AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 1,500 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY HARSHLY AND ABRUPTLY FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. EVENTUALLY, I COULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 30 MPH FOR FEAR OF SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR. DEALER WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS OUT OF SERVI…
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 1,500 MILES. TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY HARSHLY AND ABRUPTLY FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. EVENTUALLY, I COULD NOT DRIVE ABOVE 30 MPH FOR FEAR OF SHIFTING INTO 4TH GEAR. DEALER WAS INITIALLY UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. CAR WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR A WEEK. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10074489
1,800 miles · May 19, 2004
Power Train
VEHICLE OVERVIEW: MY 2004 MAZDA3 S SEDAN IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS AND HAS 16" INCH FACTORY WHEELS. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: AFTER APROXIMATELY 1800 MILES OF DRIVING (CITY/HIGHWAY), I BEGAN TO NOTICE SLIGHT DISCOLORED BANDS ON EACH OF THE BRAKE ROTOR DISCS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS. AFTER ANOT…
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VEHICLE OVERVIEW: MY 2004 MAZDA3 S SEDAN IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ABS AND HAS 16" INCH FACTORY WHEELS. THE CAR HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: AFTER APROXIMATELY 1800 MILES OF DRIVING (CITY/HIGHWAY), I BEGAN TO NOTICE SLIGHT DISCOLORED BANDS ON EACH OF THE BRAKE ROTOR DISCS AT ALL FOUR WHEELS. AFTER ANOTHER 600 MILES OF DRIVING, I BEGAN TO NOTICE GROOVING IN THE PLACES WITH THE DISCOLORED BANDS. AT THIS POINT, THE GROOVE COULD BE FELT BY A FINGERTIP. THE GROOVES ARE VISIBLE ON THE OUTWARD SIDE OF EACH ROTOR. I HAVE NOT INSPECTED THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF EACH ROTOR (THE SIDE THAT WOULD BE CLOSEST TO THE VECHICLE CHASSIS) TO VERIFY GROOVING ON EITHER SIDE. EFFORTS TO CORRECT: I HAVE REQUESTED THAT MY DEALERSHIP INSPECT THE BRAKES, AND THEY HAVE ALSO NOTED THE GROOVING. HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THAT THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS OTHER THAN RE-SURFACING EACH ROTOR. THIS WILL PREMATURELY WEAR MY BRAKING COMPONENTS, SO I DECLINED THIS OFFER. ALSO, SIMPLY RESURFACING THE BRAKE ROTORS DOES NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF WHAT IS CAUSING THE GROOVING IN THE FIRST PLACE. OUTCOME: BRAKING POWER AND STABILITY REMAIN UNAFFECTED IN SPITE OF THE GROOVES. HOWEVER, THE LONGEVITY OF THE BRAKES IS DIMINISHED. I AM UNCERTAIN WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE WITH CONTINUED GROOVING. THIS IS A FORESHADOWING TO PREMATURE BRAKE COMPONENT FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #10072892
250 miles · May 13, 2004
Power Train
I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP ON MAY 2, 2004 AND PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA 3. IT HAD 16 MILES ON IT. DROVE FINE FOR A WEEK! ON MAY 9TH, MY FAMILIY AND I WERE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WE SLOWLY MADE IT HOME IN 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED IT UP ON MONDAY MAY 10TH AND HAS SAID IT IS THE TRANSM…
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I WENT TO A DEALERSHIP ON MAY 2, 2004 AND PURCHASED A 2004 MAZDA 3. IT HAD 16 MILES ON IT. DROVE FINE FOR A WEEK! ON MAY 9TH, MY FAMILIY AND I WERE DRIVING AND THE CAR WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. WOULD NOT GO IN REVERSE. WE SLOWLY MADE IT HOME IN 1ST GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP PICKED IT UP ON MONDAY MAY 10TH AND HAS SAID IT IS THE TRANSMISSION. THE FULL TRANSMISSION IS BEING REPLACED AT 250 MILES. IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 4 DAYS NOW. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WILL BE REPAIRED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072576
533 miles · May 12, 2004
Power Train
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1, 2 AND 3 GEARS. THE OTHER GEARS SHIFTED SMOOTHLY WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION MADE NO ABNORMAL NOISES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT FEELS LIKE THE …
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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION BECAME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO SHIFT BETWEEN 1, 2 AND 3 GEARS. THE OTHER GEARS SHIFTED SMOOTHLY WITHOUT PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION MADE NO ABNORMAL NOISES. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY BECAME STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT WITH GREAT EFFORT. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS FILLED WITH CONCRETE. BEING UNABLE TO SHIFT CAUSES A PROBLEM IN OPERATING THE VEHICLE SAFELY. THE DEALER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND IS BALKING AT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 500 MILES ON IT.
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Plastic fragments can hit occupants during air bag deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A CRACK IN THE AIR BAG CRASH ZONE SENSOR HOUSING CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE SENSOR, CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT AND ILLUMINATING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS PROBLEM EXISTS, THE AIR WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED IN CERTAIN TYPES OF FRONTAL CRASHES, INCREASING THE RISK OF DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND FRONT SEAT PASSENGER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE CRASH ZONE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT, IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 28, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT MAZDA AT 1-800-222-5500.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
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No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2004 Mazda MAZDA3 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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