Creaking from shifter area
 

Accelerating from a standstill or accelerating hard from a coast seems to cause a creaking noise around or under the shifter console cover. The noise sounds like a fitment issue (sounds like plastic creaking) but I'm not sure.

I recently had my shifter console cover, ash tray assembly, L and R engine mount, and my neutral position switch replaced by Mazda. Could any of these processes have caused this issue?

FS

Yes...
When I installed my shift boot I left some excess leather on the bottom which interfered with the clips that hold down the cover. The result was creaking and clunking. When I pulled off the cover it was obvious where the binding was happening. A quick trim of the excess leather and everything was good.

Pull the cover and look for something pinched.