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Mazda 3 Transmission Problems

475 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 6:25 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA3, Mazda MAZDASPEED MAZDA3, Transmission, Hatchback

    
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Messages Page 39 of 49

#373 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [nibroc4410] by mazdaman35

Feb 24, 2012 (11:37 am)

Replying to: nibroc4410 (Jan 27, 2012 12:23 pm)
Hi moogoogaipan,
I just got a Mazda 3 skyactiv manual and am experiencing the same type of thing. Every once in a while shifting into 3rd, 4th, or 5th feels rough and requires extra pressure or requires shifting to neutral and cycling the clutch.
 
I really like the car, but this shifting thing is kind of annoying. Is this just something that will go away once the car is broken in a bit? Did you ever get the problem fixed???

#374 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [mazdaman35] by nibroc4410

Feb 24, 2012 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: mazdaman35 (Feb 24, 2012 11:37 am)
Update:
 
We figured out looking at the contract that there was a very slim chance of us getting a refund for the car since the parts are covered on the warranty.
 
They ended up fixing the original car and giving it back to us. They also gave us a pre-paid Service Plan for 5-years/75k.
 
The car seems to be running and shifting "normally". The original problem where we were completely blocked from shifting into gear while moving has not happened again. Sometimes shifting still feels rough, but overall the car is working fine.
 
Soon after starting when it is very cold it doesn't want to shift and the stick sometimes gets stuck in gear (1st and 2nd), but after it warms up this never happens. We've also had it not want to go into 1st while stopped on an incline/decline. If we take our foot off the brake and let it drift an inch or two and try again it goes into gear.
 
On an unrelated note, we had a 4 inch nail puncture the rear tire the other day and had to get that fixed. Maybe we are just very unlucky.

#375 of 475 Anybody else having problems with 2012 Skyactiv MT? by dattomcat89

Mar 19, 2012 (11:56 am)

My fiance's brother enjoys his 2010 Mazda3, so I was considering getting a 2012 Skyactiv with manual trans, but after all the things I've been reading in this thread, I'm not so sure. Is anybody else having trouble with the new Skyactiv manual?
 
I'm not interested in having to change the gear oil or adopt an abnormal shifting style to be able to use the car, because I didn't have to do either of those things with my old '97 5-speed Protege (which was the most reliable/resilient car I've ever owned), so I certainly shouldn't have to with a car that's brand new.
 
A lot of what I'm reading here and even in press-releases reminds me of what GM did with their trucks during the end of the 90's, prematurely releasing new technology to the public and letting their paying customers discover and deal with the resulting problems. My family had a '98 Silverado which was so trouble-prone because of this that GM permanently lost our business. I'm shocked that Mazda would do something similar.

#376 of 475 Re: Anybody else having problems with 2012 Skyactiv MT? [dattomcat89] by autonomous

Mar 19, 2012 (3:05 pm)

Replying to: dattomcat89 (Mar 19, 2012 11:56 am)
I was considering getting a 2012 Skyactiv with manual trans, but after all the things I've been reading in this thread, I'm not so sure. Is anybody else having trouble with the new Skyactiv manual?
Actually most of this thread does not deal with the Skyactiv which is brand new for 2012. Like you, though, I was concerned ... in my case because it is new. Many reliable manufacturers, including Toyota and Honda, have had problems rolling out new models. Since Mazda has a lot "riding" on the Skyactiv technology, I expect they have done a lot of testing before incorporating it in the Mazda3, and now the CX5.
 
TIP: Put off your purchase until later this year / next year to see what comes out in the wash.

#377 of 475 Re: Anybody else having problems with 2012 Skyactiv MT? [autonomous] by dattomcat89

Mar 20, 2012 (9:21 am)

Replying to: autonomous (Mar 19, 2012 3:05 pm)
I didn't say I read all the posts in this thread and that they all had to do with the Skyactiv MT; I was basing my conclusion on all the posts I DID read (meaning I only read posts that had to do with Skyactiv MT).
 
And thanks for the tip. I was already planning on just holding off on the purchase because I wanted to see how quickly Mazda fixes these problems (both on their new cars and ones that have already been sold) and how they respond to what I'd assume is a growing number of unsatisfied customers (especially nibroc4410, if he ever posts again).
 
All of this worries me greatly because I was dead-set on buying the next generation MX-5/Miata (I can barely fit in the current one, and I've heard that the next one may have slightly more room) as soon as it's released, and I don't want to end up quickly regretting my purchase or having to wait to buy it because of something like this.

#378 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [mazdaman35] by vkamnyev

Mar 20, 2012 (9:57 am)

Replying to: mazdaman35 (Feb 24, 2012 11:37 am)
Hello,
 
I actually ordered my Skyactiv with 6 speed manual from factory. Just got it a few days ago (it was manufactured on February 3, 2012). When I first got it, I had a hard time sliding the shifter into gears. I really didn't think much of it because I thought that may be it is just breaking in and the gear channels just need to smooth out. Now I have 200 miles on it and I am noticing that the shifting is starting to smooth out. I will keep my eye on it and will make another post in a few weeks.
Thank you.

#379 of 475 Mazda transmissions [dattomcat89] by autonomous

Mar 20, 2012 (2:40 pm)

Replying to: dattomcat89 (Mar 20, 2012 9:21 am)
this worries me greatly because I was dead-set on buying the next generation MX-5/Miata ... I don't want to end up quickly regretting my purchase or having to wait to buy it
 
Understood. Reading a thread on Mazda transmission problems is bound to create some worries.
 
Check the latest Consumer Reports issue for its Reliability charts to see how key components (including transmissions) of various models rate in terms of long term reliability. Based on CR and as far as I have heard, the Miata/MX5 is a stellar vehicle with one of the best transmissions around and is not a risky choice.
 
p.s. I know what you mean about how snug the Miata is.

#380 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [nibroc4410] by dark_temp

Mar 23, 2012 (3:20 pm)

Replying to: nibroc4410 (Feb 24, 2012 12:52 pm)
Well I have the same car and my 1st and 2nd gears are a little sticky in the cold too. (sounds like the honda si tranny problems they were having too but much worse than mazda's ) I do know that the first gear has a safety that if you are moving at a certain speeds (i think even as low as 5-15 you cant shift into first so you dont jerk your gears to hard. This because the torque ratios in first and second are much greater than like 5th or 6th (some sorta of safety mechanism kind of like you cant throw it into reverse at all unless you are not moving....good luck on your car

#381 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [dark_temp] by nibroc4410

Mar 26, 2012 (4:01 pm)

Replying to: dark_temp (Mar 23, 2012 3:20 pm)
Hi everyone,
 
Just wanted to give another update. We are up to 4500 miles on our car now and everything has been good since we had the transmission replaced. It still sticks in first and second gear when we start it up in under 40 degree weather, but if you give it 3 minutes to warm up that doesn't happen.
 
I wouldn't tell people to not buy the car, because if you aren't unlucky like we were you will just have a fun car with good mileage. But as a warning if you are very unlucky and something isn't right keep bothering them until everything is fixed. They might deny anything is wrong for a while, but you aren't imagining it so keep fighting.

#382 of 475 Re: Mazda 3 2012 skyactiv faulty Manual Transmission [nibroc4410] by dattomcat89

Mar 27, 2012 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: nibroc4410 (Mar 26, 2012 4:01 pm)
Thanks for the update. If you could continue to keep us filled in, that would be appreciated. By the way, did you ever get a copy of the diagnosis from the Japanese engineer, or was that need-to-know only?

Messages Page 39 of 49

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