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Comments
My $20 documents that I have performed the necessary maintenance should I have engine problems!!
I do hope you will resolve all the problems with the 3, but if not, let it go!
The Sandman
I did have more than my fair share of problems with my 2004 Mazda3 S - 16 trips to the dealer in 22 months & 18,500 miles. But since I had 5 vehicles (if a motorcycle counts) I did not need to rely on the Mazda3 - or I would have dumped it - but at this point all of my issues (except the weak AC) have been 100% fixed - and even the AC is better since the dealer made an adjustment to a cable & I got my windows tinted - that really helped.
Obviously I would not have purchased the Mazda3 if I didn't like the way it drives - even after all of the problems I still do.
I was at the breaking point a few times - but could not see any other cars I really wanted - so I stuck it out. Most likely I will keep the Mazda3 for another year or two -
i just bought a 2006 Mazda3 S less than 24 hrs ago,the radio will not turn on, and orange backlight on the station display seems to flicker occasionally. Any one know of a quick fix, or am i headed for another grueling affair with the dealership?
I just found out yesterday that the rubber part that outlines the bottom of her passenger door is literally falling off since last week. Before that, there was a sticky sound at the opening/closing of that door.
Her car isn't even a year old yet but the wheels need to be realigned already. She's only driven about 6700 mi with no accidents.
I'm quite worried she has a lemon or something. I'd appreciate any advice on this.
I had the same problem -
A 3/4 full can of Coke left in the drink holder (in the door) the door gets closed - the coke gets spilled - and goes right into the rubber door seal.
Hard to blame the car for this.
>>I don't know if anyone has had this problem but my sister's '05 makes a sqeaking sound when she's breaking in reverse.
I wish folks would wake up and realize that cars don't come with life long alignments...things do happen. But to somehow blame this on the car seems a bit crazy to me!
The Sandman
Zoom Zoom.
The Sandman
About 1 month after I bought the Mazda3 we went from Houston to the Galveston sea wall (I would call it a beach - but that would be a stretch) - its about 60 minutes from my house - 95% straight down I-45. On the way down the temp was around 75 - 80 degrees - the AC worked fine. BY fine I mean we did not even think about it - we just turned it on and the car got cool. But on the drive home it was very hot - over 90 for sure + no clouds in the sky so the sun was really beating down.
The car had been parked in the sun - windows up for over 3 hours - black car - black interior - black dash - it was very hot when we first got in. So I rolled the windows down - and turned AC on high. After a block with the windows down I rolled them up - and left the AC on high. The AC was blowing cool air - but the car was still hot. At this point I had really not given the AC much thought - but by the time we had gone all the way through Galveston and were on the highway - doing about 60 - I did notice the AC was not doing its job. I checked to make sure the recirc button was on - then changed it to outside air - then back to recirculate - tried fan speed 3 & 2 & 4. We drove about 45 miles - speeds between 55 - 75 and the car never cooled off. When we got about 10 miles from our exit the traffic started to back up - it does that in Houston - we spent the next hour stuck it traffic - move ahead 10 feet - sit for a minute - repeat - by this time our car was getting VERY hot - we were all sweating - the AC was in a constant cycle - cool air for about 10 seconds - then warm air for about 10 seconds. After about 20 minutes we just turned the AC off and ROLLED DOWN THE windows.
I may not be an automotive genius - but I do know that the AC system in a new car should do better than this.
I took the car in the next Monday - they could not find anything wrong with it.
So I ask the service manager to take a ride with me - it was a nice hot day - we drove a few miles - and by the time we got back to the dealership he had sweat soaking through his shirt - he said - I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN - IT SHOULD DO BETTER THAN THIS - so I left the car another day and his tech ran all the tests over again - and he (the tech) talked with Mazda technical service.
I was told that the car was operating as designed and there was nothing that could be done.
NOW FINALLY THE POINT -
If you are LUCKY and get a good AC system you don't have a problem - your AC cools your car and you are happy. Sounds like you have a good one. BUT if you do get stuck with an AC that does not cool the car then Mazda will not fix the problem. I know this is a fact - because I have experienced it first hand PLUS I know of many other people who also claim their AC is weak and so far Mazda has not fixed any of their cars either.
That is the real problem - its not just that some cars have weak AC - its that Mazda (so far) has not done enough to solve the issue.
the overwhelming number of complaints come from a few posters. I don't doubt that the A/C might not be perfect for everyone. The same can be said about alot of import cars A/C systems...If there was a widespread problem or defect with the A/C system you would hear about it from thousands of people not just a few.
I believe the problem will turn out to be unfixable. I think what happens is that condensation builds up on the brakes...the Mazda wheels look realy nice but everything inside them, including brakes, are very exposed to the elements. The condensation builds up when the car is parked and you get a layer of rust. When you back the car up, that rust interacting with the wheel causes the squeal...after a shot drive, the rust wears off and no more squeal. I'm not a car expert, just my own theory.
edit..I lied! 19% as I type this.
brodie2 mentions an issue with his car shutting down. I think I can count on my hand the number of posts here regarding this issue. Dealer claims it's a common problem.
The best explanation is a dealership employee that is pulling things out of thin air (making stuff up or maybe is just a plain old liar)
I think these problems would be considered a safety issue - so if they really are wide spread then we would have heard about them and even Mazda would have determined a way to fix them in record breaking time (which for Mazda would be about 18 months)
The AC defect really only effects a small % of owners - even if the defect is in a larger % of cars.
Even in the cars with the defect - the AC works good as long as the temp is below 80 degrees - does ok when the temp is 85 degrees - get much over 85 and add in some bright sunshine and that is when the issue starts to show up.
So if you live someplace that only has a few really hot sunny days - even if you have a defective car - its not that big of a problem. Plus throw in the fact that to some people 79 degrees feels cool to others its warm .
So in order for the defect to become a problem you need to have an owner who lives someplace that is normally hot and sunny - plus feels hot when the temp is say 80 degrees - plus the car need to be one of the ones that is actually defective.
But if you live someplace that is really hot and sunny and you get stuck with a car that has a defective AC you get to sweat while you drive 100+ times a year - it is a REAL BIG ISSUE - so the small % of owners who have this combination complain a lot. I know 3 other Mazda3 owners - all think the AC is weak - but they have never complained about the heater! Maybe because they almost never need to use it in Houston.
In the end, I'm glad I switched to these snow tires of mine. Those OEMs were spotty in rainy conditions, now this has just validated how bad they are in the snow for me!
One conducted a poll and found a 50/50 split, from what A/C to average and to OK. So a 50/50 range I feel is not very good. A 5/90 would be more acceptable.
As for the dealer knowing or not having not heard any complaints is absurd. Not every M/3 owner is on the internet or do not bother with forums such as this one to express their concerns good or bad. Dealers use the guilt trip or play dumb by telling you "you are the first to bring up your problem". Take your car in after the warranty runs out and see how fast they want to help you.
No year was specified or model, just a general poll.
Poll date Oct/05
Excellent....0%
Good.........21%
Average......27.9%
Poor.........40.7%
Sucks........8.1%
What A/C.....2.3%
Total Votes..86
Above average a total of 21%
Below average a total of 51.1% :sick:
This would really be measure of Mazda's ability & willingness to solve the difficult problems.
Although I would not try and prevent people that have good AC from posting about the problem - it is kind of like the guy with no kids trying to give me advise about how to raise mine.
So far the best way I have found to solve the weak AC issue is to have your windows tinted.
One conducted a poll and found a 50/50 split, from what A/C to average and to OK. So a 50/50 range I feel is not very good. A 5/90 would be more acceptable
Can you provide some links or names of the other forums? I am presently involving Mazda Canada on this and some other issues with my 3.
the overwhelming number of complaints come from a few posters. I don't doubt that the A/C might not be perfect for everyone. The same can be said about alot of import cars A/C systems...If there was a widespread problem or defect with the A/C system you would hear about it from thousands of people not just a few.
I seriously doubt this. This is being naive. That's using the same rationale as the dealer or manufacturer telling you that there is no such problem and they havent heard of it before. In fact, there was a recent news show that aired in Canada that just exposed this kind of tactic by the dealers and manufacturers. You wouldnt by chance be working for a dealer? :P
How strange, I traded in my 02 Jetta for the Mazda3 and my Jetta blows the A/C in my 3 out of the water.
I'd tell you, but the moderators don't allow links to other sites to be posted.
Think about the first sentence, and rev your search engine.
I don't believe the equalization settings can be adjusted. Mazda tuned the Bose system to the exact specifications to the interior of the 3 for the best audio responses. The equalization s/b pre-set to these interior specifications.
Sorry, where's the link to removing the stock radio :confuse:
Maybe you could explain something.
Our 3 is the fifth new Mazda we've purchased. When we brought some of our other vehicles to be serviced under warranty, the service department was reluctant to make some of the repairs.
Aren't the dealers reimbursed by Mazda regarding warranty repairs? Why would a service department try to avoid making a repair covered by warranty?
The dealer could of course fix something and pay for it out of their own pocket - but 99.9999 % don't do this - can't say that I blame them (the dealership).
Not 100% sure about the Mazda procedure - but I assume they are using the same system as everyone else - if its something that is a known defect - like the grinding brake problem - and Mazda has a TSB out on it - then the approval is almost automatic - same thing if the problem is something obvious like an oil leak or broken motor mount - even if no TSB is issued.
If you have a major problem like a blow engine then Mazda must give the formal go ahead before the work gets done. They may even send out a corporate rep to look at it - or have the dealership send the defective part in to Mazda.
In the case of the defective Mazda3 AC system Mazda WILL NOT APPROVE any work. They have made the decision to just not fix the problem.
I sure wish I was wrong about this -
audia8q - I recall a post from you a while back - something about only "a few" customers had AC problems - did you do anything to fix the problem - or just tell them - its working as designed.
The way I see things may not always match up with what others think - but just because the problem is only in a few cars seems like a lame excuse for not fixing the cars that do have the defect.
Imagine if you bought a DVD player at Walmart and when you got it home found out it did not work - what would you think if - when you tried to return it they told you - sorry we can't take it back because only a few people have had the problem.
While in the Mazda5 forum there also seemed to be a concern with the weak A/C. Some think it's ok while other do not.
One poster said he had his kids in the back 3rd row seat and the kids said the car was too cold with the A/C on and he had to turn it up, it was a very hot day. Another poster tested the car and sat in the back 3rd row on a hot day and he said the A/C did not feel it was reaching the back and it was uncomfortable in fact unexceptable.
Problems with the Mazda 5 that I have seen, weak A/C, door rattles,sliding door will not latch,stalling, hestitation and the recall for the exhaust fire. Do some of these concerns show up in the Mazda3?
I enjoy my Mazda and to this point I do not have any major problems but have some defects mentioned on this forum. Or has forums like this one brain washed me into thinking I have a problem that doesn't excist.
I, in no way, think that owners posting on Edmunds are making these issues up. I applaud all who do research on websites like this, trying to get some insight on their vehicle when the dealer may not be looking out for the best interests of the customer. I also am in no way defending Mazda. I see the automotive industry from the other side every day (Tier 1 supplier), and I can understand why Mazda makes some of the decisions they do, not first hand, but from what I've seen from other companies. I guess I try to play devil's advocate and bring another viewpoint to the table.
Regarding warranty, I've worked with Chrysler warranty and they must be the complete opposite of Mazda. Their dealers will change any part on a vehicle, just to satisfy the customer, broken or not. But what happens is Chrysler pays for it, then they charge the supplier if there is no real issue with the so called defective part. Then the next program comes along and the supplier charges more because they know Chrysler will come hunting for warranty reimbursement throughout the program life. So in one way, Mazda having such a short leash on their dealers may in fact be keeping prices down. On the other hand, how many current and potential customers are they losing.
And about post #2984, I didn't mean to imply that the A/C was not a real issue. I simply found it amusing that brodie2's dealer mentioned that he had seen more issues of the 3 stalling, than the obvious issue of A/C mentioned all over the web.
By the way my a/C is not great either, below average.