2008 MAZDA MAZDA3 Complaints

ON AUGUST 6TH, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN AND TRAFFIC AT HIGH WAY SPEED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED. WORKING. VISION THROUGH WINDSHIELD WAS SEVERELY IMPAIRED AND I HAD TO STOP. I CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FUSE WAS FINE. A REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY DANGEROUS THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE BACK, NECK AND RIGHT ARM AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL VIA AMBULANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V374000-STEERING: ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM) YET THE RECALL WAS NOT SCHEDULED TO BEGIN UNTIL SEPTEMBER 15, 2010. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

MY DAUGHTER WAS ABOUT TO PULL OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE IN A SHOPPING CENTER WHEN SHE NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN FOR HER. I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND A LIGHT WITH A STEERING-WHEEL AND EXPLANATION POINT WAS SHOWING. I TOLD HER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, SHUT IT OFF AND THEN START IT UP AGAIN. SHE DID AND THE WARNING LIGHT WAS STILL WAS THERE AND NO POWER-STEERING. SHE TRIED THIS A COUPLE OF TIMES. IT WAS THEN I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND EXPLAINED THE SITUATION. HE CALLED THE DEALER WHO TOLD US TO BRING IT RIGHT IN. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES WITH IT OFF AND SWITCHING PLACES, I STARTED IT AND IT WAS STILL NOT WORKING. I HAD TO DRIVE IT SEVERAL MILES WITH NO POWER TO THE STEERING-WHEEL. WOW! TALK ABOUT TAKING A STEP BACK IN TIME. MY DAUGHTER COULD SEE ME STRUGGLE TO TURN THE STEERING-WHEEL. WHEN I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY THE POWER CAME BACK ON OUT OF THE BLUE! THIS IS A VEHICLE I NOW NO LONGER TRUST FOR SAFETY ESPECIALLY AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING A TURN AT 10 MPH IN SNOWY WEATHER WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO SEVERAL BUSHES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS AND STEERING PUMP FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,367 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,500. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/07/10

I HAVE A 2008 MAZDA 3. I BOUGHT IT IN 2009 AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING. I HEARD A LOUD POP AND THE STEERING LIGHT CAME ON. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURNED IT BACK ON BUT THE LIGHT WAS STILL ON ,SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL THE LIGHT WENT OFF ,THEN I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEM . THEY TOLD ME THAT MAZDA DOES THAT FROM TIME TO TIME TO JUST TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN.I HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. AUGUST 17,2010 WAS THE WORST IT HAPPEN FIVE TIMES WHILE I PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING WAITING ON MY GIRLS TO GET OUT OF SCHOOL. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING AND SOMETHING TO BE DONE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *TR

POWER STEERING FUNCTION WAS LOST TWICE LAST YEAR IN MY MAZDA 3. THE PWR STEERING MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OF THE STEERING FUNCTION IN THE CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FROM THE STOP, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY STIFF. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,500.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES TO ATTEMPT A U-TURN WHEN THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. HE SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE POWER STEERING WAS OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND STEERING LINES UNDER THE CONTACTS WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,583.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING AT 45-50 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE UNCONTROLLABLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE CONTACT WENT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 25,000.

I HAVE A 2008 MAZDA 3. WHILE IN FLORIDA LAST WINTER I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE POWER STEERING DURING EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY WHILE I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. I PULLED OFF INTO A PARKING LOT WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY. MY HUSBAND THOUGHT MAYBE DUE TO HOW HOT THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS, MAYBE WE USED UP POWER STEERING FLUID. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR TO A NEARBY AUTO PARTS STORE, BOUGHT POWER STEERING FLUID AND ADDED A SMALL AMT. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT IT ONLY REQUIRED LESS THAN AN OUNCE. AFTER A REST PERIOD, THE CAR REGAINED POWER STEERING AND WE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANOTHER PROBLEM. WE DID HAVE A MAZDA DEALER IN FLORIDA CHECK IT OUT AND THEY CLAIMED NOTHING SHOWED UP ON THE COMPUTER. WELL, OVER THE 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND WHEN WE WERE EXPERIENCING A LOT OF HOT, HUMID WEATHER THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN. IT SEEMED THAT AFTER YOU SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND ALLOWED THE CAR TO COOL OFF, THE POWER STEERING RETURNED. WE CONTACTED THE DEALER IN PENNSYLVANIA WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND THEY INSISTED WE BRING IT RIGHT IN AS LONG AS THE WEATHER WASN'T HOT. THEY RENTED US A CAR AND KEPT OUR CAR FOR A WEEK TO COMPLETE REPAIRS. THEY INSTALLED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP AND NEW HYDRAULIC FLUID LINES. SO FAR, WE HAVE HAD NOT FURTHER PROBLEMS. WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THIS OCCURRED. BOTH TIMES, WE WERE ALMOST AT A STANDSTILL. THE ONLY SIMILARITIES WERE THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY AND THAT WE WERE USING THE AIR CONDITIONER. *TR