2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 has 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: recently purchased a brand new 2012 mazda speed3. 17 miles off the lot. in the 4 mile drive to my house 15 minutes after signing paperwork, the clutch blows out. had it towed back and was told we were lucky they fixed it under warranty because this item is a "wear & tear" item because going 4 mil.
6
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 MAZDA SPEED3. 17 MILES OFF THE LOT. IN THE 4 MILE DRIVE TO MY HOUSE 15 MINUTES AFTER SIGNING PAPERWORK, THE CLUTCH BLOWS OUT. HAD IT TOWED BACK AND WAS TOLD WE WERE LUCKY THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS ITEM IS A "WEAR & TEAR" ITEM BECAUSE GOING 4 MIL
- • WENT TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH, AND THE KNOB FELL INTO TWO PIECES WHILE DRIVING. *TR
- • END OF 2013, THE VEHICLE BEGAN RANDOMLY POPPING OUT OF 2ND GEAR AND BACK INTO NEUTRAL. DEALER REBUILT TRANS UNDER WARRANTY AND ALL WAS OKAY UNTIL OCTOBER 2014 WHEN THE SAME ISSUE BEGAN AGAIN. DEALER REPLACED TRANS UNDER WARRANTY BUT ADVISED TRANSMISSION WARRANTY WAS NO LONGER VALID. CURRENTLY, JULY
“RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 MAZDA SPEED3. 17 MILES OFF THE LOT. IN THE 4 MILE DRIVE TO MY HOUSE 15 MINUTES AFTER SIGNING PAPERWORK, THE CLUTCH BLOWS OUT. HAD IT TOWED BACK AND WAS TOLD WE WERE LUCKY THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS ITEM IS A "WEAR & TEAR" ITEM BECAUSE GOING 4 MIL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
1 complaints- • DRIVER ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY BRAKING EVENT. BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO MAINTAIN FORM-BENT UNDER MODERATE PRESSURE, ALLOWING BRAKE PEDAL COVER TO FALL OFF RESULTING IN DRIVER'S FOOT TO LOSE CONTACT WITH BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF BRAKES AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *TR
“DRIVER ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY BRAKING EVENT. BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO MAINTAIN FORM-BENT UNDER MODERATE PRESSURE, ALLOWING BRAKE PEDAL COVER TO FALL OFF RESULTING IN DRIVER'S FOOT TO LOSE CONTACT WITH BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF BRAKES AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *TR”
— NHTSA complaint filing
LIGHTING
1 complaints- • HEADLIGHTS VOLUNTARILY AND UNCONTROLLABLY FLICKERING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING STRAIGHTAWAYS, TURNING, OR ENCOUNTERING BUMPY ROAD. ISSUE ARISES AT VARYING RATES OF SPEED. HAD VEHICLE SINCE 2012 AND NEVER HAD ISSUE. END OF NOV. 2016, TOOK CAR IN FOR 60,000 CHECK-UP. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BATTERY. ISS
“HEADLIGHTS VOLUNTARILY AND UNCONTROLLABLY FLICKERING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING STRAIGHTAWAYS, TURNING, OR ENCOUNTERING BUMPY ROAD. ISSUE ARISES AT VARYING RATES OF SPEED. HAD VEHICLE SINCE 2012 AND NEVER HAD ISSUE. END OF NOV. 2016, TOOK CAR IN FOR 60,000 CHECK-UP. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BATTERY. ISS”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SEATS/RESTRAINTS
1 complaints- • WHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY, THE SEAT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND MY SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH FREELY UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE METAL CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND THE SEA
“WHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY, THE SEAT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND MY SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH FREELY UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE METAL CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND THE SEA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 6 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: RECENTLY PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 MAZDA SPEED3. 17 MILES OFF THE LOT. IN THE 4 MILE DRIVE TO MY HOUSE 15 MINUTES AFTER SIGNING PAPERWORK, THE CLUTCH BLOWS OUT. HAD IT TOWED BACK AND WAS TOLD WE WERE LUCKY THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS ITEM IS A "WEAR & TEAR" ITEM BECAUSE GOING 4 MIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: DRIVER ATTEMPTED AN EMERGENCY BRAKING EVENT. BRAKE PEDAL FAILED TO MAINTAIN FORM-BENT UNDER MODERATE PRESSURE, ALLOWING BRAKE PEDAL COVER TO FALL OFF RESULTING IN DRIVER'S FOOT TO LOSE CONTACT WITH BRAKE PEDAL. DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF BRAKES AND RESULTED IN A COLLISION. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐LIGHTING: HEADLIGHTS VOLUNTARILY AND UNCONTROLLABLY FLICKERING DURING ROUTINE DRIVING STRAIGHTAWAYS, TURNING, OR ENCOUNTERING BUMPY ROAD. ISSUE ARISES AT VARYING RATES OF SPEED. HAD VEHICLE SINCE 2012 AND NEVER HAD ISSUE. END OF NOV. 2016, TOOK CAR IN FOR 60,000 CHECK-UP. DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW BATTERY. ISS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SEATS/RESTRAINTS: WHILE DRIVING, SPECIFICALLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN ON AN EXIT RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY, THE SEAT MADE A LOUD POPPING NOISE AND MY SEAT BEGAN TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH FREELY UNDER ACCELERATION AND BRAKING. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT THE METAL CONNECTOR BETWEEN THE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT AND THE SEA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mazda MAZDASPEED3 — Year Comparison
How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 1
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2012 Mazda MAZDASPEED3