2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2012 Mazdaspeed3 has a complaint index of 33 and ranks 5th out of 7 model years, earning a Good verdict. It has 6 complaints, 1 recall, and no fires or deaths on record.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 33/100
- #5 of 7 Mazdaspeed3 years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 6
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 1
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
Top 2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (50%)
- Brakes1 (17%)
- Electrical System1 (17%)
- Structure & Body1 (17%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Clutch failed within days of purchase, requiring a tow and warranty repair almost immediately after delivery.
- Transmission repeatedly popped out of 2nd gear and back into neutral, with owners reporting multiple dealer rebuilds and replacements that did not permanently fix the issue.
- Shift knob broke apart into two pieces while shifting from 3rd to 4th gear.
- Brake pedal reportedly bent under moderate pressure during an emergency stop, causing the driver to lose foot contact with the pedal and crash.
- Headlights flickered unpredictably during normal driving, including on straightaways, turns, and bumps, after a battery replacement.
- A metal connector in the seat's height adjustment mechanism snapped, letting the seat rock freely while braking or accelerating.
2012 Mazda Mazdaspeed3 recalls
1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V644000Sep 6, 2016Structure & Body580,455 vehicles
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 vehicles manufactured December 15, 2011, to December 26, 2015. On the affected vehicles, the lift gate support struts may corrode, possibly causing the struts to break and/or the lift gate to drop unexpectedly.
Risk: If the lift gate falls unexpectedly, it may hit the user, increasing their risk of injury.
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. Mazda's number for this recall is 9916H.
2012 compared with other Mazdaspeed3 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Mazdaspeed3 reliable?
- Compared to other Mazdaspeed3 model years, the 2012 rates Good, with a complaint index of 33 and only 6 total complaints reported to NHTSA.
- What problems does the 2012 Mazdaspeed3 have?
- Transmission and powertrain issues make up half of its complaints, including clutch failure and gears popping out unexpectedly. Owners also reported a brake pedal issue, flickering headlights, and a broken seat adjustment part.
- Does the 2012 Mazdaspeed3 have any recalls?
- Yes, one recall (campaign 16V644000) covers a liftgate support replacement for the structure and body system; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2012 Mazdaspeed3 compare to other years?
- The 2012 ranks 5th worst out of 7 model years by complaint index. The 2011 model year rates Best with a complaint index of 0, while 2008 and 2010 rate Avoid with indexes of 100 and 83.
- At what mileage do 2012 Mazdaspeed3 problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure across reported issues is 21,550 miles, though transmission-related complaints had a lower median of 12,500 miles.