2005 Mazda MAZDA3

WE HAVE HAD A 2005 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK FOR LITTLE OVER A YEAR AND A HALF. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH 30,000 MILES AND HAVE ADDED AROUND 26,000 MORE. REGULARLY KEEPING IT SERVICED ON OUR OWN ACCORD WITH OUT TAKING IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE THAT SEEMED TO BE GETTING WORSE WITH TIME. AFTER ABOUT A WEEK WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THEIR INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN THE OIL AND THAT ENGINE WAS FAILING (IN 2005 CAR WITH ONLY 56,000 MILES ON IT) AND THAT IT WOULD COST 7000$ FOR A NEW ENGINE. WE BELIEVED THIS TO BE A FAULTY ENGINE RATHER THAN OWNER LIABILITY. WE TRIED TO CONTACT MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY WERE RUDE AND BELLIGERENT. WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO THE SUPERVISOR, SHE WAS ALSO RUDE AND UNRESPONSIVE. WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK TO SOMEONE ELSE AT THE COMPANY ABOVE HER, SHE DENIED US THE RIGHT TO COMPLAIN TO ANYONE FURTHER. SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HAD TO PARK THE CAR UNTIL ENOUGH MONEY CAN BE SAVED TO FIX AN ENGINE THAT IN OUR EYES IS DEFECTIVE, AND FURTHER DEAL WITH A COMPANY THAT IS NOT VERY HELPFUL TO IT'S CUSTOMERS. *TR

2005 MAZDA 3 WITH 30K MILES. ABOUT A MONTH AGO THE CAR STARTED HESITATING WHILE DRIVING AND THEN STALLING WHEN STOPPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY INDICATED IT WAS THE OXYGEN SENSOR, WHICH THEY REPLACED LATER IN THE WEEK. IT'S BEEN THREE DAYS NOW AND I'M EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I'LL GIVE DEALER ONE MORE CHANCE TO DIAGNOSE AND FIX THE PROBLEM OR I'LL TRY SOMEONE ELSE. *JB

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, ON A 2005 MAZDA 3S WITH 39,000 MILES, ABOUT 30-35 MPH HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, UPON ACCELERATION TO REGAIN DESIRED SPEED THE CAR STALLED, LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM, ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. THE CHECK ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, INDICATING THAT THE CAR HAD LOST POWER, BY THEN I BARELY HAD ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN AND TURN ON MY HAZARDS LIGHTS. TOOK A FEW TRIES TO GET THE CAR BACK ON. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT ALL STEERING AND BRAKING SYSTEM IS LOST WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MAZDA DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT IS LOOKING AT THE ISSUE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON A HIGHWAY, ALL POWER FAILED AS THE VEHICLE WAS STEERED TO THE LEFT INTO TRAFFIC ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AFTER THE FIRST THREE OCCASIONS, BUT DIAGNOSTICS FAILED TO RECREATE THE FAILURE. ON THE 4TH OCCASION WHEN THE POWER FAILED, THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. EMERGENCY MEDICAL AND POLICE RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO THE SHOULDER ALONG WITH BRUISING TO THE UPPER BODY. SEATBELTS WERE WORN AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE SERVICE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PHOTOS WERE TAKEN BY THE CONTACT. UPDATED 10/31/2006 - *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED 2005 MAZDA DIED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE GOING APPROXIMATELY 5-15 MPH. THIS IS THE FIRST INCIDENT OF THIS KIND. IT HAPPENED ON 8-5-05. RIGHT BEFORE VEHICLE DIED SEVERAL LIGHTS CAME ON, BUT SHE DID NOT KNOW WIHICH ONES. ABOUT 15 MINUTES LATER VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY COULD DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK