[stevar]

Reported Mazda automobile issues by model and year.

All on one site. I like that. Figured that you guys would too. Gives you an idea what has been issues over the years and if it was fixed. Also a very good site if you're planning to buy used. There is a recall section and investigation section added.

Mazda Complaints, Recall Information and Pending Investigations

Clutch, synchros and overall transmission system reported as being poor and/or failed completely over the years. Especially in 2010 models. Let's hope it's not a relapse. I'm seeing a lot of transmission issues on recent Mazda 3 being posted on discussion boards. Grinding gears damaging synchros wearing the clutch prematurely in the 30000kms range.

2010 Mazda MAZDA3 Premature Clutch Failure | CarComplaints.com

This one statement seem plausible.
"A Mazda certified mechanic has stated that it is known that master and slave cylinder failure/malfunction has led to premature clutch wear on this car."

 

[stevar]

I wonder how this case will turn out from this particular post... because really, that's just ridiculous. Sure a few people can have a similar issue however, when it's obviously a general issue it does need to be addressed. The problem with these issues is that they may happen over a few years and this seems to be the case with 2010 models. Hopefully not with 2012 models cause we personally bought two of them.


"#17 posted on 2012Jul 01

2010 MAZDA3 Sport (Hatchback) 2.5L I4

Manual transmission
33,000 miles

Ladies and gents,

Refusing to cover our clutch replacements is ethically wrong, and illegal on Mazda's part. I am preparing to file a class action lawsuit to recover as damages (1) the costs of getting our clutches replaced and (2) incidental costs arising from Mazda's refusal to cover our repairs in a timely manner. Please email me with your contact info at [email protected], with "Mazda Clutch Lawsuit" in the subject line, and I will compile a list of plaintiffs and hire an expert consumer rights attorney to represent us on a contingent fee basis.

I am a third year law student at UC Irvine, and took a course that covered the consumer laws governing warranties. At least two sets of laws relate to our current situation: the Magnuson-Moss Federal Warranty Act (15 USC §2301 et seq.), and the state laws providing for an Implied Warranty of Merchantability. Under Magnuson-Moss, any material exclusions to a written warranty must be fully and conspicuously disclosed to the buyer, so as not to mislead the reasonable consumer as to the scope of the warranty. Based on everybody's stories on this forum, Mazda clearly failed this duty. Like many of you have said, had I known that the clutch on the Mazda3 was going to fail after 2 years, costing me $1600 out-of-pocket to replace, I would never have bought it!

The Implied Warranty of Merchantability is a part of the Uniform Commercial Code that (to the best of my knowledge) has been adopted by every state except Louisiana. It requires that whenever someone sells goods, if he is a "merchant" with respect to those goods (which Mazda and its dealerships certainly are with respect to cars), those goods must be fit for reasonably expected use. Furthermore, there can be no limit on the duration of this implied warranty unless it is reasonable. A car that breaks down before 36k miles is not fit for reasonably expected use, nor is 36k miles a reasonable limit on the implied warranty of merchantability.

I will do everything in my power to enforce these laws against Mazda, but I need your help! No claim under Magnuson-Moss may be filed as a class action unless there are at least 100 similarly-situated plaintiffs. Based on reading these posts I am confident there are enough of us out there, but I would appreciate all the help I can get in aggregating names, contact info, and evidence. You can start by just shooting me a quick email. I will do everything I can to keep you all updated on the status of the suit.

For the record, I experienced the same symptoms everyone else is describing: you try to let the clutch pedal out but, right where the take-up point should be, the engine just keeps revving without engaging the transmission. I was able to continue driving around like this, always nursing the car up to speed, for about 250 miles before it gave out altogether and there was zero traction on the clutch plate. I talked to my usual mechanic, a Japanese Auto Repair specialist, and he said the earliest he ever sees clutches burn out is 60-70k miles, and that is with drivers who really abuse their cars. With merely average treatment, standard range should be 120-130k, and babying it should get you 150-180k+. In any event, having a clutch burn out on a 4 cylinder front wheel drive Japanese car in under 36,000 miles is not "normal wear and tear" as Mazda claims.

I called Mazda corporate customer service explaining as much and got the runaround. Well they messed with the wrong law student! Please join me, and let's make Mazda regret their decision to shirk their moral and legal responsibilities!

Sincerely yours,
Matty Ochmanek
JD Candidate, Class of 2013
UC Irvine School of Law
[email protected]

- Matthew O., Malibu, CA, USA "

 

[wingzero_]

So are you having trouble or just stirring up shit? I mean if you search you will find a couple mentions of slips on here and one guy that went through 3 clutches, then disappeared.

 

[stevar]

So are you having trouble or just stirring up shit? I mean if you search you will find a couple mentions of slips on here and one guy that went through 3 clutches, then disappeared.

Nope. Just bringing on a good site for potential buyers to check if they plan to buy any Mazda from different years and to relate to anyone that currently have issues with theirs. Isolated or common. I brought up the clutch issue because it is the most talked about issue on Mazda3 sites online. I guess it's good thing that I didn't mentioned anything about rust.

Stirring up shit, as you would call it, would mean that I had an intention to do so. Are you intending that I am trying to stir up shit or wondering if that is what I am doing? To put your mind at ease. I am not. I just wanted to share some cool resources with my fellow Mazda owners and potential future owners. If that's ok with you.

 

[wingzero_]

Just checking trolls come in many pixels and bits. Just wanted to make sure you weren't one.

 

[warlord]

Mazda produced approx 120,000 MZ3's in 2010. Probably half of those were standard transmission. Does 20 cases of clutch failure warrant a class action suit? I've seen plenty of cases where Mazda went above and beyond to take care of transmission problems where defective parts or incorrect installation at the factory occurred. Could it be that you just burned out your clutch due to not driving it correctly?

 

[stevar]

My clutches are fine. Perhaps you're talking about the law student. There are more than 20 case of clutches disintegrating over the last few years. Those 20 are just the ones recorded on the link I posted if that's where you got that data. Worst thing is the dealers blames it on driver error according to many statements seen online. I'm sure some try to fix the issue and we don't hear about those. Most of them state that they drove standards most of their lives and never expected it to happen after 30k. I did a lot of research on this because of personal concerns owning two of them myself and happen to fall on these cool sites that is quite detailed by customer's issues they had by model and year.

Had a first gen mazda 3 and a Mazda 2 now have two skyactiv mazda 3. Love the cars. But I like knowing what possible issues to look for and prevent it by being proactive. Even if it means getting a non-mazda mechanic to inspect it.

 

[warlord]

Yep, skimmed through the posts and thought you were the third year law student. Clutch failure and grinding is the most talked about topic on the forums. Really? I never noticed that.

 

[stevar]

Have you guys read the post in the 2010 model in the link? 30,000 miles and the clutch disintegrates. Owners pay $1000 or so to replace it. 2010 because those cars have that mileage by now, 2011 models is showing similar issues so hopefully they fixed this in 2012 models.

I just found blue fluid residue in snow under my cars around the trans in both our auto and manual skyactivs. I'm going to investigate if in fact it is trans fluid or just washer fluid. But if it is trans fluid, I'm wondering if there is a connection here. I'm going to ask our dealer to investigate this. Either way I want to investigate this before the real problems happens. It's been mentioned by some mechanic online that master/slave cylinder for this clutch is causing the premature clutch wear for some owners.

 

[pezzy669]

My 2010 GT 6 spd w/35k miles has been fantastically reliable EXCEPT for the 2nd gear grind which my one complaint to Mazda was addressed with "No problem found". No clutch issues - just the inadequate 2nd gear synchro.

I will say that every manual trans car I have owned have owners up in arms over perceived design/engineering faults due to early clutch failure on their own car. This was the case with my 2003 VW Golf and 2006 Jetta however both cars I put well over 80k miles from new without a single clutch or transmission problem in either.

Anyhow I don't have the time or patience to fight Mazda over my transmission so I am going to change the fluid regularly to keep the ground up synchro material floating around to a minimum and hope they honor the powertrain warranty should I have a failure.

 

[ryansemo]

I just saw this board and topic and wanted to say a few words myself.

I am the owner of a 2012 Mazda 3, 5 speed. Just hit 60k miles. The clutch has gone out on me out of nowhere.

Before I owned this, I had a 2006 Saturn Ion 5 speed, which I ran that thing to death practically at 190k miles. The clutch still worked on it when I sold it.

I obviously have been driving a manual for over 10 years, and have never heard of a clutch go out so fast.

I took this to the dealer, and they wanted to fix it, but said Mazda would have to agree to it under the 6/60 warranty.

I called them and of course they stated, "User error/wear and tear" and wouldn't honor the warranty. I know most dealers/manufacturers won't put clutch wear under warranty because you have no idea how people drive on them. However.... 60K? 30K like it is for some people? In my 60k miles, half of those are highway miles due to driving to NYC multiple times. I don't lay on the clutch while driving. So, I could basically be part of the 30k city driving clutch failure.

Now, I see there is a class action lawsuit out for this specific situation. I am at a point where I have no desire to have Mazda 'fix' my clutch with a stock clutch, if the problem stems from the master cylinder/slave or other issues. It would possibly just go back out in 30-50k. So, I am instead being forced to just buy a new car, and probably stay away from Mazda's for good.

It's a shame....

 

[matkatmusic]

Now, I see there is a class action lawsuit out for this specific situation. I am at a point where I have no desire to have Mazda 'fix' my clutch with a stock clutch, if the problem stems from the master cylinder/slave or other issues. It would possibly just go back out in 30-50k. So, I am instead being forced to just buy a new car, and probably stay away from Mazda's for good.

It's a shame....

is the cost of a new clutch really as expensive as the cost of a new car? I must be missing something... What else in the car is failing that would force you to dump it?