TSB: MAZDA CX-3, CX-5, MAZDA3, MAZDA6 (2012–2018)

Bulletin 03-002-18-3505a — September 5, 2018

Bulletin Details

Bulletin ID03-002-18-3505a
ManufacturerMAZDA
ModelsCX-3, CX-5, MAZDA3, MAZDA6
Model Years2012–2018
Date IssuedSeptember 5, 2018
Date Added to NHTSAOctober 9, 2018
ComponentPOWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
Vehicles Affected42 combinations

What is a TSB?

A Technical Service Bulletin is a document issued by the vehicle manufacturer to inform dealership technicians about a known issue and the recommended repair procedure. TSBs are not mandatory recalls — they serve as repair guidance for common problems.

If your vehicle has this issue, bring this bulletin ID to your dealer. If under warranty, the repair should be covered at no cost.

Summary

Some vehicles may exhibit a squeak noise from the right front driveshaft at the transaxle when driving. This concern is likely to occur when driving at speeds between 37-50 mph (60-80 km/h) with the ATF at normal operating temperature. The

Affected Vehicles

MakeModelYearComponent
MAZDA CX-3 2018 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-3 2018 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2018 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-5 2018 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2018 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2018 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2018 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2018 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-3 2017 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-3 2017 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-5 2017 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2017 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2017 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2017 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2017 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2017 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-3 2016 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-3 2016 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2016 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2016 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2016 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2016 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2016 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2016 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-5 2015 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-5 2015 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2015 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2015 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2015 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2015 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2014 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2014 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2014 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2014 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2014 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA6 2014 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA CX-5 2013 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA CX-5 2013 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2013 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2013 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2012 105100 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
MAZDA MAZDA3 2012 105300 POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Related MAZDA Recalls

CampaignModelYearComponentSummary
CX-50 2025 SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hyb...
CX-50 HYBRID 2025 SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS Mazda North American Operations is recalling certain 2025 CX-50 and CX-50 Hyb...
CX-70 2025 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE... Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 ...
CX-90 2024 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE... Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 ...
CX-90 2025 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE... Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2024-2025 CX-90 ...

What Should You Do?

If your vehicle is affected by this TSB, contact your authorized MAZDA dealer. Bring this bulletin ID (03-002-18-3505a) when you visit. If under warranty, the repair should be free. If your warranty has expired, ask about goodwill coverage — manufacturers sometimes cover TSB-related repairs beyond the warranty period.

Frequently Asked Questions

A recall is a mandatory safety fix — the manufacturer must repair every affected vehicle for free. A TSB is an advisory document that describes a known issue and the recommended fix, but repairs are not required. However, some TSBs eventually lead to recalls if the issue poses a safety risk. TSBs are generally issued for quality or performance problems, while recalls address safety defects.

If your vehicle is still under the manufacturer's warranty, TSB-related repairs are typically covered at no cost. If your warranty has expired, you can ask the dealer about goodwill or customer assistance programs. Many manufacturers will cover or partially cover repairs for well-known issues, especially if the TSB was issued recently or affects a large number of vehicles.

Check the make, model, and model year listed above against your vehicle. If they match, this bulletin likely applies. However, TSBs may only affect vehicles with specific production dates, VIN ranges, or configurations. Your dealer can confirm by entering your VIN into their service system, which will show all applicable TSBs and recalls.

This data comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Manufacturers are required to submit copies of all communications (including TSBs) sent to their dealers to NHTSA. The agency makes this data publicly available as part of its vehicle safety monitoring program.