Mazda 3 vehicles lock assembly issue
A rash of Mazda 3 owners have fell victim to a sneaky method of forced entry to their “zoom zooms”.
When returning to their vehicles the passenger side door has a dent and all of the items once in their cars, are now gone. No glass smashed, no door locks jimmied, just a side blow to the door will grant entry to the thief.
According to a Mazda dealership that wishes to remain anonymous, it works by someone creating a large blow in just the right place on the door panel.
It will leave a dent in the door of course, but this dent goes past the door frame, to the lock assembly mechanism and activates the linkage also tricking the computer into thinking that it was legitimately unlocked by your key or remote.
Mazda hasn’t determined whether they will upgrade vehicles that have not been broken into.
That seems pretty lame to me. They know there is a vulnerability and they don’t know if a recall will be done to correct this?
I think it’s time to get a mass email blast going to the Corporate offices for Mazda.
If you are concerned with your vehicle, a supplemental after market alarm system may be a solution and obviously do not leave any valuables in clear view and plain site.
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Comments / What do you think?
February 16th, 2007
This just happened to my car last night. They broke in with a slight tap to the door just above the handle. I will be going to the Mazda dealer tomorrow to see what their take is.
February 16th, 2007
Sorry to hear that Jeannine.
Just so you know, the spot just above the door handle you mention in your comment is NOT the area from my post with the issue.
How do you know this is how someone broke into your car?
February 17th, 2007
I have the dent above the drivers door, they left the drivers door ajar and everything from the glove box was strewn throughout the car.
My mailbox keys were also stolen. Luckily my registration papers were not in the car. ICBC has given me a claim # and I will see what happens.
So… no success on repairing the damage on your car?
February 17th, 2007
Jeannine, hopefully you filed a police report.
Good luck and let me know how it goes.
As for success on repairing damage to my car, I don’t own a Mazda, I only posted about the issue with the car.
February 19th, 2007
Is this with ALL models of the Mazda3? I have a sedan. I haven’s had someone go into the car via the lock assembly, but I’ve already had a break-in by having the little window on the passenger back side broken. Pleaes keep updating here with what’s happening with your car, Jeannine. Thanks.
PS: any tips or suggestions for putting in an alarm into the Mazda3?
February 20th, 2007
@Anne: Apparently this only happens with all 2006 Mazda 3’s.
As for an alarm, check with your local dealer or a car stereo shop, like Best Buy, Circuit City or a local privately owned shop.
February 20th, 2007
I have a 2004 Mazda 3 and it happened to my car. And the two others in my neighborhood are 2006 and 2004, happened to them also. I have spoken to the dealership and asked if they would compensate me for an after market alarm. The manager says they are looking into an alarm upgrade on vehicles that have had the locks replaced. I am still on the waiting list for the locks… so I am still fair game for the jerks in our area. I have emailed Mazda… no response (of course).
February 20th, 2007
Hi Jeannine. I wasn’t aware that this effected other years of Mazda 3’s besides 2006.
I know the issue was corrected in the 2007’s.
Good luck on getting help from Mazda.
February 20th, 2007
Great, I have a 2006 :(
Thanks both for replying to my post.
Please keep updating :)
February 21st, 2007
My girlfriends 2007 Mazda 3 was just broken into 2 hours ago, lost an iPod. Hope Mazda looks after this issue.
February 22nd, 2007
Well the thing is Mike, this issue with Mazda 3’s ONLY effects the 2006 year models from who I spoke with at Mazda.
When you say your girlfriends car was broken into, that’s pretty vague.
Cars get broken into on a daily basis and it’s not always the fault of the car maker.
February 22nd, 2007
I have a 2004 and it was broken into the same way. The article in mobilemag.com says it’s a problem with all Mazda 3’s. Starting to fix them for some 2007’s. So I disagree that it’s only 2006. I have proof… come see my dent. My neighbor down the street has a 2004… same thing happened.
February 22nd, 2007
Jeannine, it sounds like the police in your area need to be notified and also your local media, especially if this is happening a lot in your neighborhood.
There are other ways that people can break into a car, so I don’t think Mazda is going to pay for people to get alarms, etc… because even with an alarm, that won’t stop a car thief.
February 23rd, 2007
My girlfriends car is a 2007 and it now has 3 dents in the Drivers door. No broken glass, no signs of forced entry. So as for you saying only 2006 models are affected is simply NOT TRUE!
I talked to some people who work at Mazda and they told me kits are being sent to correct the problem.
I still have a concern though, how are the thieves going to know that any of these cars have been fixed.
How many dents will Mazda 3 owners find in their doors now?
February 23rd, 2007
Mike, if you read through the comments, you’ll see I was unaware that this effected other year models.
I too spoke with Mazda’s Corporate office, so if you have an issue with Mazda, bring it up to them.
As for thieves knowing which Mazda is fixed or not, lets not just pick on Mazda. So many other cars have issues too.
Dents… cars get dents from shopping carts at a super markets, or from kids in a neighborhood playing ball in the street and it hits a car. It can be any car, not just Mazda.
February 25th, 2007
Why do you defend mazda so much.. For someone who doesn’t own one i guess you know what you are talking about
February 25th, 2007
Mike, I personally don’t own a Mazda 3 but I have family members and friends who do and as I said in previous comments, I have talked with Mazda corporate as well as other Mazda 3 owners and also local area law enforcement.
By your own admission, your girlfriend owns a Mazda, not you, so… yeah. Guess we’re both equal on that one, eh?
I’m not defending Mazda 100%, all I’m saying is any car can be broken into and other cars have vulnerabilities too.
February 25th, 2007
The same thing just happened to my 2004 3. Jeannine, have you gone to ICBC yet? Is this dent worth 300 bucks?
February 26th, 2007
I have received a response from Mazda Corporation. My email was sent less than a week ago. They know I have new locks on order and as a Customer Relations measure, they will be upgrading my alarm with a shock sensor at no cost. I am happy with their quick response and alarm upgrade offer. So…for the others on this forum, time to write a letter or call.
February 26th, 2007
Jeannine, great news.
Like I mentioned in my post, it’s about time people contact Mazda corporate about this and seeing you did and received prompt action, others who are having this happen should also contact Mazda.
February 27th, 2007
Where do the Mazda 3 owner’s live? I’m only asking because I’ve been told that the problem is only happening in Victoria, BC.
February 27th, 2007
Hi Matt.
The Mazda 3 owners that I know are in the United States. I have no idea about the other people who have commented.
Maybe they’ll chime in and let us know.
February 27th, 2007
Same thing happened to me 2 nights ago. Dent above driver side handle. They got my prescription sunglasses and a bag in the trunk with windshield washer fluid, bungee cords and rope.
I’m thinking even if Mazda fixes my car criminals won’t know and still try to smash the door, causing more damage and money out of my pocket. Only way to stop that is for Mazda to do a recall and fix them all.
I’m in Vancouver, Canada.
February 27th, 2007
Vancouver, Canada – and there’s a lot happening here.
February 27th, 2007
@Franz and Ava: Something interesting to point out is all these comments only talk about Mazda’s getting broken into.
I’m sure there are other brands of cars also being broken into unless everyone in Canada drives a Mazda 3.
Do you hear about other car brands getting broken into?
I know my post was about Mazda’s but I’m just curious.
February 27th, 2007
Yes, I talked to the guy at the Insurance place and he says that his location alone (there are lots) sees about 2 a day for the Mazdas. Of course, there are the Volkswagons that people can open with just a screwdriver. But I agree, there are many cars broken into everyday.
And yes, we are talking about Mazdas only because this is what the post is about.
February 27th, 2007
I called ICBC about the incident. I can fix it with a $300 deductible. Not worth it as it’s probably going to happen again. But…I am happy with Mazda upgrading my alarm with a shock sensor at no cost. EVERYONE here needs to contact the Mazda Corporation like I did…via email from their website. They were quick to call me. They say no recall as it’s not a safety issue. I told him that is bullsh*t as any carjacker will now pound a Mazda door and be inside a car in less than 15 seconds. I told him that is a MAJOR safety issue. Hoping my new locks come in soon, that scares me.
February 27th, 2007
Thank you for your follow up Jeannine.
$300.00 deductible doesn’t sound like much if the repairs will cost more then that.
By chance could you provide the person’s name you spoke with at the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia?
Feel free to contact me via my contact page if needed.
I’d like to do a follow up post on this and having more information would help.
February 28th, 2007
Yes, Jeannine, that would be really helpful if you could provide the contact name. I think everyone should do this…maybe Mazda will finally do something about it.
The poor girl featured in the Vancouver Sun got broken into 3 times!
February 28th, 2007
I just wanted to comment on the argument of how easy it is to break into other cars with a screw driver, rode or some other tool. This is all true, but the thing about that is these methods don’t damage the car. As long as you have nothing in your car you loose nothing.
But with this issue that seems to be well known in BC now. Even if they get nothing from inside your car, you still get stuck with a 200-300 bill every time, unless you don’t mind having a dented car.
*Jennnine – I do have a question. Did you already have an alarm before the break-in? Did you have a LED light? I’m asking because I’m now getting an alarm installed, and now wondering if it’s even worth it.
February 28th, 2007
@Ava: Can you provide a link to the Vancouver Sun story you mention?
February 28th, 2007
I have two questions:
1) Should I contact Mazda even if my car has not been broken into that way?
2) I’ve heard that it is complicated to put in an alarm. Is that true?
*FRANZ: are you in the Vancouver area? If so where are you thinking of going to get your alarm?
February 28th, 2007
You don’t need the contact name from me call ICBC…just report your incident and get a claim #. No sense fixing the damage as it will probably happen again. The only alarm I have was a factory alarm. Franz: I don’t understand why you are buying an alarm when all u need to do is contact Mazda Corp like I did for a free upgrade with shock sensor.
February 28th, 2007
I have told my two friends and they are getting lock upgrades at no charge and have not been broken into. Not sure if they will get the alarm upgrade…I just told them of that and suggested that they be adamant and be proactive before the breakin.
March 1st, 2007
Sean, you will have to email me for the article.
March 1st, 2007
@Ava: Email sent.
March 3rd, 2007
Well… just bought a 2007 Mazda 3. My building has underground parking with no cameras. So is there a way I can deter thieves from inflicting damage to my car? Can a alarm system be a real-deterrent.
March 3rd, 2007
Hi Aman. The 2007 Mazda 3’s come with an alarm and keyless entry.
Just to let you and other readers know, any brand of car can be broken into, not just Mazda’s.
Yes an alarm can be a deterrent to some car thief’s but not all.
If you feel your car isn’t safe in the underground parking garage at your home, you should talk to the building management company and ask for cameras to be installed.
I’m sure other residents would back you up if asked.
March 5th, 2007
Thanks for your reply. I have Mazda 3 GS which has keyless entry only. As for alarms I heard Clifford or Viper is good. I’m thinking of getting a petition signed up too. So wish me luck.
March 5th, 2007
Hi all,
I have a 2005 Mazda that has the OEM shock sensor upgrade already installed, it came with the car. I do not want to disclose the model type for fear that that model will become more of a target.
My car was kicked on the drivers door, which unlocked the car and disarmed the alarm, rendering the shock sensor useless. Any alarm system that is deactivated when the lock status changes, aftermarket or not, will have the same result.
Please ensure that if you are going to spend the money on any after market alarm that you explain the defect to the vendor so they can install your new system in a fashion where the door pin release acts as the alarm trigger, not the lock mechanism.
Also to note: Mazda Canada will not do anything beyond the shock sensor upgrade to help out Mazda owners. They claim this is not a defect.
March 5th, 2007
I have a 2004 Mazda 3 GT, and my car was being broken into at the beginning of February.
Have been trying to get the updated lock from mazda, but they have been postponing my appointment due to the delay parts.
Also, I saw my neighbor’s car was being broken into, and the door panel was being bashed by BRICK! Therefore, the door needs to be replaced!!!
March 6th, 2007
@David: I hope that you reported the person you saw breaking into your neighbors car.
Depending on your location, I would call Mazda corporate or your insurance company to report this information.
March 16th, 2007
Our 2006 Mazda 3 was broken into tonight with a nice dent left in the driver’s door near the handle. Luckily, they did not like our CD’s so left them behind. This happened in Niagara Falls, Ontario.