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Engine & cooling

2011 Mazda MAZDA3 Engine problems

Owners have filed 5 complaints about the 2011 Mazda MAZDA3's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 4% of all its complaints, most recently on January 22, 2024. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.

Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0

Engine complaints

Seats & seat beltsEngine & cooling

Defective Driver's seat construction made by Mazda Mfg Corp. I was the first person to report this cheaply made driver's seat failure to Mazda Corp in Irvine, CA in early 2015 or 2016. Recall was finally issued a year afterwards because Mazda dragged their feet, and only after I threatened to sue them if I was ever in an accident, and the seat was to totally fall apart, and maim me for life did they finally take action. The Recall fix (cheap bandaid clamp that again failed because seat frame welds had failed as...

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well) was never done right, and as a result the seat totally fell apart, and Ed Howard Lincoln Mazda of Sarasota, FL didn't want to do anything further at that point (cost out of pocket wise). I was told by a different Mazda Dealership in Ft Myers, FL that that defective seat should have been totally replaced if they would've handled it correctly. So Ed Howard Lincoln Mazda really screwed me on that one! As related to the 2.5L Mazda engine, I also had/have a engine failure part there as well. It's called the ENGINE COOLANT (WATER) OUTLET FLANGE, and the bottom left hand bolt (1 of 4 bolts total) that's suppose to hold this cheap plastic part in place was stripped (over-torqued) at the production assembly line time that the engine was made (put together). Now the cheap plastic replacement part is leaking again from the same lower left hand corner, and this is a well Known Ford & Mazda 2.5L engine failure design as stated in many a Mazda online forum! This also should have been recalled, as now my 2011 Mazda 3 is down again. Engine overheated again on Oct 13, 2023. Prior repair to replace this defective Flange was done in Feb or Mar of 2022. Cheap Plastic parts put on a Metal engine just don't work well at all. Common Physics would tell you that! I have documents in my storage unit if you need them.

Filed Incident Seats · EngineNHTSA 11567016
Electrical systemEngine & cooling

Transmission slips out and shift shock in first gear to second year. Over revving and bucking on the freeway. These are BAD transmissions

Filed Incident Electrical system · Unknown or other · EngineNHTSA 11419819
SteeringElectrical systemEngine & cooling

When driving the steering wheel locks up . Super hard to pull over. Very dangerous. Could have been killed. The power steering light and engine light come unill I turn vehicle off and on. I have read many post on line of this happening to this vehicle and I'm shocked this is not a active recall or haven't caused any deaths.

Filed Incident Steering · Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 11355694
Engine & cooling

Air conditioner coils are continually producing mold. Change air cabin filter regularly, mold is even growing on filters. When coils are touched, black mold comes off on rag. I have severe mold allergies and have had to have the coils cleaned professionally as well as the ac vents cleaned to remove spores. I have never had this kind of problem with any car I've ever had. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10546961
Engine & coolingTransmission & drivetrain

I stopped at a stop sign and my car started accelerating as if the accelerator was fully depressed. My foot was squarely on the brake at the time but I was being pulled slowly forward on to a busy roadway. I am an experienced driver and was able to turn the car sharply to the right along the shoulder to avoid oncoming traffic. I shifted into park, and then shut the engine off. My foot placement was no where near the accelerator, and there were no other obstructions (i.E. Carpets). When I restarted the car the...

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engine sounded normal. As an engineer, I am fairly certain that what ever happened was electronic in nature, not a mechanical obstruction or sticking linkage (i did not touch the gas pedal when I restarted). Prior to this incident I had been driving slow though a business park at 10 to 15 miles and hour for a couple of minutes, I was at a doctor appointment. I have not seen this issue before or since. Mazda has examined the car and did not see anything. I like the car, but I thought it was important to get this potentially dangerous flaw on record. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine cooling · Power train · Unknown or otherNHTSA 10436649

Mazda MAZDA3 engine complaints by year

MAZDA3 engine problems, every year

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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