2006 Mazda MAZDA3

I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 3 WITH APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES. WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE RADIO WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES UP ON THE DASH, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. SOMETIMES, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THEN DOESN'T SHUT OFF. IT WASN'T TOO FREQUENT AT FIRST, BUT ON SOME DAYS, IT WILL HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE SOMEWHERE. IT USUALLY OCCURS EARLY IN THE DRIVE. ONCE I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART, IT USUALLY RESETS AND MY CAR IS FINE. I HAVE SEEN THE RECALLS FOR THE 2007 MAZDA 3 MODELS, BUT I THINK MY CAR SHOULD ALSO BELONG IN THIS TOO. PLEASE HELP. THE MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE CRUISING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH, CAR DOWNSHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT AND SLOW DOWN. AT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY CAUSING IT TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 3RD RANDOMLY AND ALSO IDLE IN 3RD. THE ENTIRE SHIFTING IS RANDOM AND DANGEROUS, SOMETIMES WORKING AND SOMETIME THROWING YOUR RPMS UP TO 6000. WHILE DRIVING IT CAUSES MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES WHEN IT RANDOMLY CHANGED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN PLUGGED IN I GET ERROR CODE U0101. THE COMPUTER IS FAILING AND WITH RECENT GOOGLE SEARCHES I REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MAZDA WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME PERSONALLY. *TR

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THERE IS A TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST VEER INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE STEERING EFFORD INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTICED NO FAULT LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANNEL WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE STEERING LOSS APPEARS TO OCCUR AT RANDOM AND SPORATICALLY. *TT

I FIRST NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS NOT COMING BACK ALL THE WAY AFTER CHANGING GEARS. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE TOP OF MY FOOT TO LIFT THE CLUTCH UP WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND IT WOULD POP BACK UP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHICH, I WAS CURRENTLY ABOUT 2 MILES FROM. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN THE MORNING. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 3 MILES. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. NO ONE RETURNED MY PHONE CALL, SO I STARTED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THAN I BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY AFTER ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES AND ONLY ABOUT 3 TRAFFIC LIGHTS. AFTER THAT, I COULD PUT THE STICK SHIFT INTO GEAR BUT WHEN I LIFTED THE CLUTCH UP IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AT MAZDA AND HAD ALL MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP ASIDE FROM REGULAR OIL CHANGES WHICH, I GOT DONE AT A LOCAL SHOP. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN A STICK SHIFT AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCHES. I WAS ALSO THE SOLE DRIVER OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SOMEONE RECOMMENDED FILLING OUT A COMPLAINT AT THIS WEBSITE. IF I HAD NOT STUMBLED ACROSS THAT I WOULD BE NONE THE WISER. WHILE LOOKING OVER THE SITE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECENT INVESTIGATION OF MAZDA RX8. IT STATED THAT AFTER THE INVESTIGATION, MAZDA HAS INFORMED ODI THAT IT CONDUCTED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE PROGRAM INCREASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS AND LIMITED AT 100K MILES FOR MODEL YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009 RX8 VEHICLES. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN A CLUTCH HAVE A LIFETIME OF 100,000 MILES IN AN RX8 WHICH IS A SPORTIER CAR AND PROBABLY RECEIVES MORE ABUSE THAN OTHER MODELS AND ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 IN A 2006 MAZDA 3/HATCHBACK? COULD YOU LOOK INTO ALL MODELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WERE DRY AND MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE THE BUSHING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSED THE TIRES TO DETERIORATE ON THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR LOWER TRAILING LINKS AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED A TOTAL OF FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE TOP MODULE BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THAT THE CONNECTORS WERE CORRODED AND IN ORDER TO REMEDY THE ISSUE, THEY CLEANED ALL OF THE LINES. THE THIRD TIME THEY REPLACED THE TOP MODULE AGAIN AND MOST RECENTLY, THE DEALER DECIDED TO REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000. UPDATED 07/20/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE PUMP WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, THE LINES WERE FLUSHED AND THE CONNECTORS WERE CLEANED. THE DEALER COVERED THE REPAIRS UNDER A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2007-2009 MODELS. UPDATED 08/19/11*JB

I HAD GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED NEW TIRES SHORTLY ANYWAYS SO I HAD THEM PUT ON A USED TIRE TO GET ME THROUGH TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DURING THE TWO WEEKS I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE- THERE WAS- A BUSTED STRUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE THAT I GOT A FLAT). I WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM A VACATION (CAR WASN'T DRIVEN) AND GOT THAT FIXED BUT EVERYONE WAS SURPRISED WITH THE STRUT BEING OUT. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AS WERE BOTH FRONT STRUTS. CAR WAS GREAT FOR ~2 WKS. THEN IT WAS LOUD AND TERRIBLE VIBRATIONS. AFTER ARGUING AND COMPLAINING A MONTH LATER THEY REPLACED TIRES FOR ME BECAUSE TWO WEREN'T EVEN KEEPING TIRE PRESSURE AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I WAS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I REALLY CAN'T STAND THE JERKS!-THEY'RE AWFUL!) AND THEY SAID I HAD A BUSTED MOTOR MOUNT BUT REFUSED TO SHOW ME. I HAD MY MAIN DEALER CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THEN A FAMILY FRIEND, BUT AGAIN NOTHING. FF TO DECEMBER AND I GIVE IN AND GO BACK TO MAZDA- MOTOR MOUNT WOULD BE IN MULTIPLE PIECES IF IT WASN'T IN A CAPSULE LIKE DEVICE. IN JANUARY THEY GOT MY PART IN AND REPLACED IT- ALSO KNOCKING OUT A STOPPER- AND VIBRATIONS STOPPED. MOUNT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OUT SO FAST- AT INITIAL DX I THINK CAR WAS AT 45K-50K MILES (LATE SUMMER OF '10) I THINK THERE'S A DEFECT WITH MOUNTS (MINE WAS PASSENGER SIDE OVER TIRE AREA) AND ALSO WITH STRUTS. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME- MAZDA, MY DEALER (ZIMBRICK-WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!), AND A FEW OTHER SERVICE CENTERS THAT THE STRUTS SHOULD'VE LASTED A LOT LONGER. *TR

I HAD GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED NEW TIRES SHORTLY ANYWAYS SO I HAD THEM PUT ON A USED TIRE TO GET ME THROUGH TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DURING THE TWO WEEKS I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD NEW BREAKS PUT ON AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE- THERE WAS- A BUSTED STRUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE THAT I GOT A FLAT). I WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM A VACATION (CAR WASN'T DRIVEN) AND GOT THAT FIXED BUT EVERYONE WAS SURPRISED WITH THE STRUT BEING OUT. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AS WERE BOTH FRONT STRUTS. CAR WAS GREAT FOR ~2 WKS. THEN IT WAS LOUD AND TERRIBLE VIBRATIONS. AFTER ARGUING AND COMPLAINING A MONTH LATER THEY REPLACED TIRES FOR ME BECAUSE TWO WEREN'T EVEN KEEPING TIRE PRESSURE AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I WAS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I REALLY CAN'T STAND THE JERKS!-THEY'RE AWFUL!) AND THEY SAID I HAD A BUSTED MOTOR MOUNT BUT REFUSED TO SHOW ME. I HAD MY MAIN DEALER CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THEN A FAMILY FRIEND, BUT AGAIN NOTHING. FF TO DECEMBER AND I GIVE IN AND GO BACK TO MAZDA- MOTOR MOUNT WOULD BE IN MULTIPLE PIECES IF IT WASN'T IN A CAPSULE LIKE DEVICE. IN JANUARY THEY GOT MY PART IN AND REPLACED IT- ALSO KNOCKING OUT A STOPPER- AND VIBRATIONS STOPPED. MOUNT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OUT SO FAST- AT INITIAL DX I THINK CAR WAS AT 45K-50K MILES (LATE SUMMER OF '10) I THINK THERE'S A DEFECT WITH MOUNTS (MINE WAS PASSENGER SIDE OVER TIRE AREA) AND ALSO WITH STRUTS. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME- MAZDA, MY DEALER (ZIMBRICK-WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!), AND A FEW OTHER SERVICE CENTERS THAT THE STRUTS SHOULD'VE LASTED A LOT LONGER. *TR

FIRST INCIDENT WAS ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, WHILE TURNING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED THE RADIO WENT OUT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND THE STEERING LIGHT ON THE PANEL LIT UP. EVERYTHING CAME BACK WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, AND YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED NINE TIMES IN THE SPAN OF A 13 MILE DRIVE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I FIND IT STRANGELY COINCIDENTAL THAT THE 2007-2009 MAKES OF THIS VEHICLE WERE ALL RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME REASON.

MY 2006 MAZDA 3I SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHEN STOPPING THE FIRST TIME AFTER THE CAR HAS SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 1 DAY OR MORE. WHEN IT SNOWS OR RAINS OUT AND I DRIVE MY CAR AFTER SITTING IN THESE CONDITIONS, APPROACHING MY FIRST INTERSECTION WHICH IS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE, I HAVE NO BREAKING ACTION. THERE SEEMS TO BE PRESSURE BECAUSE THE BREAK PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO THE FLOOR, HOWEVER THEY DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND I HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. USUALLY ITS TOO LATE AND I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OR EVEN THROUGH IT. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY AND IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER THAT "IF MY CAR SAT FOR 1 OR MORE DAYS AND IF IT RAINED OR IF IT SNOWED, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. I HAVE FOUND NOTHING ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WANTED OTHERS TO KNOW IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *LN