Transmission complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 25% | — |
| 2022 | 2 | 8% | — |
| 2021 | 4 | 7% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2019 | 11 | 15% | 13,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 5% | 32,000 miles |
| 2017 | 3 | 4% | 9,000 miles |
| 2016 | 9 | 9% | 40,000 miles |
| 2015 | 5 | 4% | 21,000 miles |
| 2014 | 7 | 5% | 68,000 miles |
| 2013 | 18 | 15% | 34,000 miles |
| 2012 | 40 | 18% | 20,000 miles |
| 2011 | 12 | 9% | 30,000 miles |
| 2010 | 40 | 6% | 33,000 miles |
| 2009 | 6 | 5% | 19,000 miles |
| 2008 | 15 | 5% | 85,000 miles |
| 2007 | 17 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 2006 | 21 | 13% | 95,000 miles |
| 2005 | 5 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2004 | 24 | 17% | 38,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
On three occasions thus far when the vehicle was started and placed in drive the transmission slipped terribly, the engine rpms would race when pressing the accelerator and the vehicle would move at no more than a few MPH. The problem is intermittent but can be inspected. The problem has occurred on public roads when stopped at a light or stop sign and I was unable to move forward again after stopping. The problem was reproduced by the dealer. The dealer had the vehicle for 29 days for repair attempts and returned it to me one day before my states lemon law would have been triggered. There were several vehicle malfunction warnings displayed on the dash 10 to 15 minutes after the vehicle failed to move under its own power. I also purchased an OBDII code reader after the initial vehicle failure and was able to read transmission error codes on subsequent failures.
Transmission failure when driving. Car was towed to dealership and diagnosed. Transmission and torque converter replacement required under factory warranty. Very long lead time for dealer to acquire replacement parts, about 4 months.
Making sharp right turn out of parking lot under hard acceleration, car suddenly made terrible grinding sound that shook the whole car. Continued driving, within another quarter mile the whole car started shaking again with loud noise. Had car towed to Mazda where they discovered that the rear differential had failed. Rear differential replaced under warranty. Noticed faint high pitched sound coming from rear in months leading up to incident. Had differential and transfer case fluid changed less than 1000 miles and 1 month before incident making me wonder if fluid was underfilled/wrong fluid used or the diff was just bad.
I was driving when all the sudden there was a loud bang sound. The differential housing cracked. The when awd is demanded the rear diff was was locking up instead of engaging. Luckily we were just on city streets and not on the highway as this rear wheel locking up could cause a crash. Mazda wasn't very helpful with the replacement. Luckily I had a aftermarket warranty but it only paid for a used replacement, which is also failing. I have read lots of stories of this rear differential failure across all types of Mazda's from this era and really wish they would do the correct thing and resolve the problem.
The contact owns a 2019 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the vehicle network malfunction, vehicle inspection", the check engine warning light and all the safety features were disabled, and the windshield wipers turned on independently. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The contact mentioned that the gear shifter failed to shift out of park(P) and the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact was able to operate the vehicle normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test and stated that no failure was found however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the dealer stated that they were aware of the failure, but the vehicle needed to be diagnosed by a Tech. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. …
Car lulls/jerks when accelerating from low speeds car lacks power most of the time and performs poorly engine loses power, several occurrences of what would appear to be limp mode ( can't get passed 2000-3000 ) rpms car has erratic idle rpms, sometimes high and sometimes low I've recently heard the engine roar while idling and hissing from the engine bay when shutting off the engine also sounded like the car was dieseling after shut down likely because the car was beginning to overheat from the immense stress in the engine from running too lean car has poor sound absorption in the cabin, sounds like you're in a airplane every bump it goes over reverberates through the car for an extremely unpleasant and unsafe experience feels like there is excessive play in the front axle wheels seem to drag and thud/thump like there is a flat when there is not I've had my wheels aligned twice already, …
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle stalled inadvertently. The contact was unaware if there were any warning lights illuminated. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The contact's husband added fuel to the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle restarted 15 minutes later. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer who informed the contact that the failure could not be duplicated because there was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred upon shifting from reverse(R) to drive (D). The power train warning light and several unknown waring lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and continued driving. …
I was driving on the highway in sixth gear and went to down shift to get on to the off ramp and was unable to get it out of sixth gear. I had it towed to the dealer where they were going to charge 4 grand just to tear down the transmission to tell me what might be wrong. So I towed it home and once I was able to get the transmission open, I found the roll pin that connects the shifting shaft to the shift selector plate had worked itself out. If the transmission had been in Neutral, it would have taken less than 20 minutes to fix. But, because it was stuck in gear the whole transmission had to be taken apart.
Related recalls (1)
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2018-2019 CX-5, Mazda6, and 2019 Mazda3 vehicles. A software error in the powertrain control module (PCM) may cause the engine to stall.
Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the PCM software, free of charge. The recall began August 20, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mazda Mazda3 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (40), 2012 (40), 2004 (24), 2006 (21) and 2013 (18) model years. Transmission complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Mazda Mazda3 transmission problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 19V-497 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Jun 27, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Mazda Mazda3 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 44,000 miles; 57% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the automatic transmission (22 mentions), followed by the manual transmission (16).
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.