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2012 Mazda Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2012 Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2012 Mazda3 and its high-performance Mazdaspeed3 variant are compact passenger cars that represent the third generation of Mazda's best-selling model, and with 226 owner complaints logged, this model year falls within a period of moderate reliability concern, with powertrain issues emerging as the most frequently reported problem area among the relatively low recall count of just one.

Model year201220112010200920082007

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter LF0514302B. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 Canada and Cold Climate · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnFUSEOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-40R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterLF0514302B alt 1WPE14302
Engine air filterPE07133A0A alt LF5013Z40A9U
Fuel filterPE0713ZE0 alt L3AX13ZE0
Spark plugPE5R18110A alt L3YD18110
Battery000080026RWB alt F22118520E
Front wiper bladesBBM567330 alt DF9567330A
Serpentine beltLF5115908B alt PEDD15908
ThermostatPE0115171 alt LF0315165A
Cabin air filterBBM461J6X

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.6
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.2
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-80 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity5.0-5.5
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs11-12 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) BearingsSOHC: 30-36 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsAT: 80-86 ft-lbs,; MT: 71-76 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsSOHC: 14-22 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13-16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Front Wheel Hub175-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 Turbo rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing12 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.01-1.11 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity3.38-4.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35 Canada and Cold Climate
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number35 Canada and Cold Climate

Service checks

Pressure Test22.5 - MAXIMUM PRESSURE psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Pressure Test22.5 - MAXIMUM PRESSURE psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief20-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)30.5 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)30.5 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket19-22 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle61-74 ft-lbs / 45-56 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.39 in / 0.937 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.354 in / 0.91 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
144-71 inch lbs., Step 2: 10-1344–71 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9020–23 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
167-81 ft. lbs., step 2: 55-6567–81 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-77 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–77 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-76 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–76 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 9.5-12.5 ft. lbs.

232.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
385 degrees-95 degrees85 degrees
485 degrees-95 degrees85 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 13.0-18.0 ft. lbs.

232.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
385 degrees-95 degrees85 degrees
485 degrees-95 degrees85 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 3.7 ft. lbs.

210.0-12.0 ft. lbs.10–12 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Maximum cylinder head bolt length should not exceed 146.0 mm. Replace bolts if they exceed maximum length. Coat bolts with clean engine oil. · Step 1 · 2.2-8.0 ft. lbs.

29.5-12.5 ft. lbs.9.5–12.5 ft. lbs
332.0-34.0 ft. lbs.32–34 ft. lbs
488 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
588 degrees-92 degrees88 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
134-39 ft. lbs., Step 2: 57-61, Step 3: 80-8534–39 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
16-9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21-23 ft. lbs., Step 3: 906–9 ft. lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep DOHC

171-88 inch lbs. in crisscross pattern.71–88 in
215-18

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant every 5,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 5,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 25,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel System (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 35,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEmission Control System (inspect)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

Owner complaints about the 2012 Mazda Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 top in one area — the power train, 19 of 226 reports (8%), well ahead of the next concern. None of this vehicle's 1 recall campaigns target the power train, so those reports read as owner-reported wear-and-tear rather than an acknowledged defect. 9 of the reports describe a crash and 1 a fire — a small share of the total, but worth weighing against the power train pattern above. These are tallies of what owners actually reported to the federal government, not an editorial score — and higher-selling models naturally rack up more reports.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
443
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
226
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 226 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train19
Exterior Lighting16
Air Bags15
Seats14
Structure13
Unknown Or Other12
Service Brakes11
Fuel/Propulsion System10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

16V644000Structure:Body:Hatchback/LiftgateReported 06/09/2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Mazda3 and Mazdaspeed3 vehicles manufactured November 18, 2008, to June 8, 2013, 2012-2015 Mazda5 vehicles manufactured October 26, 2010… Remedy: Mazda dealers will replace the both lift gate supports, free of charge, however parts are not currently available. The recall began April 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 443 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-020-25a2025-11-18WheelsThere have been warranty claims submitted for growling or bearing whine noise in…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 35 batteryEngine oil filter LF0514302BEngine air filter PE07133A0AFuel filter PE0713ZE0Spark plug PE5R18110A

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedules

Frequently asked

Does the 2012 Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.