Mazda MAZDA3 transmission problems
214 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
2,982 owner complaints analyzed
29 distinct recall campaigns
49,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2026 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,012 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
214 of 2,982 complaints match this topic (7.2%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10072458 · 2004-05-12 (May 12, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1, 2 AND 3 GEARS. THE OTHER GEARS SHIFTED SMOOTHLY WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION MADE NO ABNORMAL NOISES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS FILLED WITH CONCRETE. BEING UNABLE TO SHIFT CAUSES A PROBLEM IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IS BALKING AT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS O…
Owner-reported narrative. 533 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072576 · 2004-05-13 (May 13, 2004)
I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP ON MAY 2, 2004 AND PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA 3. IT HAD 16 MILES ON IT. DROVE FINE FOR A WEEK! ON MAY 9TH, MY FAMILIY AND I WERE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WE SLOWLY MADE IT HOME IN 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED IT UP ON MONDAY MAY 10TH AND HAS SAID IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE FULL TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED AT 250 MILES. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 4 DAYS NOW. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072576 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072892 · 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)
VEHICLE OVERVIEW: MY 2004 MAZDA3 S SEDAN IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS AND HAS 16" INCH FACTORY WHEELS. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: AFTER APROXIMATELY 1800 MILES OF DRIVING (CITY/HIGHWAY), I BEGAN TO NOTICE SLIGHT DISCOLORED BANDS ON EACH OF THE BRAKE ROTOR DISCS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS. AFTER ANOTHER 600 MILES OF DRIVING, I BEGAN TO NOTICE GROOVING IN THE PLACES WITH THE DISCOLORED BANDS. AT THIS POINT, THE GROOVE COULD BE FELT BY A FINGERTIP. THE GROOVES ARE VISIBLE ON THE OUTWARD SIDE OF EACH ROTOR. I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074489 · 2004-05-30 (May 30, 2004)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 1,500 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY HARSHLY AND ABRUPTLY FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. EVENTUALLY, I COULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 30 MPH FOR FEAR OF SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR. DEALER WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR A WEEK. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074489 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088979 · 2004-09-02 (September 2, 2004)
MY CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. I HAVE A MAZDA 3 WHICH I PURCHASED IN DECEMBER. ABOUT A MONTH AGO MY CAR BEGAN HESITATING ON OCCASSION WHEN I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN PUSHING THE GAS TO GO. I DID NOTICE AFTER THE THIRD TIME THE VEHICLE DID THIS THAT THE D LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD BLINKED. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY ARE LINKED BUT IT WOULD BE ODD IF THEY WERE NOT. I BROUGHT MY CAR IN FOR THE PROBLEM AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT AND HAD KEPT IT FOR 4 DAYS.AT WHICH THIS TIME THEY FOUND A BERRING HAD GONE BAD MY CAR HAS 12,600 MILES…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088979 at NHTSA ↗