Mazda · Mazda3 · 2005
3
Recalls
103
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 has 3 recalls and 103 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: air bags (16 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is air bags with 16 reported complaints.
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2004-2007 Mazda3 vehicles. During air bag deployment, the plastic emblem on the steering wheel air bag module cover may shatter, and project plastic fragments into the vehicle.
Remedy Status
Dealers will replace the air bag module cover, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed between August 28, 2021 and October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500 Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 4921G.
THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.
Remedy Status
THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.
ON TWO PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CRACK IN THE SOLDER CONNECTION ATTACHING THE ACCELERATION SENSOR IN THE SAS UNIT MADE CONTACT WITH THE BASE PLATE, DAMAGING THE SOLDER CONNECTION.
Remedy Status
DEALERS REPAIRED THESE VEHICLES. THE TWO VEHICLE OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004, AND THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.
The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, other individuals informed the contact that there was a strong fuel o...
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Randomly, the parking lights, tail lights, and climate control lighting will fail. This has happened to me multiple times over a number of years. Striking the right side of the center console will generally result in functionality being restored. Sometimes, simply turning the lig...
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The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall...
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The contact owns a 2005 Mazda Mazda3. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V494000 (Air Bags) however, the contact was unable to contact reach the manufacturer or the local dealer for the recall repair. The contact called the number to the local dealer an...
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ENGINE FAILED ENTIRELY DURING ROUTINE HIGHWAY DRIVING, VEHICLE LOST FORWARD PROPULSION, EVENTUALLY COMING TO COMPLETE STOP ON THE ROAD. THERE WERE ZERO WARNING OR ANY NOTICE AT ALL THAT THE ENGINE WAS DYING. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR OVER 1 HOUR, WHILE HELP ARR...
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY RATE OF SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS AND SOMETIMES SHUTS THE CAR DOWN. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ON THE DASH ILLUMINATED AND THEN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED ,MAKING IT ALMOST IM...
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SUDDENLY LOSS OF STEERING POWER WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY
VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNLESS KEY IS ON PUT INTO NEUTRAL THEN STARTS. SOMETIMES GREEN P LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP.
THE CAR SHIFTS COMPLETELY WRONG WHEN IT IS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. SOMETIMES ITS SHIFTS REALLY HARD GOING BETWEEN THE TWO GEARS ALSO. IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE THE GEARS ARE GOING TO SLIP. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD OUT. IT JUMPS TO 3RD GEAR AT 15-20 MPH SOMETIMES ALS...
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THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AS THE SAME ISSUE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON, HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED IN CERTAIN VIN#S AND APPARENTLY NEEDS EXPANDING. PLEASE REFERENCE MAZDA RECALL #2504K OR NHTSA RECALL # 04V559. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON FOR NO APPA...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 103 total
View Full Complaint LogThe strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2005 Mazda models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
The 2005 Mazda Mazda3 has 3 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 103 owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Mazda Mazda3.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2005 Mazda Mazda3.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2005 Mazda Mazda3 are air bags (16 reports), engine and engine cooling (15 reports), steering (12 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 3 recalls on record for the 2005 Mazda Mazda3. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.