- The problem
- Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
- The risk
- If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
- The fix
- Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 with NHTSA, most often about the transmission & drivetrain (3) and the brakes (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in September 2016 for the hatchback / liftgate. For comparison, the 2011 has 5 and the 2013 has 3.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical MAZDASPEED3 year, for its age
#231 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 problems
Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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6 complaints about the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
While driving, specifically while slowing down on an exit ramp from the highway, the seat made a loud popping noise and my seat began to move back and forth freely under acceleration and braking. Upon further inspection, I found that the metal connector between the seat height adjustment and the seat rail had snapped. The vehicle has 68,[redacted] miles on it and this is an unacceptable failure for the amount of miles. How am I supposed to feel safe in the event of an accident if the seat cannot stay securely connected to the car through normal driving conditions?
Headlights voluntarily and uncontrollably flickering during routine driving straightaways, turning, or encountering bumpy road. Issue arises at varying rates of speed. Had vehicle since 2012 and never had issue. End of nov. 2016, Took car in for 60,000 check-up. Dealership installed new battery. Issue began shortly thereafter. Definite safety issue and concern. While driving behind another vehicle one evening, my vehicle lights flickered and prompted the driver ahead of me to move into another lane. It gave them the impression that I was flashing lights to encourage them to move. This issue can result in potential claims of "road rage" and loss of life. *Tr
End of 2013, the vehicle began randomly popping out of 2nd gear and back into neutral. Dealer rebuilt trans under warranty and all was okay until october 2014 when the same issue began again. Dealer replaced trans under warranty but advised transmission warranty was no longer valid. Currently, july 2015, the same issue is happening again. Vehicle will be in gear then out of gear causing me to be unable to accelerate, and causing a major accident risk.
Driver attempted an emergency braking event. Brake pedal failed to maintain form-bent under moderate pressure, allowing brake pedal cover to fall off resulting in driver's foot to lose contact with brake pedal. Driver lost control of brakes and resulted in a collision. *Tr
Went to shift from 3rd to 4th, and the knob fell into two pieces while driving. *Tr
Recently purchased a brand new 2012 mazda speed3. 17 Miles off the lot. In the 4 mile drive to my house 15 minutes after signing paperwork, the clutch blows out. Had it towed back and was told we were lucky they fixed it under warranty because this item is a "wear & tear" item because going 4 miles is apparently too long. We were told to "break the clutch in" for about 400 miles. Well, we made it to 125 miles on the odometer and the same exact thing happened. Except this time, I was driving about 40mph on a...
Read the full complaint
busy road when the clutch went out. Luckily my three young children were not in the car. There is no possible way in owning a vehicle for a mere 2.5 Days in our hands we have blown two clutches or the vehicle have any wear or tear. Now they want our money to fix a car I have had for 2.5 Days. This is a load of crap on mazdas part and they need to fix this not only on my vehicle but whatever other ones are out there with the same problem. *Tr
Mazda MAZDASPEED3: every year compared
All MAZDASPEED3 years2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 | 6 | 1 | C | |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA3 | 226 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda CX-9 | 221 | 4 | F | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA6 | 100 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda CX-7 | 39 | 4 | A | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA5 | 37 | 1 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda MAZDA2 | 9 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda MX-5 | 5 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 2012 Mazda CX-5 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Does the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3: hatchback / liftgate (September 2016). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the transmission & drivetrain (3), brakes (1), lights (1).
How many complaints has the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 had?
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 28, 2012 and the latest on January 27, 2017. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Mazda MAZDASPEED3 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mazda MAZDASPEED3 years have the most complaints?
2007 (38), 2008 (33), 2010 (32). See every Mazda MAZDASPEED3 year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
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