The Mazda 3 has been a popular compact since its introduction to the US market in 2003 and while it’s been through some big changes in that time, it’s still a car that gets impressive reviews. Of course, even a

good car brand like Mazda

can have issues—especially once its vehicles have reached a certain age.

The Mazda 3 has been around for almost 20 years, which means there are plenty of models out there that have needed to have their clutch replaced at one time or another. And if yours is approaching 100,000 miles, you’ll be wondering how much a new clutch is going to cost you—especially since

car insurance

won’t cover it. Here’s what you need to know.

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How much does it cost to replace a clutch in a Mazda 3?

As you’d expect in a vehicle that has been around for two decades in various forms, the costs for a Mazda 3 replacement clutch can vary widely based on the age of your car, the average labor costs where you live, and the specifics of the shop you take it to.

However, as a standard guide price, you can expect it to cost between around $1,000 and $1,200 to replace a clutch in a Mazda 3, though we’ve seen quotes of as much as $1,600.

Most of these costs relate to the labor required to replace the clutch, as the actual parts are fairly cheap. A clutch repair kit for a Mazda 3 can be bought online from about $200 to $400 and you can find

Mazda 3 clutch kits

manufactured by LuK® from CARiD.

As is usually the case, labor costs will be highest if you take your vehicle to a Mazda dealership to get the clutch replaced but you’ll be paying for the reassurance of getting the job done by certified Mazda technicians.

You can save some money however by

taking your car to an independent auto repair shop

, especially if you shop around, but be sure to find one that specializes in clutch and transmission issues.

What is a clutch?

We’ve talked about the clutch and how much it can cost to get it replaced, but do you even know what it is or what it does? If you drive a stick you’ll have a better idea of what it’s for—and are more likely to encounter problems with it.

It’s an essential part of any car, whether it’s got a manual or automatic transmission, because it connects it to the engine and transfers the power to the gearbox, disengaging when you change gears.

The flywheel is what connects to the engine, while the clutch plate connects to the transmission, and it’s the friction between them that makes everything work—or not when things start to go wrong.

When you’re driving a manual car and don’t have your foot on the pedal, the clutch plate and the flywheel are pushing together so that they spin at the same speed. Pushing down on that pedal pushes them part, disengaging the engine from the transmission for as long as you need to safely change gears. Get it wrong and you’ll hear that awful grinding sound.

It’s moments like those that can cause wear and tear on the clutch, along with regular usage, and when the friction material on the clutch plate starts to break down, you can start to have issues with slippage and clutch failure.

Other clutch problems you might counter include:

Worn clutch release bearings

A leak or defect in the

master or slave cylinders

A broken or stretched

clutch cable

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What are the symptoms of a Mazda 3 clutch problem?

It’s fairly easy to know when your clutch needs replacing. Most likely it will slip, stick or just be difficult to change gears in general. Any of these are serious enough to need to be addressed quickly as they can make changing gears potentially dangerous, especially at high speeds.

Even if the only thing you notice is that you need to push down harder on the pedal to change gears, it’s still a sign that your clutch is starting to have issues. At the other end of the scale, it could stick and simply not come back up again after you’ve pushed it down. If this happens, you need to pull over immediately and call for help.

You might also notice burning smells in your car coming from your transmission or unusual noises when changing gears. If you do, it’s still best to get it checked out at an auto repair shop or your dealership straight away.

Is it safe to drive with a bad clutch?

You need your clutch to be able to change gears. So, no, driving with a bad clutch is not safe. If your clutch completely fails you won’t be able to drive at all. Even if it’s only just starting to fail, you have no way of knowing how long you’ve got before that happens.

Losing your ability to use the clutch while blasting along on the highway is a very dangerous situation to be in, so don’t take any risks with it.

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How long should a Mazda 3 clutch last?

Generally, a clutch on a Mazda 3 should last around 100,000 miles, but this is determined by your driving habits and your clutch could go on beyond that or start to fail earlier. This is why it’s important to be aware of the signs mentioned above and to respond quickly to any likelihood of clutch failure.

Mazda 3 clutch recalls

In 2016, owners of Mazda 3 models between 2010-2015 put forwards a class-action lawsuit because of clutch failures allegedly caused by defective clutch forks, bearings, and pins. These issues were causing drivers to need to replace their clutches multiple times in the space of a few years, starting as early as 37,000 miles.

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