NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Mazda Mazda3. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
CAR WAS IN PARK AND WOULD NOT START. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME TOO. THAT TIME I REPOSITIONED THE CAR TO PARK(TOOK IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN PARK) AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. UPON TALKING TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" THAT IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THIS PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 2 YRS AGO FROM A DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST, ARMS, FACE, AND EYES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES AT ALL WHEELS. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF BRAKE ISSUES BEFORE TOTAL LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL USING MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET MASTER CYLINDER - EXTREMELY POOR BRAKE FUNCTION AT PRESENT, BUT VEHICLE STILL IN USE WITH DIFFICULTY. *TR
DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION, THE VEHICLE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER PLUNGER CONNECTING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND DISCONNECTED THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER THEREBY RENDERING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE DRIVE GEARS AND INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH THEREFORE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL ONCE I SAFELY BRAKED TO A STOP. IN MY SITUATION I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I WERE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INDEPENDENTLY INTO THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
THIS IS WHAT I WROTE TO MAZDA REGARDING MY AIRBAGS: THE REASON I'M CONTACTING YOU IS BECAUSE I RECENTLY HEARD IN THE NEWS THAT YOU WERE RECALLING MANY CARS FOR FAULTY AIRBAGS FOR WARM WEATHER CLIMATES IN FLORIDA AND PUERTO RICO. I TRIED LOOKING AT THE RECALL INFORMATION ON YOUR WEBSITE BUT IT DOES NOT WORK. THAT WEBPAGE IS BLANK WHEN YOU HIT THE LINK. THE REASON I'M WRITING IS TO SEE IF MY CAR IS PART OF THE RECALL AS WELL. TWO WEEKS AGO MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. I LIVE IN FLORIDA AS WELL. MY CAR IS ONLY FROM 2006 AND ONLY 8 YEARS OLD. I DON'T BELIEVE MY CARS AIRBAG SHOULD BE FAULTY AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY AT THE PRESENT AGE OF MY CAR. CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE AND LET ME KNOW ABOUT THIS? I'M REALLY CONCERN ABOUT MY AIRBAGS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MY CAR, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I'LL SEND IT RIGHT AWAY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THIS IS THE RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM MAZDA: THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONTACT MAZDA. DUE TO A PROACTIVE, PREVENTATIVE INVESTIGATION BY MAZDA AND NHTSA, MAZDA WILL CONDUCT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM (SSP96) TO REPLACE CERTAIN AIR BAG INFLATORS ON SOME VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR REGISTERED IN FLORIDA, HAWAII, AND PUERTO RICO. THE DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SSP IS TO COLLECT THE AIR BAG INFLATORS IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND THE LIMITED AFFECTED AREAS FOR THIS PROGRAM WERE DEFINED BY NHTSA BASED ON THEIR INVESTIGATION THUS FAR. YOU WILL RECEIVE NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO PROCEED SHOULD MAZDA DETERMINE THAT YOUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED BY THIS CONCERN. SHOULD YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR FEEDBACK, PLEASE CONTACT ME AT THE NUMBER BELOW AND REFERENCE YOUR SERVICE REQUEST NUMBER. [XXX] REPRESENTATIVE, CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
2006 MAZDA 3. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, IT WOULD STAY IN THE DOWN POSITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE, AFTER HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE PEDAL. THE ENGINE REVVED TO 7000 RPM, WITHOUT ANY INPUT FROM THE CONSUMER. HE WAS ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE NEXT DAY, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE ELECTRONIC GAS PEDAL HAD MALFUNCTIONED.*JB
THE BACK REAR WHEEL WELLS COLLECT SO MUCH DIRT AND SALT IT ENDS UP RUSTING IT OUT! THERE NEEDS TO BE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE WHEEL WELLS OR BETTER DRAIN HOLES! I WASH MY CAR EVERY WEEK IN THE WINTER AND IT IS STILL HARD TO PREVENT IT! THE REAR STRUT MOUNT TAKES A TOLL ON THE ABUSE FROM ALL THE SALT AND DIRT THAT COLLECTS NEAR THE TOP WHERE IT IS SCREWED IN! HAD MY STRUT BREAK TWICE IN ONE MONTH! THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER DRAIN HOLES FOR THE DOORS TOO! *TR
OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING LASTS FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES, AND TYPICALLY RESOLVES WHEN BRAKING AND/OR TURNING AND SPEED IS REDUCED TO BELOW 20 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS, RANGING FROM 25 TO 70 MPH, AND HAS LED TO A JERKING OF THE WHEEL AND A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY. ON AVERAGE IT OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE PER DAY, SO ROUGHLY EVERY 20-30 MILES ON AVERAGE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR 2006 MAZDA3'S, AND A RECALL FOR THE 2007-2009 MODELS. THEREFORE I AM HOPEFUL THAT 2006 MAZDA3S WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL TO AVOID POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, AND PURCHASED IT WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. *TR
WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE ENGINE THAT SMELLED LIKE RUBBER. THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ALSO MAKING A LOUD NOISE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT EVERYTHING OFF. CALLED THE DEALER WHO WALKED ME THROUGH AND WE VERIFIED IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER CLUTCH THAT BROKE OFF. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH OR ANYTHING. AC IS NOW UNUSABLE UNTIL ITS FIXED. GLAD IT DIDN'T CATCH ON FIRE, WE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT HAPPENED. NOW I HAVE TO GET IT FIXED, $1200+. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE POWER STEERING MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ACCIDENT.
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON , THE DASHBOARD, MAKING ONE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS IN FLORIDA CARS...IT NOW SEEMS TO BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. *TR
POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT - POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SINCE WE WERE ON A FREEWAY, IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD. STEERING WAS AVAILABLE, BUT VERY STIFF. WE TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND GOT POWER STEERING BACK/WARNING LIGHT OFF. SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL "FAIL" (GET STIFF) AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF WE WERE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD ON A STEEP CURVE? WE DO NOT FIND MAZDA'S LITTLE FILM ON WHAT TO DO IF THIS PROBLEM TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM!! I AM TOLD THE REPAIR WOULD LIKELY RUN $1,400 TO FIX, WOW! NOT SURE I WILL BUY ANOTHER MAZDA, IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR
THE DASH IS STARTING TO CRACK NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE. ITS JUST GETTING LARGER OVER TIME. I'M AFRAID IT COULD POSE A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. MAZDA DEALER TOLD ME ITS A COMMON ISSUE ON MY YEAR, EVEN THE YEAR AFTER TOO. SEEMS PEOPLE ONLINE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME TOO. WHY WONT MAZDA RECALL? NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I'VE HAD. *TR
THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME I AM HAVING A PROBLEM. IT STARTED BY THE CAR NOT STARTING, THEN IT WOULD START AND BE FINE FOR A COUPLE MONTHS. BATTERY WAS NOT LOW, FLUIDS WERE PERFECT, EVERYTHING WAS TESTED AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND. BUT THERE OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM. NOW, THE CAR STARTS BUT I CAN'T GET IT OUT OF PARK AND THE LETTERS DON'T LIGHT UP WHEN I SHIFT GEARS. IT'S A SECURITY PROBLEM I BELIEVE BUT THERE ARE NOT MANY MILES ON THE CAR AND THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR SO LONG. IT'S RIDICULOUS. *TR
DUNLOP SP SPORT SIGNATURE SIDEWALL SEPARATION. RISK OF SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY AND/OR VEHICLE DAMAGE COULD RESULT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR THIS MODEL OF TIRE ON WEB SITES SUCH AS: HTTP://WWW.VEHICLETIRE.COM/COMPLAINT/DUNLOP/SP+SPORT+SIGNATURE. *TR
DRIVING AT 35 MPH BRAKES GAVE OUT. BRAKES NEEDED TO BE PUMPED JUST TO STOP AND HAD 8 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID BRAKE BOOSTER WAS BAD AND WOULD COST $625 TO FIX. FOUND ON-LINE ON FORUMS THAT MAZDA BRAKE BOOSTERS GO OUT AT ABOUT 50K MILES. VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVER AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. HAVE OWNED 6 VEHICLES OF DIFFERENT MAKES AND NEVER HAD ANYTHING FAIL ON SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART FOR DRIVER SAFETY. *TR
MAZDA CONTINUES TO IGNORE MY COMPLAINT AND ADMITS MY CAR IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THEY WILL NOT REPLACE MY MAT AFTER THE BRACKET BROKE OFF DUE TO A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY FIXED THE BRACKET BUT DID NOT FIX THE MAT. EVER SINCE THEN, IT GETS CRUMPLED AND STICKS TO THE BREAK AND PEDAL. ITS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. LAST NIGHT I WAS WITH MY WIFE AT A DRIVE THROUGH. ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE CAR ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED THE PARKING BRAKE, THREW IT IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. I THEN TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT HAPPENED IS THE MAT GOT STUCK AND WHEN MY WIFE PUSHED THE BRAKE, SHE TAPPED THE GAS. I HAVE TOLD MAZDA ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, THEY DENIED MY REQUEST TO FIX THE ISSUE, NOW THEY JUST IGNORE ME. NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS IT COULD HAVE A WORSE ENDING. JUST BECAUSE THEY RATHER SAVE MONEY THEN FIX THE ISSUE FOR A LOYAL CUSTOMER. THEY ATTEMPTED TO FIX THE ISSUE PREVIOUSLY BUT FAILED. NOW THEY WONT EVEN RETURN MY CALLS AND IGNORE ME. THE DEALER EVEN TRIED BUT WAS DENIED THE WARRANTY. THE FACT REMAINS, MAZDA ADMITS MY CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND TOLD ME THEY WONT FIX IT, FOR AN ISSUE THAT HAPPENED UNDER WARRANTY AND NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. THEY ATTEMPTED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE BUT FAILED, IN FACT, I COULD ARGUE IT MADE THE ISSUE WORSE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE DEALER TRIED TO FIX THE MAT THEY BENT IT EVEN MORE, AND NOW JUST IGNORE ME WHEN I ASK THEM TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AGAIN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AS THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FLAMES ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AREA. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.
BOUGHT THE VIVIA AUTHORITY TIRES BACK IN 2010 MADE IT A OUT 40,000 MILES BEFORE THE PASSENGER SIDE WALL BLEW OUT AND THE OTHER THREE TIRES WERE DRY ROTTING SEVERELY. THESE TIRES TRULY NEED TO BE RECALLED. *JS
A MAJOR CRACK IN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I WOULD ASSUME IS DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER AND THE QUICK TEMPERATURE CHANGES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO. DUE TO THE CRACK, A SLIGHT SINKING OF THE ACTUAL DASH HAS STARTED TO OCCUR, MEANING , YOU COULD TELL THAT SOMETHING HAS CRACKED AND THE SIDES ARE SLIDING DOWN. I HAVE GONE ON MANY THREADS ON FORUMS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT THAT ISSUE. 5 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE 2ND GENERATION AS WELL. LAST THING THAT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THAT "CRACKAGE" ARE THE RETAINING CLIPS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THE WHOLE DASHBOARD MORE TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MAKES A VIBRATING, MORE LIKE A DANGLING NOISE AS OF SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR IN THE WORST CASE BROKEN. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LIGHT, AND ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TRANSMISSION MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO CONFIRMED THE FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
I HIT A BUMP GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND AFTER I HIT THE BUMP I KEPT HEARING A CLUNK NOISE WHEN I WOULD RUN OVER A UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD! I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT OR MY SEAT BELT IN THE BACK! COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS MY REAR STRUT MOUNT THAT HAD BROKEN! ALL THAT DIRT AND SALT COLLECTS UP THERE! *TR
I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 3I TOURING SEDAN . I WAS DRIVING TO PICK UP A CAKE FOR MY ANNIVERSARY WHEN I PARKED THE CAR GOT OUT GOT THE CAKE AND LEFT THE PARKING SPOT JUST A FEW FEET DOWN THE ROAD I HEARD SOME NOISE THOUGHT IT WAS MY ENGINE UNDER BODY PLASTIC THAT PROTECTS THE UNDER PART OF MY ENGINE. WELL WENT HOME TOOK IT OFF DRIVEN IT AROUND STILL THE SAME NOISE GRINDING THE DEALER SAID TRANSMISSION AND 3OTHERS SAID POWERTRAIN PROBLEMS I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW IF IT HAS A RECALL ON THE POWERTRAIN/ CARRIER AND PINION BECAUSE I WOULD LOVE TO DRIVE MY CAR. *TR
ENGINE MOUNT NO 3 (LOCATED ON FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE, UNDER THE WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR) FAILED. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS VERY FREQUENT WITH THIS MODEL. THE FAILURE JEOPARDIZES THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF THE ENGINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING AREA AND AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING AND BRAKES RESPONDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE OFF AND ON SINCE OCT 2012. NOW IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME. *TR
RUBBING SOUND COMING FROM FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WHEN TURNING HARD RIGHT, AS WELL AS WHEEL HOP. DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT WHICH LED TO A BROKEN STRUT. BOTH HAD TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA REFUSES TO FIX, DESPITE NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BAD ENGINE MOUNTS. *TR
I WAS PARALLEL PARKING AND MY WHEEL STIFFENED UP. I TURNED OFF MY ENGINE AND TURNED IT BACK ON. I THEN HAD TO POWER MY WHEEL FROM THAT POINT FORWARD. I TRIED PUTTING POWER STEERING FLUID IN AND THAT DID NOT WORK. I WENT TO A MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT I NEED A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP. THIS ISSUE IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL THAT WAS PUT ON MAZDA 3'S FOR 2007-2009 MODELS. *TR
WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON 101N, I SAW THE POWER STEERING LIGHT ILLUMINATING. STEERING WHEEL FELT STIFF AND I HAVE TO FIGHT IT TO KEEP THE CAR IN CONTROL WHILE I WAS MAKING A TURN AT 45MI/HR. I HAVE EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE OVER 20 TIME NOW. ON 12/7/12 THIS ISSUE OCCURRED SO MANY TIMES THAT I HAD TO PARK MY CAR AT A RANDOM SHOPPING CENTER AND HAVE A FRIEND PICK ME UP. UNFORTUNATELY WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT ITS NOT A SIMILAR ISSUE AS THE 07-9 MODEL, SO THEY HAVE TO CHARGE ME A $150 DIAGNOSTICS FEE. I AM CURRENTLY AT 94,385 MILES AND MY EXTENDED COVERAGE ALSO EXPIRED. BASED ON MY RESEARCH IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO 1700-2000. I'M NOT SURE IF MAZDA GOING TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT ID LIKE MY VOICE TO BE HEARD. *TR
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING IN MY 2006 MAZDA 3S WILL FAIL. SOMETIMES IF I TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN BACK ON, THE POWER STEERING WILL WORK AGAIN. MOST TIMES I HAVE TO FIGHT IT WITH NO POWER STEERING. MY RESEARCH ONLINE INDICATES THAT I AM HARDLY THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. ON A MAZDA 3 FORUM FROM TORONTO THEY STATE THAT THE SUPPOSED PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE BRAKE LINES HAS FLAKED AWAY AND CLOGS THE POWER STEERING PUMP WHICH THEN BEGINS TO OVERHEAT AND HENCE IT SHUTS DOWN. MAZDA HAS OWNED UP TO THE 2007-2009 MODELS HAVING THIS PROBLEM BUT, ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL MAZDA STEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THE 2006 MODEL HAVING THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. I THOUGHT MAZDA STOOD FOR QUALITY, APPARENTLY NOT. AT THIS TIME I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MAZDA PRODUCT BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE IGNORING THIS ISSUE. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ONE AND STAYS ON. I CALLED MAZDA AND HAVE AN INCIDENT REPORT. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND PER MAZDA, UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS, THEY WILL NOT RECALL, HENCE WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. *TR
FIVE TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH I HAVE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS. THE POWER STEERING MOMENTARILY SHUTS OFF, AND THE RADIO/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTS OFF MOMENTARILY AS WELL. ON ONE OCCASION THE ENGINE ALSO SHUT OFF MOMENTARILY (FOR ABOUT ONE FULL SECOND). WHEN THIS HAPPENS, I FEEL A COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. TWO DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGING ME BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NOT A RECALL, AND THE CAR IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THERE IS A RECALL FOR A VERY SIMILAR ISSUE WITH THE 2007 MODEL OF MAZDA 3S, BUT THE 2006 MODELS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THAT RECALL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN THE RADIO BEGAN POWERING ON AND OFF INDEPENDENTLY AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE CORRECTED ITSELF SHORTLY AFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,853 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
REAR BRAKE CALIPER SEIZED AND HEATED OVERHEATED. THE BRAKE PADS STARTED TO SMOKE AS WELL. *TR
WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 MAZDA 3 AT ABOUT 70 MPH, I NOTICED MY RADIO TURNING ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES. NEXT MY "CHECK ENGINE, "BATTERY" AND "POWER STEERING" LIGHTS CAME ON. I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL GET STIFF, WHEN I TRIED TO SWITCH LANES, IT BECAME APPARENT I HAD LOST THE POWER STEERING. I BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN AND STARTED TO MERGE OVER TO THE RIGHT TO EXIT ON THE NEXT AVAILABLE EXIT. I WAS NEARLY STRUCK BY AN BIG RIG AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO STEER CLEAR OF ITS PATH FAST ENOUGH. AS I BEGAN TO EXIT, THE STEERING WHEEL FELT EXTREMELY STIFF. I PULLED IN TO A CORPORATE PARK COMPLEX, WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL ON, I POPPED THE HOOD AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY FLUID LEVELS BEING LOW. I DROVE THE CAR A COUPLE OF BLOCKS AND PULLED IN TO A GAS STATION WITH BETTER LIGHTING. I ONCE AGAIN POPPED THE HOOD, BUT TURNED THE CAR OFF....ONCE AGAIN...NO LOW FLUIDS. I PROCEEDED TO BACK INSIDE THE CAR, I TURNED THE IGNITION AND DISCOVERED NONE OF THE "INDICATOR LIGHTS" BEING TURNED ON. I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT...NO LONGER STIFF. I DROVE THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT. *TR
TWO LOSS OF POWER STEERING INCIDENTS IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2011. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN MY PARKING GARAGE AT SCHOOL AFTER I HAD TURNED LEFT INTO THE GARAGE. COULD NOT TURN THE WHEEL AT ALL, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS AN EMPTY SPACE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. CAR SAT FOR A FEW HOURS AND THEN DROVE FINE. A WEEK LATER DRIVING THRU AN ALLEY AT ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH LOST STEERING AGAIN, THIS TIME HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THEY CANNOT FIND A THING WRONG CALLING IT A VERY "UNIQUE AND STRANGE" ISSUE. STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND WE FOUND THE RECALL ON THE 2007+ MAZDA 3. CALLED MAZDA TODAY, WHILE THEY CREATED A FILE # FOR MY COMPLAINT THEY BASICALLY SAID THAT THERE WERE NO "REPORTED INCIDENTS" ON THIS VEHICLE YEAR , CLAIMING NOT TO KNOW OF THE 2006 HAVING ANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO THE 2007+ RECALLED MODELS AND IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE. HOW MANY OWNERS MUST RISK DRIVING UNDER THESE CONDITIONS BEFORE MAZDA MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?! *TR
WHILE CRUISING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70MPH, CAR DOWNSHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT AND SLOW DOWN. AT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON. THE CAR IS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE TRANSMISSION CORRECTLY CAUSING IT TO DOWNSHIFT INTO 3RD RANDOMLY AND ALSO IDLE IN 3RD. THE ENTIRE SHIFTING IS RANDOM AND DANGEROUS, SOMETIMES WORKING AND SOMETIME THROWING YOUR RPMS UP TO 6000. WHILE DRIVING IT CAUSES MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES WHEN IT RANDOMLY CHANGED GEARS WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN PLUGGED IN I GET ERROR CODE U0101. THE COMPUTER IS FAILING AND WITH RECENT GOOGLE SEARCHES I REALIZE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT MAZDA WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ME PERSONALLY. *TR
I HAVE A 2006 MAZDA 3 WITH APPROXIMATELY 53,000 MILES. WHILE I AM DRIVING ON THE ROAD, THE RADIO WILL SUDDENLY TURN OFF, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES UP ON THE DASH, AND THEN THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY FAILS. SOMETIMES, THE POWER STEERING LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THEN DOESN'T SHUT OFF. IT WASN'T TOO FREQUENT AT FIRST, BUT ON SOME DAYS, IT WILL HAPPEN EVERYTIME I DRIVE SOMEWHERE. IT USUALLY OCCURS EARLY IN THE DRIVE. ONCE I TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART, IT USUALLY RESETS AND MY CAR IS FINE. I HAVE SEEN THE RECALLS FOR THE 2007 MAZDA 3 MODELS, BUT I THINK MY CAR SHOULD ALSO BELONG IN THIS TOO. PLEASE HELP. THE MECHANICS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DETECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT TURN THERE IS A TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSING THE CAR TO ALMOST VEER INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE STEERING EFFORD INCREASES SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTICED NO FAULT LIGHTS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANNEL WHEN THIS OCCURS. THE STEERING LOSS APPEARS TO OCCUR AT RANDOM AND SPORATICALLY. *TT
I FIRST NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH WAS NOT COMING BACK ALL THE WAY AFTER CHANGING GEARS. I WAS ABLE TO USE THE TOP OF MY FOOT TO LIFT THE CLUTCH UP WITHOUT DIFFICULTY AND IT WOULD POP BACK UP. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHICH, I WAS CURRENTLY ABOUT 2 MILES FROM. I EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY SAID TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN THE MORNING. I DROVE HOME ABOUT 3 MILES. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT. NO ONE RETURNED MY PHONE CALL, SO I STARTED TO DRIVE MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT BECAME MORE DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO GEAR, THAN I BROKE DOWN COMPLETELY AFTER ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 3 MILES AND ONLY ABOUT 3 TRAFFIC LIGHTS. AFTER THAT, I COULD PUT THE STICK SHIFT INTO GEAR BUT WHEN I LIFTED THE CLUTCH UP IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I BOUGHT MY CAR BRAND NEW AT MAZDA AND HAD ALL MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTIONS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP ASIDE FROM REGULAR OIL CHANGES WHICH, I GOT DONE AT A LOCAL SHOP. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN A STICK SHIFT AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCHES. I WAS ALSO THE SOLE DRIVER OF MY CAR. WHEN I GOT HOME I DID A LITTLE RESEARCH AND SOMEONE RECOMMENDED FILLING OUT A COMPLAINT AT THIS WEBSITE. IF I HAD NOT STUMBLED ACROSS THAT I WOULD BE NONE THE WISER. WHILE LOOKING OVER THE SITE, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RECENT INVESTIGATION OF MAZDA RX8. IT STATED THAT AFTER THE INVESTIGATION, MAZDA HAS INFORMED ODI THAT IT CONDUCTED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE PROGRAM INCREASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS AND LIMITED AT 100K MILES FOR MODEL YEARS 2004 THROUGH 2009 RX8 VEHICLES. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN A CLUTCH HAVE A LIFETIME OF 100,000 MILES IN AN RX8 WHICH IS A SPORTIER CAR AND PROBABLY RECEIVES MORE ABUSE THAN OTHER MODELS AND ONLY GOOD FOR 12,000 IN A 2006 MAZDA 3/HATCHBACK? COULD YOU LOOK INTO ALL MODELS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
THIS VEHICLE'S VIN CANNOT BE LOCATED IN ANY SYSTEM WHATSOEVER. NOT EVEN IN THE MAZDA DATA BASE. I NEED TO ATTEND IT'S RECALLS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE REAR TRAILING ARMS WERE DRY AND MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE THE BUSHING ON THE REAR SUSPENSION CAUSED THE TIRES TO DETERIORATE ON THE INSIDE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR LOWER TRAILING LINKS AND ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
FIRST INCIDENT WAS ABOUT 1 MONTH AGO, WHILE TURNING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED THE RADIO WENT OUT, THE POWER STEERING WENT OUT, AND THE STEERING LIGHT ON THE PANEL LIT UP. EVERYTHING CAME BACK WITHIN ABOUT 5 SECONDS. THIS STARTED HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY, AND YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED NINE TIMES IN THE SPAN OF A 13 MILE DRIVE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I FIND IT STRANGELY COINCIDENTAL THAT THE 2007-2009 MAKES OF THIS VEHICLE WERE ALL RECALLED FOR THIS VERY SAME REASON.
MY 2006 MAZDA 3I SEEMS TO HAVE AN ISSUE WHEN STOPPING THE FIRST TIME AFTER THE CAR HAS SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR 1 DAY OR MORE. WHEN IT SNOWS OR RAINS OUT AND I DRIVE MY CAR AFTER SITTING IN THESE CONDITIONS, APPROACHING MY FIRST INTERSECTION WHICH IS ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE, I HAVE NO BREAKING ACTION. THERE SEEMS TO BE PRESSURE BECAUSE THE BREAK PEDAL DOES NOT GO TO THE FLOOR, HOWEVER THEY DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AND I HAVE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BREAK TO STOP. USUALLY ITS TOO LATE AND I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION OR EVEN THROUGH IT. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS INFREQUENTLY AND IT IS HARD TO REMEMBER THAT "IF MY CAR SAT FOR 1 OR MORE DAYS AND IF IT RAINED OR IF IT SNOWED, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. I HAVE FOUND NOTHING ONLINE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WANTED OTHERS TO KNOW IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. *LN
WHEN IT GETS COLD OUTSIDE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL STOP RANDOMLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD. I WAS TOLD FROM THE DEALER THE WIPER MOTOR NEEDED REPLACED. I REPLACED THE MOTOR AND THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED TEMPORARILY, THE PROBLEM IS NOW OCCURRING AGAIN AFTER ONLY 4 MONTHS AFTER BEING REPLACED. FROM READING ELSEWHERE THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ALL MAZDA 3'S. I FIND IT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH IT LIKE THIS AS IT IMPAIRS YOUR VISION GREATLY. *TR
STARTER ON MY 2006 MAZDA 3 WILL NOT CRANK OR START INTERMITTENTLY. THIS HAS HAPPEN FIVE OR SIX TIMES OVER THE 4 AND HALF YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD IT. STARTED ONLY AFTER BEING JUMP STARTED. TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP WHILE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. HAVE SEEN TWO BULLETINS THAT WERE ISSUED BUT THE PROBLEM STILL SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING AFTER OTHER OWNERS HAVE BEEN FIXED. LUCKILY I HAVE BEEN NEAR HOME WHEN IT HAS OCCURRED BECAUSE THERE IS NO WARNING. IT HAPPEN AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MILES AND PARK FOR TEN MINUTES. *TR
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS CAR HAS REFUSED TO START. THE "FIX" WAS DONE BY MAZDA OVER THE PAST SUMMER DUE TO A CORROSION PROBLEM WITH THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE STARTER. THIS TIME IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MY CONCERN IS MYSELF OR ANYONE ELSE GETTING STUCK IN FREEZING WEATHER, ICY CONDITIONS, OR A BAD PART OF TOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. MAZDA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND OUTLINES IT IN A SERVICE BULLETIN 01-037/08. SHOULD WOMEN OR CHILDREN, OR ANYONE ELSE BE STRANDED AND HARMED IN ANY WAY BY THIS KNOWN DEFECT, I HOPE MAZDA IS LIABLE FOR NOT ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
I HAD GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED NEW TIRES SHORTLY ANYWAYS SO I HAD THEM PUT ON A USED TIRE TO GET ME THROUGH TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DURING THE TWO WEEKS I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE- THERE WAS- A BUSTED STRUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE THAT I GOT A FLAT). I WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM A VACATION (CAR WASN'T DRIVEN) AND GOT THAT FIXED BUT EVERYONE WAS SURPRISED WITH THE STRUT BEING OUT. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AS WERE BOTH FRONT STRUTS. CAR WAS GREAT FOR ~2 WKS. THEN IT WAS LOUD AND TERRIBLE VIBRATIONS. AFTER ARGUING AND COMPLAINING A MONTH LATER THEY REPLACED TIRES FOR ME BECAUSE TWO WEREN'T EVEN KEEPING TIRE PRESSURE AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I WAS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I REALLY CAN'T STAND THE JERKS!-THEY'RE AWFUL!) AND THEY SAID I HAD A BUSTED MOTOR MOUNT BUT REFUSED TO SHOW ME. I HAD MY MAIN DEALER CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THEN A FAMILY FRIEND, BUT AGAIN NOTHING. FF TO DECEMBER AND I GIVE IN AND GO BACK TO MAZDA- MOTOR MOUNT WOULD BE IN MULTIPLE PIECES IF IT WASN'T IN A CAPSULE LIKE DEVICE. IN JANUARY THEY GOT MY PART IN AND REPLACED IT- ALSO KNOCKING OUT A STOPPER- AND VIBRATIONS STOPPED. MOUNT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OUT SO FAST- AT INITIAL DX I THINK CAR WAS AT 45K-50K MILES (LATE SUMMER OF '10) I THINK THERE'S A DEFECT WITH MOUNTS (MINE WAS PASSENGER SIDE OVER TIRE AREA) AND ALSO WITH STRUTS. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME- MAZDA, MY DEALER (ZIMBRICK-WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!), AND A FEW OTHER SERVICE CENTERS THAT THE STRUTS SHOULD'VE LASTED A LOT LONGER. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026