general problems of the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3

Clutch slipping, high rpms, not red lining. Transmission exploded causing engine fire and burning motor and electrical components.

I had my mechanic working on replacing a burnt out license plate light when he discovered that the tail lights were not working. He turned the lights off and back on, and the tail lights started working again, turned the lights back off and on again, and the tail lights were back to not working again. He identified the fuse box to be the cause of this issue, as when the tail lights were out, he would hit the fuse box which would then cause the lights to come back on, and he demonstrated this for me. This is a serious safety concern to me and after only a few minutes of internet research I found others were having the exact same issue. I feel very fortunate that I've not been hit from behind. I've called Mazda and they said they were not aware of a known issue and there were no recalls on the part, but I've also learned that this part has been reissued 6 times. This makes me think it has to be a known issue, otherwise why keep modifying the part?.

The interior lights around the air conditioner controls were not on, thought it was a short or a blown fuse, planned on checking once returning home that night. However was pulled over by local police dept and told I didn't have any tail lights. Checked all fuses right then, all fuses were good. Drove home with emergency flashers on to avoid being hit. Took the car to the mechanic the next day they checked all fuses and found the fuses were good but found the rear tail lights had blown. Two weeks later the same thing, no lights around air conditioner controls so I immediately got out of the car and discovered no tail lights. Took car back to same mechanic and upon researching he found that this model has problems with the passenger junction box (fuse box) having shorts. Will have to replace the entire junction box and the replacement box is approximately $800. With this being a known problem there should be a recall to replace all passenger junction boxes! I could have had an accident from not having tail lights and not knowing it!!!!!.