes your vehicly is a bonified import....(rei)
 
Bought my car May 8 2006 ... Got it with 2 miles fresh off the truck ... 25,400 miles on it today ... Not a single problem with or without my mods ... Mine is a 5 Speed A/T
 
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2004 MZ3s Manufactured in May 2004.

48,000 Miles, no problems...except....

After getting my tires rotated last fall, going over 55mph on the highway means serious steering wheel vibration....as if I'm driving a 1990 Isuzu trooper.

Swapped to the winter wheels this past winter, and it went away, put the summers on, all is well, got 2 tires patched a week ago, drove onto the highway, and its UNBEARABLE.

Test driving a Speed3 today, so I dont care about fixing it yet because I getting into a Speed3 ASAP.
 
M3 5MT said:
2004 MZ3s Manufactured in May 2004.

48,000 Miles, no problems...except....

After getting my tires rotated last fall, going over 55mph on the highway means serious steering wheel vibration....as if I'm driving a 1990 Isuzu trooper.

Swapped to the winter wheels this past winter, and it went away, put the summers on, all is well, got 2 tires patched a week ago, drove onto the highway, and its UNBEARABLE.

Test driving a Speed3 today, so I dont care about fixing it yet because I getting into a Speed3 ASAP.

Its obviously a problem with the tires. If it happened after you got them rotated I don't really know why...but I did have that problem myself once before. I had a disfunctional tire that had the tread pull away and form an air pocket in the tire. See if the rattling gets worse when you turn a certain degree in one direction.
 
Wow! Dealer addressed all my problems with new parts.
Service report:

CAUSE - RECALL - AIR BAG SENSOR
CORRECTION - REPLACED CRASH ZONE SENSOR AS PER RECALL 2304J

CAUSE - BRAKE NOISE
CORRECTION - REPLACED CALIPER MOUNTING FOR FRONT BRAKES AND FILED DOWN EDGES

CAUSE - CEL - INTERNAL FAILURE
TECH DIAGNOSED AND RETRIEVED CODE P2404-EVAP PUMP
CORRECTION - REPLACED EVAP PUMP

CAUSE - BELT NOISE
CORRECTION - REPLACED ALTERNATOR BELT
i aslo have a hissing sound coming from the front of the car.

What did the:

CAUSE - CEL - INTERNAL FAILURE
TECH DIAGNOSED AND RETRIEVED CODE P2404-EVAP PUMP
CORRECTION - REPLACED EVAP PUMP

CAUSE - BELT NOISE
CORRECTION - REPLACED ALTERNATOR BELT
FIX?
 
Driver door panel rattle.

I tried for 3 hours to isolate the rattle when changing out the stock speakers but i cant seem to find it. Does anyone know exactly where it is coming from? All I came up with is if the door is open and you are looking at the inner door panel the sound is coming for the lower left. Do i need to take the door completely apart? Would dynamat help?
 
I always go over speed bumps and dips slowly. Even with going slow, the car still hops like crazy. The front end just seems to drop out and my keys rattle around as if I just flew over it at high speeds. My car is an 07 with 8800 miles on it. Is that something worth having the dealership look at?
 
hmmm you guys all have bad things to say. i guess we all but we cant complain for the price we are buying these cars they have turned out to be the s***! i love my 3!
i have had couple of problems and could have some complains..

-my sub does make things rattle and sound like something in the drivers area is loose.

-the motor mount sucks!

-squeeky noises inside the car makin me feel in my old project Integra

-5th gear blows we need a 6th to save some gas. 80 and above cars RPM are over 3500 which just wastes ur gas and can be annoyin if you have an exhaust.

-alot of break dust

-and the biggest problem i would sad was the reverse light switch which is clicked on by a spring the rod clicks when u put it in reverse broke leaving my reverse lights on for about 2 hrs non stop causing the housing to melt! so i had to take it to the dealer and order the part and im getting it replace but since i had them painted blk i had to take the paint off which was a b***ch and 12 bucks... (warranty covered everything so far. but the 12 bcusk for the paint remover s**t)

this was when it was messed up...


u can barely tell but the inside looks melted...





after taking off the paint




http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123700955

other than that i love my 3!!!
-im saving $110 bucks a month just in car payments (had a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab long bed)
-$50 bucks a month in insurance
-about $22 every gas tank
-and i get to enjoy a way smoother ride! so thats priceless!

gotta say i love my 3 by far the most fun car.. (s*** idk muddin in the frontier every weekend was too much fun)
 
I love my speed3 too! Honestly, these things are minor issues that I really don't even pay attention to anymore.
 
Noisy suspension

I've got 18,000 miles on a 2007 MS3. Love the car! I've had to replace an oxygen sensor; no biggie. The squeaky rear suspension is really annoying, though. It has got better with warmer weather (I'm in Idaho) but is still there. I have read other posts that said they had the rear bushings replaced, but it still squeaked.

Nearest dealer is 200 miles away; so it is a bit inconvenient.
 
Speed 3 is the way to go.

2004 MZ3s Manufactured in May 2004.

48,000 Miles, no problems...except....

After getting my tires rotated last fall, going over 55mph on the highway means serious steering wheel vibration....as if I'm driving a 1990 Isuzu trooper.

Swapped to the winter wheels this past winter, and it went away, put the summers on, all is well, got 2 tires patched a week ago, drove onto the highway, and its UNBEARABLE.

Test driving a Speed3 today, so I dont care about fixing it yet because I getting into a Speed3 ASAP.
 
Allow me to begin....

3300 miles- Dealership messed my frontside oil cover while changing my oil. At the same time they knicked a belt, and it was sqauking like crap.

5000 miles- Turbo seals went, HEAVY SMOKE.

5300 miles- Seat handle broke- replaced the whole seat.

5600 miles- Noise on windshield- fixed

10,000 miles- I replaced the motormount, and not a moment too soon, stock mount had a crack in it and was bending.

13000 miles- Rear suspension clunks and crunches over bumps- ended up replacing the RR shock absorber, mount and bracket.


currently at 13900. No problems since i got the car back, though i got it back yesterday.

I have a 07 red speed three.

Do you all think i may qualify for a lemon law?
 
low rev

i have an 06' mazda3 with about 40,000 miles on it.

1. front wheel squeaking like im driving a NY cab. Do i have to get new pads?
2. clanking in the back on even slightly bumpy roads. Got it checked out and they said nothing was loose. Is there something wrong with the springs?
3. Recently, when i turn on the car sometimes, the startup is really really weak. It usually start pumping at 2500 rpm. But sometimes when i start it, it putters on to a little over 1000 and then dips to around 500rpm and wont move properly so i have to turn it off and start it up again until it starts normally. Still though, the engine is different now. I can feel it shaking when im in park. it used to be quiet and smoothe.

The third one concerns me especially. I just took it to the dealer and got some cap replaced and i havent gotten any maintenance done on it yet besides routine oil changes. I thought maybe the spark plugs but those dont need replacing until 75k. help me out.

Also is any of this still under warranty? it's been about 37 months and 40k.
 

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