Mazda Owners Complain The Most About These Common Problems

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Mazda has done good to make cars that are priced reasonably low, look good, and, much importantly, connection a fulfilling driving experience. The carmaker has distanced itself from its Japanese counterparts for illustration Toyota, positioning itself arsenic a driver's carmaker and a fantastic alternative to different driver's cars from brands like BMW. Being a Japanese carmaker, Mazda has beardown reliability roots, pinch Consumer Reports often putting Mazda astatine nan apical of its reliability standings. Some moreover telephone it nan Japanese BMW. These traits person allowed Mazda to make Consumer Reports' database of nan champion utilized car brands. 

However, while Mazda does person a beardown estimation for reliability and durability, nan marque does suffer from a fewer circumstantial issues, often evidenced by customer complaints connected Mazda forums aliases moreover by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports. Using these inputs, we person compiled a database of communal Mazda problems, including rust trouble, pouring dashboards, wonky infotainment systems, motor issues, transmission quirks, Skyactiv malfunctions, and moreover nan infamous P0300 correction code. These ailments impact various vehicles successful nan Mazda lineup, from nan sporty Miata to nan CX-9 family hauler.

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Many Mazda cars reportedly suffer from semipermanent rust issues. This was particularly bad successful 2000-era Mazda3s and Proteges. Mazda does connection a steel galvanization curen and anti-corrosion coatings connected astir of its caller models. However, spell connected nan internet, and you tin spot gory images of rusted Mazdas from nan 2010s successful nan Northeast and Midwest. These regions witnesser some acold temperatures and precocious humidity levels, starring to precocious condensation and moisture retention connected conveyance surfaces — nan perfect situation for rust formation. These areas are besides called nan brackish belt, as, here, a important magnitude of brackish is utilized to region crystal from nan roads successful nan winter, and this brackish accelerates nan rusting process.

The communal areas of corrosion are nan vehicle's underside, including locations for illustration nan subframe, instrumentality arches, and suspension components. In fact, successful 2018, Mazda recalled thousands of Mazda6 cars made betwixt 2009 and 2010 for suspension issues caused by excessive corrosion. While you tin reason that astir cars suffer from rust issues successful nan brackish belt, Mazdas look to beryllium among nan astir affected. So, if you unrecorded successful nan bluish portion of nan United States and are readying to bargain a Mazda, it is prudent to thoroughly cheque nan underside for rust.

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Yes, this was a point pinch Mazda cars. It was a circumstantial problem pinch nan Mazda3 and Mazda6 models made betwixt 2009 and 2013, particularly those situated successful nan sun-drenched South and Southwest. In these cars, nan plasticizer utilized successful nan dashboard materials would neglect owed to prolonged vulnerability to nan sun's heat. So, nan coagulated matte dashboard would move into a soft, shiny one. This melted dashboard could besides go insanely reflective, making it highly difficult to look retired of nan windshield, resulting successful a awesome information concern. To its credit, Mazda did widen nan warranty connected these cars to 10 years to screen nan dashboard replacement.

Another bony of contention pinch Mazda owners was nan Commander knob. This rotary knob was introduced successful nan 2014 Mazda3, arsenic portion of its caller Mazda Connect interface. Mazda added nan rotary knob and beingness buttons alternatively of a touchscreen successful a bid to trim distraction and thief support drivers' attraction connected nan roadworthy ahead. Years on, nan strategy attracted aggregate complaints, from dormant infotainment screens to connectivity issues. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto would abruptly disconnect, and sound commands sometimes wouldn't work. 

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Mazda's revolutionary Skyactiv six-speed automatic transmission combines nan smoothness of an automatic gearbox pinch nan nonstop consciousness of a manual transmission done nan clever usage of a torque converter, planetary gears, and multi-plate clutch packs. While revolutionary successful theory, successful nan existent world, customers kick astir delayed downshifts, harsh downshifts, and delayed cogwheel engagement erstwhile moving from a standstill.

That wasn't nan worst spot — 2006-2013 Mazda3 and 2008-2014 Mazda5 models reportedly suffer instances of transmission power module nonaccomplishment that causes nan cars to suffer from harsh aliases erratic gearshifts aliases show motor and transmission informing lights. While customers emotion nan Skyactiv gearbox for its nonstop shifts, nan sadistic displacement issues are thing they can't get behind.

Some Mazda cars had problems pinch their manual transmissions arsenic well. That's particularly existent for early 4th-generation ND Miatas. Many enthusiasts authorities that these vehicles came pinch transmissions designed for a 1.5-liter motor but attached to a 2.0-liter engine. In these Miatas, nan second, third, aliases 4th cogwheel is known to break if nan car is driven hard. Other owner-reported Mazda transmission problems see worn synchronizer blocker rings that origin difficult gearshifts. Some Mazda3 owners besides kick of clutch nonaccomplishment astatine astir 40,000 miles.

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The Skyactiv paradox extends to Mazda's engines arsenic well. While Mazda's Skyactiv-G bid engines are considered robust, 1 of their strengths besides turned into a bony of contention for immoderate owners. The direct-injection engines connected immoderate Mazda3 and CX-5 cars can, complete time, create c buildup connected nan intake valves, causing precocious mileage models to suffer from problems for illustration unsmooth idling, powerfulness loss, dipping substance economy, and, of course, nan P0300 codes for motor misfires. Hopefully, these issues will beryllium sorted successful Mazda's upcoming Skyactiv-Z engine.

Another rumor was adaptable valve timing actuators failing connected early Mazda3 and Mazda6 cars equipped pinch 2.3-liter VVT engines. Some Mazda6 and CX-9 owners besides complained of their turbocharged 2.5-liter cars throwing retired random cheque motor lights and malfunctioning wide aerial travel sensors . Let's not hide astir nan iconic rotary motor connected nan Mazda RX-7, which was known for issues for illustration excessive lipid depletion and apex seal wear.

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With astir of nan awesome Mazda issues covered, let's look astatine nan smaller issues that plagued cars from nan Japanese brand. Mazda has seen its adjacent stock of recalls during its clip successful nan U.S. While nan infamous Takata airbag recall extended to astir Japanese cars sold successful nan States, location were immoderate Mazda-specific recalls, including 1 for faulty liftgates successful nan CX 30. Mazda's biggest callback happened successful 2021, erstwhile it called backmost astir 120,000 cars and SUVs for substance pump failure.

Some Mazda CX-9 crossovers made betwixt 2007 and 2015 had faulty brake boosters, which meant immoderate owners knowledgeable rock-hard brake pedals. This rumor escalated to nan NHTSA, which investigated and recovered nan problem to beryllium a worldly defect successful nan brake booster diaphragm, starring to nonaccomplishment of brake vacuum and brake assist.

Then, location is nan anemic paint problem. Some opportunity that Mazda's Soul Red Crystal overgarment is the champion colour nan shaper ever sold. However, it's besides a root of vexation for immoderate owners. Mazda is known for applying a bladed overgarment of water-based overgarment arsenic portion of its debased biology effect program. Many owners opportunity that this bladed overgarment furniture is little durable and flakes and chips easily. The only solution is to return it to an car assemblage shop aliases use a overgarment protection movie (PPF) to nan beforehand extremity of your caller Mazda.