Girlfriend has had two... A 2005 which she had for about five years until she upgraded to the 2010 (and her mom took over her 2005).
In those five years with the 2005, she had around 100K on the ODO. Body rust in unusual places (rear trunk near badge) and around the wheel wells of course. No real issues aside from any work on the car being a PITA (more than usual) due to rust corrosion. Actually was very reliable the entire time she (and her mom) had it. Just needed routine maintenance stuff.
The 2010 she moved onto had no real issues the first few years, but had a SRS airbag wire harness issue pop up at 46K miles (ground issue for driver curtain airbag), in which Mazda blamed the short on a remote start installed, so they wanted $1,000+ to replace the harness out of warranty.
Had some starting issues, in which the engine flooded (gasoline in the spark plug holes that needed drained and replaced plugs).
Doing rotors/brakes was quite the experience around 50K... Rotors seized to the hubs that even soaking, heating/cooling and a sledgehammer couldn't budge. Had to be cut off with a saw. Then the bleeder screws were seized in, of course. I know rust is just a way of life here, but it is far worse on these two Mazda's than any other car I have worked on for sure. The undercarriage (at 85K now) looks pretty iffy in terms of rust.
The AC compressor failed last year, as well. The car is currently our dog car (and winter beater), so it's hard to put $2000-$2500 in a car worth about double that at best to get the airbag harness and AC compressor replaced.
Materials/corrosion is worse than I am used to, but otherwise they are nice cars. The issue with the 2010 airbag harness would have been non-issue if it wasn't for the suspicion that the remote starter installed caused the issue (years later, mind you... was installed right after the car was purchased). The AC compressor being the only 'real' issue that popped up in those 10 years so far.
They drive nice, though. Not the most exciting power wise of course, but the suspension is decent for the segment. Headlights are atrocious, though. Will keep the 2010 3 around for another two or three years I'm sure, but I can't see it surviving much longer than that due to rust-related issues popping up.
I'd hope a more modern Mazda doesn't have as bad of corrosion issues and they have improved in that regard?
In those five years with the 2005, she had around 100K on the ODO. Body rust in unusual places (rear trunk near badge) and around the wheel wells of course. No real issues aside from any work on the car being a PITA (more than usual) due to rust corrosion. Actually was very reliable the entire time she (and her mom) had it. Just needed routine maintenance stuff.
The 2010 she moved onto had no real issues the first few years, but had a SRS airbag wire harness issue pop up at 46K miles (ground issue for driver curtain airbag), in which Mazda blamed the short on a remote start installed, so they wanted $1,000+ to replace the harness out of warranty.
Had some starting issues, in which the engine flooded (gasoline in the spark plug holes that needed drained and replaced plugs).
Doing rotors/brakes was quite the experience around 50K... Rotors seized to the hubs that even soaking, heating/cooling and a sledgehammer couldn't budge. Had to be cut off with a saw. Then the bleeder screws were seized in, of course. I know rust is just a way of life here, but it is far worse on these two Mazda's than any other car I have worked on for sure. The undercarriage (at 85K now) looks pretty iffy in terms of rust.
The AC compressor failed last year, as well. The car is currently our dog car (and winter beater), so it's hard to put $2000-$2500 in a car worth about double that at best to get the airbag harness and AC compressor replaced.
Materials/corrosion is worse than I am used to, but otherwise they are nice cars. The issue with the 2010 airbag harness would have been non-issue if it wasn't for the suspicion that the remote starter installed caused the issue (years later, mind you... was installed right after the car was purchased). The AC compressor being the only 'real' issue that popped up in those 10 years so far.
They drive nice, though. Not the most exciting power wise of course, but the suspension is decent for the segment. Headlights are atrocious, though. Will keep the 2010 3 around for another two or three years I'm sure, but I can't see it surviving much longer than that due to rust-related issues popping up.
I'd hope a more modern Mazda doesn't have as bad of corrosion issues and they have improved in that regard?