Mazda Premacy common problems: what to check before you buy
Credov's researched list of the 9 faults the Mazda Premacy is known for (2005–2017), 5 of them serious or costly. Each one says what to look for when you check the car, so you can spot it before you buy. Not every car has these faults: they are the ones worth checking on this model.
Known problems on the Mazda Premacy
Airbag recall and disabled airbag
Safety risk
2000–2018 · Paperwork
What to look for: Check the plate on the NZTA recall check, watch the passenger airbag light, and ask for proof the inflator was replaced.
Why it matters: NZTA's entry-inspection bulletin says vehicles flagged with an open airbag recall must be rejected at entry inspection unless irrefutable evidence is provided from the manufacturer that the affected airbags were replaced, and that from 31 May 2018 alpha inflators are prohibited imports and prohibited for sale in trade.
What to look for: Turn the wheel lock to lock when parked and listen for a whine from the pump behind the front bumper.
Why it matters: Losing power steering assist suddenly at low speed or mid-corner is a real safety risk, and owners report failures from about 90,000 km onward, sometimes repeatedly, so the lock-to-lock listen test is one of the most worthwhile checks on this model.
What to look for: Look at the mirror base for an unplugged connector, browning or burnt smell, and check the glass darkens under torchlight.
Why it matters: Mazda filed two recalls with MLIT over this mirror. Under 3964 the cause could not be identified and the interim measure was to unplug the mirror connector; under 3971 the cause was traced to foreign matter on the internal board and the mirror was replaced. The circuit can short, melt the resin and give off smoke, and the control fuse can blow so the engine will not start.
What to look for: Listen for long cranking or a stall when restarting hot after a short wait, and ask for the recall record.
Why it matters: Mazda told MLIT that the fuel tanks were water-tested in production and not dried properly, so water was left inside the fuel pump connector; the terminals corrode, a terminal can break, the fuel pump stops, and the engine stops while the car is being driven and will not restart. Premacy and Biante in New Zealand are almost all Japanese imports, so this campaign will not appear on an Australian or US register.
2005–2016 · LF-DE, LF-VE, L3-VE, L8-DE · petrol · Engine
What to look for: From a stone-cold start, listen at the engine's timing end for a rattle that lasts a few seconds.
Why it matters: Left alone, a stretched chain or worn VVT gear can jump timing; on these engines that lets the valves hit the pistons and destroys the engine. Owners have reported engines failing at 145,000-250,000 km after exactly this rattle was ignored, so an early chain-and-tensioner job is far cheaper than the alternative.
What to look for: Check the tailgate stays fully open for thirty seconds, and look for rust or pitting on each strut's shiny shaft.
Why it matters: Mazda recalled these bodies because corroded liftgate struts can break and let the tailgate drop onto whoever is loading the car. Struts are a low-cost part but this is a personal-injury item you do not want handed to a customer.
What to look for: Run a hand across the inner edge of each rear tyre and check for bald shoulder or saw-tooth cupping.
Why it matters: Because the camber is built into the design, rotating tyres only spreads the damage rather than fixing it, so a car without camber arms fitted will keep eating rear tyres, which is worth pricing into any offer.
What to look for: Run every window, including the sliding doors, fully down and up twice, listening for grinding or a stuck window.
Why it matters: A window that will not close properly is a security and water-ingress problem, and the common fix is a motor and regulator replacement, so testing every window including the sliding doors catches a fault that is easy to miss on a quick look.
Typical repair: NZ$150–NZ$450 in New Zealand · A$150–A$460 in Australia
What to look for: Check the service history line by line for any gearbox flush, oil additive or engine flush.
Why it matters: Mazda's own scheduled maintenance bulletin states that transmission flushing should only be performed when instructed by the workshop manual, that transmission fluid replacement is only recommended on B-Series and Tribute, that transmission oil additives could lead to internal damage and void the warranty, and that engine oil flushes are unnecessary.
Got a question about a Mazda Premacy? Ask Credov: a noise, a warning light, a part or how to fix it.
Also check on every car
On top of the faults above, every Credov inspection covers the basics: fuel smell, leaks or filler rust, engine oil leaks, power steering fluid leak, drive belt cracks or squeal, rust underneath: chassis and mounts, engine mounts, engine oil level and colour, coolant level, colour and leaks, head gasket failure signs, cold start: rattle, knock or smoke, rough or hunting idle, engine running hot on gauge, gearbox or diff oil leak, swapped gearbox without lvv and more.
Researched by Credov from manufacturer recalls and service bulletins, owner reports and workshop sources. Repair prices are typical ranges, not quotes. See also fault codes and repair costs.