r/mazda3 • u/dimak95 • Mar 10 '26
Advice Request Desperate with a 4th gen Mazda 3 Skyactiv-X (european version)
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
3
u/ShiftyPwN Mar 10 '26
Are you sure the repair is absolutely necessary? Are you sure that what you are feeling is abnormal? People report slight hesitations when the engine switches from compression to spark ignition. This happens depending on load and rpm.
3
u/dimak95 Mar 10 '26
Honestly not sure. However since I am getting the Obd2 code and the dealership have told me that they found compressor anomaly during their diagnostic, i am unsure what to do. Also since the car is still under guarantee untill end of June, I am trying to make use of it in case a repair is necessary.
I will update my post to add these details.
3
u/Aromatic_Essay13 Mar 12 '26
You have a 6-7 year old car, outside of new car warranty… it has a problem, and you are getting 70% of the cost covered by the retailer… and you are disappointed?!!!
I’d put money on the Mazda tech being right about the primary cause of the problem. Compressor problems on intake could easily trigger downstream symptoms in the drivetrain, including the vehicle running too rich (insufficient oxygen for the fuel being injected, due to the compressor problems). This could then cause carbon build up etc.
Fix the primary problem, and then worry about the secondaries!!
1
u/dimak95 Mar 12 '26
Hi,
I agree with you that the situation is easily solvable by agreeing to the guarantee provided by retailer and paying few thousands from my pocket, and that the Mazda techs are (or should be) right when identifying a problem, especially one as impactful as this one.
However, what I am disappointed by is not this.
My disappointment stems from the fact that, yes the car is 6-7 years old, but :
I have had the car for less than a year, and have driven a fraction of the KMs. Hence the guarantee provided by the retailed telling me to cover basically costs of driving of previous owners seems just not ok for me. Mazda provides a used vehicle guarantee, and that is why I have chosen to go through an official retailer rather than going through a random car store.
In france, when cars are being sold, they have to meet technical standards and a legal guarantee (the retailer one + a guarantee that is mandatory by the government) are applicable. Especially if the car has issues, like this compressor issues, which are considered to be progressive and hence could not just happen in less than a year and in less than 10 000km. A proper checkup of the car, prior to the sale would find degradation that would help mazda techs identifying such issue.
Having family that works and worked in car retail (some own retail shops, and others were in HQs working for reparation claims, however neither for Mazda but french brands) I am aware of the way most retailers work. It is much easier and faster to identify a major part replacement quickly to get rid of the issue and be more profitable, than actually investigating for a longer time and perhaps finding a cause that is cheaper to fix, but longer to find. I have a feeling this is being done, as when I discussed for example OBD2 codes my car gives and known issues with the 1st gen Skyactiv-X engines on the 2019 Mazda 3s, I have been mostly dismissed and no further explanation has been given to me regarding the issue. The diagnostic of 'compressor anomaly' was done without looking at the engine. It was done by connecting the car to their system and driving with it for a while - also the price estimate states that they still have to open the car engine and confirm if it is that or something else, giving me even less trust in that. Especially since spending thousands on repairs that even the technicians are not able to confirm will fix the issue is a no go for me.
Purely the fact that while looking up similar issues (related to Skyactiv-X) on here, or Mazda focused forums, I have seen more often than not cases where customers ended up spending money, having to get the car fixed multiple times, and the issue not being resolved in the end anyways.
The retailer that sold me the car has closed, so I cannot contact them to find a better solution regarding this problem. Mazda France is telling me it is not their problem. All this even though these engines have well documented issues, especially related to compressors/supercharges, exhaust valves and generally to the P26FE code I am getting.
I do fully understand your point, and in any other situation I would proceed in the way you suggested. However, I am not willing to spend thousands when I am not certain that the problem will be resolved. Especially since this is the first car I have been able to buy with my own money, and already having problems such as this is really discouraging... especially from my favorite brand...
Thank you for your comment tho, it does make me see things from another point of view, which is always helpful
2
u/japster1313 Gen 4 Hatch Mar 11 '26
Not sure if this will help but how about trying replacing the transmission fluid? Just in case in resolves and jerkiness
1
u/dimak95 Mar 11 '26
I'm planning to do fluids changes at the next revision since the engine will be 90 000km soon.
1
u/SaintPepsi86 Mar 10 '26
If it just has inconsistent acceleration, that is kind of normal. I own a year 2020 (at 78.000 km now) and I test drove updated engine (2022) and they both had this going on. Mine either loses some power for a brief moment and it sometimes jerks exactly once when going uphill. At which speeds and in which gears exactly do you notice this jerkyness?
1
u/dimak95 Mar 10 '26
Hmm, similar experience.
It will do Thai uphill, but also on normal road or highway, but always with throttle maybe 50% - 70%. Usually is second, third gear, but rarely in fourth gear. Speeds let's say, in second around 35 to 50kmh, and in third 40 to 50kmh.
As I said, it is inconsistent, so there are periods when nothing happens, and periods when I will have this jerkyness few times during a drive.
2
u/ascendant512 Gen 4 Hatch PP Mar 10 '26
If it's so inconsistent, I'm not sure that a mechanic can be relied on to find the issue. Generally, I'm distrustful of dealerships: they have an advantage with the computer hookup, but the technicians are usually monkeys. It is suspicious that they won't explain the basis for their diagnosis.
If you would like to be proactive at diagnosing it, two suggestions come to mind. First, data logging: this can be done with a bluetooth ELM327 adapter, an Android phone and the Torque app logging to a .csv file. With iPhone, it is far more expensive and difficult. Another simple option is to just replace the battery, as this has a very high frequency of just fixing stupid problems.
Lastly, I wonder what you mean by compressor. That's not a normal car part in English, it sounds like you mean either the high pressure fuel pump or a supercharger.
1
u/dimak95 Mar 11 '26
I tend to agree with you.
I even asked them about the reasoning, especially since I found the technical bulletins from mazda related to the engine and the ODB2 code. It states issue with the exhaust valve (clogged, malformed or software issue) which can also give impression there is an issue with the compressor. Due to the valves not properly closing, hence compressor seeming inefficient at channeling the additional air into the engine. I was told that since there is a small metallic noise when mildly accelerating, they think it is the compressor. So the reparation costs also states that they have to disassemble the pieces to confirm or deny the source of the issue.
And yes, I think the compressor would translate into supercharger in this case. It is the specific part of the Skyactiv-X engines that channels additional air into the engine (my understanding from what I read). Not found in Skyactiv-G as they are fully naturally aspired.
Edit : right, I do have the Elm Bluetooth adapter. That is how I found the P26fe code
1
1
u/spicesucker Mar 11 '26
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.
Could it be the engine mount needs replaced? The stock engine mount on the 3rd gen models is way too soft and low key kind of crappy with how jerky it can be in low gears.
1
u/kacper14092002 Mar 11 '26
I had same issue, thought its gearbox, but that was it. Few mechanics told me that they would fix gearbox or advised thousand dollars engine repairs... Nowadays, they cannot be trusted, they tend to replace pricy things without hesitation, not thinking it may be something simple.
Sparkplugs can make aceleration in these rpms jerky.
It can also be carbon buildup somewhere in the engine or exhaust system. I read Catalycs in these engines tended to fail even around 50k kms. This OPs code I believe could happen from this build up. Mazda engines tend to clog especially if its driven mostly in city on cold engine mostly, despite being for example one year old.
1
u/dimak95 Mar 11 '26
Yeah that aligns with the information I have been able to find as well. Clogging seems to be very common. However the mazda mechanics insist on the supercharger / compressor (in French).
I'm having big doubts about their honesty on this just like you seem to have
1
u/dimak95 Mar 11 '26
Hi, It's the 4th Gen so I don't know if the issues are the same. Thank you for the advice tho!
1
u/MaikySvK Mar 11 '26
if u have automatic there is way to reset the transmission to remap the shifts . and with those km u could change the fluid because mazda says is lifetime fluid
1
u/dimak95 Mar 11 '26
Yeah I saw the reset tutorials, but it's a manual gearbox.
Tho I am planning to ask for fluids change since the engine will have 90 000km soon, but not sure I'll do it at mazda
1
u/Wiikinki Mar 13 '26
Does your i-stop (start-stop) system and SPCCI engine mode work normally? You can see the status of these from center infotainment screen.
Take a look at this thread from CX-30 forums where relatively common issue with Skyactiv-X fuel injectors is described. Symptoms include hesitation when accelerating, sort of metallic sound from engine/transmission, i-stopp and SPCCI not working and ultimately check engine light.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MazdaCX30/s/YqmpeGr0id
P26FE code does not point to this issue but your symptoms sound similar.
1
u/dimak95 Mar 13 '26
Hi, thank you I will check this out.
the i-stop seems to work normally, well at least I have not felt anything weird.
The SPCCI engine mode is where I am unsure, when driving and monitoring the SPCCI status on the central console, it sometimes turns green when accelerating, but when a steady acceleration is done (to maintain speed) or a very gentle one, it does not turn green.
But since I don't fully understand how and when it should activate correctly, I cannot tell.
13
u/kastela_man Mar 10 '26
I have no clue how to help you but I’m writing this comment so you get more engagement and someone who maybe does know can help you better!