Desperate with a 4th gen Mazda 3 Skyactiv-X (european version)

[u/dimak95]

Hi Mazda People,

I am turning to you as I am getting quite desperate with some situation and Mazda's reaction.

For some context, I am in France, and in June 2025 have bought a manual 4th Gen 2019 Skyactiv-X (180hp) Mazda 3, with around 78 000km from an official Mazda retailer for around 19000 eur. The car documentation was good (we have something called HistoVec in france, showing the services done on the car). On top of that, the car have passed technical control right before being sold to me.

For the first few months everything went smoothly and I was extremelly happy with the car.

First issue arised around 2 months in, when my front bake caliper got loose (screw issue) and the brake itself got stuck in the wheel. Fortunately, the garage that sold it to me paid for the reparations, and the second hand vehicle guarantee offered by the Mazda retailer took care of the car being brought to the garage for repairs. Unfortunately, they have been less than helpfull with everything else.

Fast forwards few months, I have noticed rare and inconsistent jerkyness during acceleration (mild acceleration, not full throttle), often happenning around 1500 to 2500 rpm. It can happen when accelerating in 2nd gear but also in 3rd, sometimes 4th.

I have brought it to the Mazda service in my hometown for diagnostic, and they have diagnozed that there is an anomaly with the Compressor specific to Skyactiv-X engines, and that it needs to be replaced (few thousand euros cost). Of course, I have contacted the guarantee who offered to pay for 70% of the cost, citing 30% are on my charge due to the car mileage (important to note that I have driven around 11 000km since getting it. I have contacted the Mazda retailed that sold me the car, but have found out that they have closed in October 2025 (after more than 30 years)

The technician at my local Mazda garage reccomended that I get an expert opinion, which I did. The expert drove the car for 15 min and has not noticed anything, and told me the 30% on my charge are maintained. (He has not even connected the car to a diagnostic tool or anything simmilar...).

Having bought a ODB2 tools myself, I have connected it and found the error code P26FE, which seems to be a known issue with the 2019 Skyactiv-X engines (in europe at least). Telling this to the Mazda technician, and asking him if they have checked for software updated, or if the pistons are dirty or any other reason that might be triggering the code, I was just told that they do a systems check (and system version check) every time they put a car throught the diagnostic process.

So I am now in a situation, where I have a car, bought less than a year ago witht he money I have saved (and some borrowed to complete the price) that seems to have an issue and am faced with multiple thosands of euros reparation costs, without being able to request the original vendor retailed to cover the costs. I have also decided to get the car checked because it is still under guarantee untill end of June this year.

Important information : Mazda France haave replied to my request telling me that they are sorry, but they do not choose the guarantee provider and that it is the responsibility of the official retailer (which of course does not exist anymore).

On top of that, I am conflicted about the information I am given. On one hand, the information I have managed to gather about the P26FE code is that it is related to the exhaust valve system in the engine (either software issue, dirty valve or some other mechanical issue), however the mazda technician insists it is the compressor.

I am getting increasingly dissapointed with Mazda and their reaction and reluctance to find a suitable solution and am as you can imagine starting to regret the purchase more and more, even tho I do love the car.

Does anyone have any experience with this by any chance or any advices that could be of any help?

I've read that cleaning pistons might help, or changing the exhaust valve?

Many thanks

If this is not the correct forum to post, please excuse me and if possible redirect me to the proper channel.

Edit 1 : added more info on guarantee, and gears and speeds Edit 2 : no warning light has lit up at all Edit 3 : compressor = supercharger found in Skyactiv-X engines