Most common 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems
Share of the 226 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Mazda Mazda3 complaints by model year
Best Mazda3 years: 2023, 2020, 2024. Years to avoid: 2010, 2012, 2008. Compare all years →
2012 Mazda Mazda3 recalls (1)
Structure › Body › Hatchback/liftgate
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010, to June 22, 2015, 2016 CX-3 vehicles manufactured June 1, 2015, to December 26, 2015, and 2013-2016 CX-5…
Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2012 Mazda Mazda3:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2012 Mazda Mazda3 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 40 →
The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the automatic trans-axle warning light illuminated and the vehicle suddenly stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure reoccurred for a second time that day and she was unable to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed that the battery cables had detached. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer who diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 85,598.
The contact owns a 2012 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted from 5th gear to 3rd gear with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle started to slide and the contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V072000 (Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Engine & cooling all 36 →
My wife was driving on the freeway - I was on the passenger side. This is the first time it happened. The car lost sort of reset itself - dash warning lights came on (according to my wife). Radio/cd stopped music - ABS light went on (that's all I can see from passenger side). My wife said others too but she was focused on the road because it was a construction zone. She was nervous and said the car was not responding to throttle. Luckily all went back to normal after 2 or maybe 3 seconds. The music came back on also. No check engine light or any sign of trouble. We pulled over and I checked the front to see if we hit something that could have caused it. Restarted the car - all seemed normal and reached our destination. This was our first 200 mile trip or more on this car. 1 day after arrival - I did a once over safety check (fluids, tire pressure, etc) nothing out of the ordinary. …
I purchased my 2012 Mazda 3 one year ago (2017). I first noticed the issue about a month after owning my car. I turned on my air conditioner at first low, then all the way up, it felt slightly cool, but only as if my fans were blowing and nowhere near what an air conditioner should properly feel like. This was after letting the car warm up, and driving on back roads or highways as well as when parked. I brought the car back and the technician had some trouble figuring out how to fix it. The ac compressor was replaced, and yet I am still now dealing with a car that will not blow cold air! Only semi cool on the highest fan setting ! Also when accelerating and having the air conditioner on my car does not accelerate as well or feel as though it is driving as well as it does without needing the air conditioner on. My car really feels like it is working extra hard to put out semi cool air. …
Lights all 31 →
When driving at night with exterior lights on, when brake and or gas pedal is pressed the exterior lights strobe/flashes. The Mazda dealership has been contacted about this issue and there is a technician service bulletin stating that the ECM needs to be reflashed/programmed. No recall has been set for this issue and the Mazda dealership stated that I would have to pay $265 out of pocket to have the problem fixed. I believe that because it's a problem with there programming or software that the company should have to issue a safety recall and fix the factory defect. I'm currently in the process of filing a lawsuit against Mazda because of this and I have already filed a complaint with the better business bureau for this issue.
Using my headlamps at night when I break my headlamps begin to flash, as to dim and brighten I took it into the dealership because it was a recall that my Vin number was not part of. They refused to take care of it without a fee. I reported it to Mazda of North America but because the cars older it falls outside of what they would normally do to take care of it. In short, The braking system causes the headlamps to brighten and dim down. I use country Roads, this could become a hazard. Im concerned it could completely go out at some point and leave me in the dark and create an accident
2012 Mazda Mazda3 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 28 / 39 / 32 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 26 / 37 / 30 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 24 / 32 / 27 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 28 / 25 |
| 2.5L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 28 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 a good car?
Based on 226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Mazda3 rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Mazda3 at the same age. It is one of the Mazda3 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Mazda Mazda3?
The transmission & drivetrain — 40 complaints, 18% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the engine & cooling (36) and lights (31).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2012 Mazda Mazda3, the most recent from September 6, 2016 (hatchback/liftgate). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Mazda Mazda3?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2023, 2020 and 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2012 and 2008. See the full Mazda Mazda3 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2012 Mazda Mazda3 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 40,000 miles; 60% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.