VehicleVerdict

2012 Mazda Mazda3 transmission problems

The 2012 Mazda Mazda3 has 40 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

40

Transmission complaints

12%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Mazda3 transmission complaints by model year42 complaints2004: 24 complaints2005: 5 complaints2006: 21 complaints2007: 17 complaints2008: 15 complaints2009: 6 complaints2010: 42 complaints2011: 12 complaints2012: 40 complaints2013: 18 complaints2014: 7 complaints2015: 5 complaints2016: 9 complaints2017: 3 complaints2018: 5 complaints2019: 12 complaints2020: 1 complaints2021: 3 complaints2022: 2 complaints2023: 3 complaints2024: 1 complaints
Mazda3 transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“WHEN DOWNSHIFTING (MANUAL TRANSMISSION) FROM 3RD TO 2ND AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN BECAUSE OF A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE RPM WENT WAY UP, MAYBE AROUND 4,000 RPM. I PRESSED THE CLUTCH TO AVOID THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AND HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · December 8, 2012

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 have?

NHTSA has 40 complaints about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3 transmission — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.