A Mazda3 owner went to a dealer with a battery problem and got a repair quote just shy of $3,000. The battery itself, the owner says, was replaced for free under warranty.
In the r/MechanicAdvice post, the owner put the car’s mileage at 54,000. They had bought the 2022 Mazda3 new and had not dealt with a long list of faults.
Oil changes and tire rotations came every 5,000 miles. A faulty thermostat had been fixed under warranty. The owner also listed a new battery last year.
That battery came from a different Mazda dealer. When the owner brought it up during this visit, the staff checked the warranty and found it was still covered.
A Closer Look
Took my 2022 Mazda 3 to the dealership for a battery issue and they quoted me 3k in repairs
by
u/LMG_White in
MechanicAdvice
The shared quote totals $2,949.84, including a $315 battery. The other work comes to $2,634.84 once that line is removed.
Rear brake pads and rotors cost $856.99, the largest line item. The quote lists the rear pads at 3 mm. It includes a lifetime brake-pad warranty, though the owner would still pay for rotors and labor next time. A brake-fluid service adds $274.
Another $833 covers the drive belt tensioner and belts. The shop lists a fluid leak at the tensioner and cracks in the belts. An engine air filter adds $84.95.
Commenters took aim at the belt price, with one calling it “robbery.” Others argued over two services priced at $292.95 each: fuel injector cleaning and fuel induction cleaning.
Together, those cleanings add $585.90. The shop lists carbon in two places, the fuel injection system and the intake system. Some commenters called the charges duplicates, while others pushed back. The quote does not spell out the methods well enough to settle that dispute.
Check the Schedule
Mazda’s U.S. maintenance schedule for the 2022 Mazda3 does not list regular fuel injector or fuel induction cleaning. It does call for checks of the drive belts and disc brakes.
In that schedule, “inspect” includes cleaning, repairs, and new parts when needed. A part can need work due to wear or damage, even without a set mileage for changing it. The manual alone cannot show whether the shop’s findings on this car are right.
The owner may go back to their usual Mazda dealer, where past quotes have not raised the same concern. They are also open to a trusted independent shop. “I know absolutely nothing about fixing cars, but this experience has me wanting to learn,” they wrote.