Hello all,
I bought a new 2010 Mazda3 I Touring sedan with the 5spd auto last week. So far I really like it, but I've noticed something odd. It could just be me but it seems that it is easier to turn left than to turn right. This is just in the first 90-180 degrees of steering wheel movement...basically when you role into the turn. Is this normal? Its usually barely noticable, but it does feel like its there to me. I'm gonna call the service advisor and ask as well. Just seems like there's a touch more resistence to the right. Thanks.

 

I bought a Mazda 3 2010 3 weeks ago and last night the steering seemed to give out - its not centering, feels heavier and less "powered". I am really annoyed and read some posts on google and it looks like this could be a power steering pump issue. Can anyone reassure me that when you exit a corner the wheels are supposed to realign to center on their own?

 

From what I read in the manual, if you jerk the wheels back and forth stopped or moving very slow, the power steering will go into a protective mode and it will be harder to steer. The manual said pull over, and shut it down for a few mins and it should be ok after that. Is your power steering caution light on? I'm still amazed the car even has that.

I found on mine that the tires were all at about 50psi from shipping and they hadn't been lowered. I reset them and while it helped, I still feel like it steers a little lighter to the left. Also tends to return to center just a touch better from the right than the left. I took it to both Mazda dealers in town yesterday and had the service people test drive it and they both said it felt normal and noted nothing wrong with it. I don't notice it all the time, just in certain situations so maybe thats the way its supposed to be. Maybe something with the driveline geometry since when I do notice any difference its only when moving. Any thoughts?

 

I have had mine for 3 days.
So far I haven't noticed anything in that area, however, I'll keep my eyes open and let you know if I notice anything.

 

Thanks for your replies folks! and congrats (at least we hope) for the Mazda 3! I was so happy with it up to last night...
So I just got back from the dealership I bought it from and had them do the same thing - the mechanic who checked it first said that with electronic computerized steering in modern cars, for him, the wheel will not center exactly the center like an older more "mechanical" style car. He tested the car and didn't find anything abnormal. Then they had the service manager check it and he said the same thing. He called Mazda USA to open an incident and the person told him that there had been some issues with the steering on the older 2007 & 2008 models but it had been fixed...

I spoke to the sales manager and told him how upset I was having paid cash for mine and he recommended having it checked by another Mazda dealership. I know it's not their fault but I don't trust them and I wasn't convinced by the service team either.

I'm going to have it checked by my local guy whom I trust who is not a Mazda garage at all and take it from there. VegasPilot I have pretty much the same issue, it doesnt center properly all the way on a left turn but does more or less from a right turn. And I did read the manual about that as it happened after I had over turned whilst parking and corrected the tires without moving.
I guess we'll have to wait and see, but no the Power steering light did not come on yet.

 

MikeyMazda...sorry to hear about the issues, but I do feel a little better that maybe its a Mazda thing and not just mine. This is the first "electric" steering non "mechanical" cars I've owned so it could be that I'm just not used to it. Both dealers said my steering was fine. The one I bought it at said they could keep it all day and call Mazda and have the engineers check it, but I decided not to have 'em bother. I went to the other one to get a second opinion. Lemme know what the outcome is. My steering seems to function ok with just the small issues I listed in my first posts, so maybe its just me. Good luck, I'll be interested to hear your second opinion.

 

Sorry guys, I might have missed something here and perhaps I'll sound dumb so, forgive me if I do.
Is the steering wheel supposed to steer itself back to straight if you let go of it while stationary, or do you mean that if you steer while in motion, you are expecting the steering wheel to re-center itself?

I haven't really felt anything different in this car from driving my Jetta or my RX7. I would say that while driving, the wheel behaves the same way it does in any other car. As far as I know, I would doubt it that if it doesn't come back to the middle while moving, it could be a power steering problem. For what I can think (based on what I know), that would happen only if the PS pushes the wheel one way. If it does, then it would do it all the time, I don't see why it would only do it while the car is straightening up from being turned one way
.
I do know that Citroens used to (they still might) have a power steering system that re-centered the wheel while stationary. So if you would turn all the way to the right while you are, say, parallel parking, you could, once you stopped after your first move, let go of the wheel and watch it turn backwards until centered, then you could take it from there to move the opposite direction. That was about 30 years ago, so I am not sure they still do... ;-)

Could you clarify?

 

I'm referring to the vehicle in motion. Depending on the speed and acceleration they can be pretty equal...but on the whole it does self center a little better from a right turn than from a left turn.

 

Got it. No, I don't feel any anomaly with mine. I'll try to be even more attentive tomorrow and I'll post back.

 

No issue with my 2010 3 have had it a week and i'm loving it But I did lease it any issues it is covered

 

Actually after driving it more the steering feel is fairly equal side to side. I think the difference I feel on occasion is due to the steering seeming to center a little better from right hand turns. From a right turn the wheel usually quickly returns to very close to the 12 o'clock position. From a left turn is returns to about 11:30 and usually doesn't center with as much "snap". I think thats why I sometimes feel a little more effort turning right as the steering is trying harder to self center from that side. Not sure why though. As I said both dealer service depts in my town test drove it and they both said it felt fine...no issues. Oh well...least at opted for the 5yr/60k ext. bumper to bumper warranty.

 

Hi, just checking in after another drive.
Really, everything seems to be fine in that department.
My steering wheel gives me the impression of being very slightly turned to the left (in other words, it is not centred straight. However, it seems to be more of a problem with where I am driving, so I'll get that checked/adjusted if needs to be, but no problems with steering return movement

 

Good luck to all with new mazda 3's Iam sure Mazda will back any issues Keep in touch and let's compare notes I got the new copper red . What colors ?

 

Good luck to all on my behalf, as well, however, I think this is a solid reliable vehicle.
I bought the celestial blue, 5 door, in the avatar.

I like the red. I actually liked pretty much all the colours. The only one I am not too fond of is black, as all the black detail in the car seems to disappear.
I heard somebody saying that it tones down the big smile, but I really don't see what the problem is with that and also, it tones down the rest of the front as well.
Other than that, black is nice too.

 

One thing to look at - that you can do by eye, is the camber of the wheels. If one side is tipping in a lot farther than the other it's an alignment issue - which could cause it to pull to one side or return to center faster from one direction than the other.
Find a flat road or parking lot to test it, if it's not centering evenly there's probably an alignment or sensor issue. The electronic system should not operate any differently than a mechanical one, besides different assist levels depending on speed.
Good luck.