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Mazda 2 2012 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2012 Mazda 2? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2012 Mazda 2 issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2012 Mazda 2 in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Mazda 2, 3 and 6 recalled over driver's seat defect
Mazda Australia has issued a national recall for 124,686 examples of its last-generation Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6 models which were sold between September 2007 and March 2012.
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Best first car options?

Do not buy a Cruze, or buy a European brand. They will prove costly. It's best to go for the cars that are well proven over many years. The Lancer is a good one, but so too is the Toyota Yaris or Corolla, Suzuki Swift, Mazda2 or 3, or Mitsubishi Colt.

Used Mazda 2 review: 2002-2016

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2002, 2005, 2007 and 2016 Mazda 2 as a used buy.

While the Mazda 3 and CX-3 have been grabbing all the headlines in the sales race, the smallest model of all, the little Mazda 2 hatchback has been quietly working away in the background and keeping its end up.

The Mazda2 is quite spacious for a small car because its relatively tall body allows good headroom. It can work as a small family car if you are downsizing and the kids are in their preteen years, though it mostly sells to singles and couples. 

The great majority of Mazda2 bodies in Australia are five-door hatches, three-door models were sold as price leaders but were never popular. A four-door sedan was launched in 2010 but lasted on the new-car market for less than a year, only to be reintroduced midway through 2015.

Build quality is very good inside and out. Most are made in Japan, a few came from Thailand, where quality was kept under control by Mazda on-site staff.

Mazda2 is generally used as a city car, so shop around for one that hasn’t been thrashed around in the rush and bustle of constant traffic.

A direct descendant of the Mazda 121 bubble car and 121 Metro, the Mazda2 reached Australia in December 2002. It began as a somewhat boxy looking car that sacrificed fashion in the interests of function, so didn’t grab as much attention with buyers as it deserved.

A major rework of the ‘2, sold from June 2005, kept the same body style, but smoothed it out a little and buyer interest increased. It also featured a big push on safety with the body strengthened and dual airbags now standard across the range. The top model, the Genki has six airbags, and the extra airbags were optional on the others in the range. Quite a few buyers took up that option.

Things changed on the fashion front with the second generation Mazda2. It reached us in September 2007. While still having a relatively tall body it was significantly more attractive and moved up the in sales race. Cars from this time are the ones to aim for if your budget is up to it. There are plenty on the market at any time.

Style became the byword with the launch of a new generation Mazda2 in November 2014. Using the very successful Kodo shape, the new ‘2 further lifted the company’s status in buyers’ minds. Some of these are starting to appear on the used-car scene but it’s rather early to compile details on how they are progressing. Not that we anticipate troubles.

All Mazda2 models sold in Australia have a four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine. It performs reasonably well and is economical unless pushed too hard. The 2005 facelift saw changes to the engine to fatten out its torque curve. In an interesting move the engine was offered in two states of tune with the gen-three of 2014; a lower powered unit on the cheapest model, and a bit more get-up-and-go on the expensive ones. It’s still no powerhouse, though.

Noise levels are usually low but rough roads can increase in-cabin sound quite noticeably, as can concrete surfaces on some motorways. On our ‘home’ motorway, the M1 between the Gold Coast and Brisbane the noise became quite tiring. Road grip is high and the smallest Mazda feels stable and comfortable under normal conditions.

The underbonnet area is reasonably spacious and a good home handyperson can do routine servicing. Safety items must be left to the professionals. Having a workshop manual on hand when you do your own work makes life easier.

Insurance rates are generally low. For some reason there seems to be a bigger spread than normal between companies so it’s worth shopping around for the best deal. As always make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

During your test drive feel for hesitation in the engine, particularly when it’s asked to accelerate suddenly.

An engine that’s rough at idle may have problems. Call in a professional if there’s any doubt.

Make sure the brakes pull the car up firmly in a straight line and that the ABS system, if fitted, comes in under high pedal pressures. The pulsing through the pedal under ABS should be strong and there should be no locking of any of the wheels.

Check for signs of body damage or crash repairs. Viewing the car in good light you should be able to see if the paint doesn’t match from panel to panel.

Paint overspray on windows, mirrors, badges and other unpainted areas is another sign the car has spent time in a panel beaters.

Look at the interior trim and the lining of the luggage area for tears or stains.

Listen for rattles and squeaks inside the cabin by test driving on rough roads. The latter aren’t common so may indicate a Mazda2 has led a harsh life.

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Best options for used first car?

The cars you have been looking at are all good, sound and safe ones that have no serious issues to be concerned about and would give you reliable service for many years to come. Note that all of them are from Asia; I would suggest that you rule out anything from Europe. Another to consider would be the Mitsubishi Lancer.

Used Mazda 2 review: 2007-2013

Mazda has been the standout performer over the last decade or so when its cars have gone from "who cares" to "must haves" in a very short period of time.

It began with the ground breaking 3, continued with the 6, and then followed on with the mini 2. Sales of small cars like the Mazda2 have soared as Australians have shed their attachment to big cars and downsized like crazy.

The new 2 in 2007 promised new looks, great value and class-leading dynamics, and delivered in spades. There were four body styles, a three-door hatch, a five-door hatch and a four-door sedan, and there were three levels, the Neo, Maxx and Genki.

It was conventional for a small car. The wheels were placed at the corners to maximize its footprint for the best grip on the road and to liberate as much cabin space as possible within its compact dimensions.

Likewise, the mechanical package was typical for the class. It was powered by a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 76 kW and 137 Nm, and was claimed to do between 6.4 and 6.8 L/100km.

The cabin was quieter than before, the seats were comfortable and supportive, and it boasted lots of storage.

There was good news on the features list too, with Mazda including anti-lock brakes with brake-force distribution and emergency brake assistance, front airbags, air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, remote central locking and iPod jack in all cars. Even better, ESP electronic stability control was available as an extra-cost option.

On the road the 2 had all the zip you could want in a small car, it handled the hustle and bustle of modern traffic well and cruised comfortably on the open road, and it cornered with good grip and balance.

Mazda has won high praise for the quality of its new generation cars, and that's reflected in the views of owners who are overwhelmingly happy with the 2. The few criticisms they have are of a minor nature, and relate to individual owners needs and wants.

Owners particularly praise the fuel economy, but they also commend the car's performance, roominess and comfort.

There are no widespread issues to be concerned about, the 2 is a solid car that has been soundly engineered and well built. Owners particularly praise the fuel economy, but they also commend the car's performance, roominess and comfort.

With no endemic problems to be concerned about it's best to focus on wear-and-tear issues. Check for crash damage, things like mismatched paint, overspray that might suggest not a crash but also cheap and cheerful repairs.

Look at the corners for scratches and scrapes from nudging objects in parking lots and tight spaces etc, and go over the cabin looking for broken bits of trim and worm seats and floor coverings.

There's further good news on the recall front, there are no recalls applicable to the 2 post 2007.

As with all modern cars servicing is all-important. They are built to such fine tolerances they need regular maintenance to keep them in fine fettle and running reliably over the long-term. Some owners today look on cars as disposable items and neglect the servicing side of things, so ask for a service record that shows your chosen car has seen the inside of a workshop since it left the factory.

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Used Mazda 2 review: 2002-2013

The launch of an all-new Mazda 2 in a few months makes this a good time to check out older models of this quality small car from Japan.

Introduced to Australia in December 2002 the Mazda2 DY Series was a replacement for the Mazda 121, the latter a car that chopped and changed in its shape over the years, but generally enjoyed sales success downunder.

Smoothness and comfort in the Mazda2 are as good as in many cars that are a full size up. Meaning it can be used as a family car if you are considering downsizing your transport and the kids are in their preteen years. The 2 is surprisingly spacious for a small car because its relatively tall body allows good headroom in all seats. Extra space is available in the back seat as it's adjustable fore-and-aft.  It makes sense to take the whole family along on your pre-purchase test drive.

Mazda2 joins the others in the Mazda range in having a well-deserved reputation, so it sits high on the tree of cars that make good sense secondhand. However, as it's generally used as a city car you have to be sure to get one that hasn't been thrashed around in the rush and bustle of constant traffic. 

The June 2005 makeover of the Mazda2 saw the push on maximising safety. Dual airbags became standard on all models. Another four were fitted to the top model, the Genki, and are optional on the others in the range. It's worth checking for the fitment of the extra airbags as they were well-priced and are fitted to quite a few cars. 

That second generation Mazda2, the DE Series, reached Australia in September 2007. Even more stylish than the first, it continued to do well in the sales race.

All Mazda2 models sold in Australia have a four-cylinder 1.5-litre engine. It performs reasonably well and is economical unless pushed too hard. The 2005 facelift saw changes to the engine to fatten out its torque curve, but it's still no powerhouse. Likewise the all-new 2007 range is aimed at the conservative driver, not the keen revhead. 

A five-speed manual gearbox is standard in the Mazda2, with a four-speed automatic being optional. The auto does a reasonable job with an engine of this size but try it for yourself to see what you think as it can struggle at times with a load on board, particularly in hilly areas. The manual overrides in the automatic help you make the best of the limited performance.

Noise levels are usually low but the aforementioned rough roads can increase in-cabin sound quite noticeably at times, as can concrete surfaces on some motorways.

Steering in the little Mazda2 is quick and precise, however, some say they find it a little too sensitive. Try before you buy. 

Road grip is high and the smallest Mazda feels stable and comfortable under normal conditions.

The underbonnet area is reasonably spacious and a good home handyperson can do routine servicing. We recommend leaving safety items to the professionals. Having a workshop manual on hand when you do your own work makes a lot of sense. 

Insurance rates are generally towards the bottom end of the scale. There seems to be a bigger spread than normal between companies so it's worth shopping around for the best deal. Don't just look at the cost of the premiums, also ask about excesses and no-claims bonuses and make sure you're comparing apples with apples.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Look for signs of body damage or crash repairs. Viewing the car in good light you should be able to see if the paint doesn't match from panel to panel. Also be sure there's no paint overspray on windows, mirrors, badges and other unpainted areas.

Look carefully at the condition of the interior trim and the lining of the luggage area for tears or stains. Quality is generally good but rough treatment can wear it down quickly.

During your test drive feel for hesitation in the engine, particularly when it's asked to accelerate suddenly.

An engine that's rough at idle may have problems. Call in a professional if there's the slightest doubt.

Make sure the brakes pull the car up firmly in a straight line and that the ABS system, if fitted, comes in under high pedal pressures. The pulsing through the pedal under ABS should be strong and there should be no locking of any of the wheels.

Listen for rattles and squeaks inside the cabin. The latter aren't common so may indicate a harsh life on rough road surfaces. Either that or a car that has been pranged and not repaired correctly.

CAR BUYING TIP

Don't let the distance travelled by a used car overly influence your buying decision. Cars with low kilometres may have done a lot of work in tight traffic, and with an engine that was seldom running at its full temperature.

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Mazda 2 air-con hissing sound

Go back to the dealer and again request a report on the cause of the problem, if they give the same answer ask them to justify it. In the meantime take it to an air-conditioning specialist and get an independent assessment of it.

Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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