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2004 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Mazda MAZDA3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 108.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

111 reports with mileage · 34 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports2 fire reports11 injury reports

What owners actually said

145 reports
74,000 miles · May 20, 2015
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON AND STAY FOR FEW DAYS THEN GO OFF AND BACK AGAIN

NHTSA ODI #10717534

159,000 miles · Apr 7, 2015
Steering

I STARTED MY CAR AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 4/2/2015. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I'VE HAD A REPAIR SHOP TELL ME IT IS MY POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. THEY STATED THAT THEY CANNOT ORDER THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. I CALLE…

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I STARTED MY CAR AND MY POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON MY DASH WHEN I WAS LEAVING WORK ON 4/2/2015. I HAD NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. I'VE HAD A REPAIR SHOP TELL ME IT IS MY POWER STEERING PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. THEY STATED THAT THEY CANNOT ORDER THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP. I CALLED A NEARBY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID I HAVE TO GO THROUGH A ZIP DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT IS A VIN SPECIFIC PART. THEY QUOTED ME $900 FOR A POWER STEERING PUMP AND $315 TO INSTALL IT! I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND HAVE NOTICED THERE IS A RECALL ON THE SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE AS MINE. BUT AFTER CHECKING WITH YOUR WEBSITE, IT STATES THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXCLUDED FROM THIS RECALL BUT IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES AS STATED IN THE RECALL INFORMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10704300

127,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V468000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V468000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.

NHTSA ODI #10678387

120,000 miles · Sep 18, 2014
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I HAD MY MECHANIC WORKING ON REPLACING A BURNT OUT LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. HE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN, TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK OFF AND ON AGAIN, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN. HE IDENTIFIED THE FUSE BO…

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I HAD MY MECHANIC WORKING ON REPLACING A BURNT OUT LICENSE PLATE LIGHT WHEN HE DISCOVERED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. HE TURNED THE LIGHTS OFF AND BACK ON, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS STARTED WORKING AGAIN, TURNED THE LIGHTS BACK OFF AND ON AGAIN, AND THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE BACK TO NOT WORKING AGAIN. HE IDENTIFIED THE FUSE BOX TO BE THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, AS WHEN THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE OUT, HE WOULD HIT THE FUSE BOX WHICH WOULD THEN CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO COME BACK ON, AND HE DEMONSTRATED THIS FOR ME. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN TO ME AND AFTER ONLY A FEW MINUTES OF INTERNET RESEARCH I FOUND OTHERS WERE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THAT I'VE NOT BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. I'VE CALLED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF A KNOWN ISSUE AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE PART, BUT I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT THIS PART HAS BEEN REISSUED 6 TIMES. THIS MAKES ME THINK IT HAS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE, OTHERWISE WHY KEEP MODIFYING THE PART? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10637210

125,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Exterior LightingSteering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWAR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME INOPERABLE. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

NHTSA ODI #10630779

200,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Air BagsCrash

MY 2 BOYS AND A FRIEND WERE IN THE CAR AND HAD RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK HARD ENOUGH TO MOVE THE MOTOR BACK, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK GOD THEY HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON. WHY DO I PAY MONEY FOR SAFETY FEATURES IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK? I AM REALLY UPSET AND DISAPPOIN…

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MY 2 BOYS AND A FRIEND WERE IN THE CAR AND HAD RAN INTO THE BACK OF A TRUCK HARD ENOUGH TO MOVE THE MOTOR BACK, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT GO OFF, MY CHILDREN COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK GOD THEY HAD THEIR SEAT BELTS ON. WHY DO I PAY MONEY FOR SAFETY FEATURES IF THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK? I AM REALLY UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED AND WILL MAKE SURE ALL OF MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY KNOW THAT OUR CAR WAS DEFECTIVE. I WILL LOOK INTO AN ATTORNEY TO MAKE SURE YOU FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627955

80,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Air BagsSteeringCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, A TREE, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB, A TREE, AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V468000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 10/8/14*CN UPDATED 3/25/2015 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10615266

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2014
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT CASING HAS ALWAYS ALLOWED MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP INSIDE OF THEM SINCE THE FIRST YEAR WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2004. WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD BY MAZDA BAKERSFIELD THAI WAS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS OVER THE YEARS. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD …

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HEADLIGHT CASING HAS ALWAYS ALLOWED MOISTURE AND CONDENSATION TO BUILD UP INSIDE OF THEM SINCE THE FIRST YEAR WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2004. WE WERE ALWAYS TOLD BY MAZDA BAKERSFIELD THAI WAS A KNOWN DEFECT BUT NOT ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT BULBS OVER THE YEARS. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD LAST SEVERAL MONTHS BUT ALWAYS THEY WOULD BURN OUT. IT WAS NOT UNTIL THE HEADLAMPS IN OUR NEW 2010 MAZDA 3 STARTED BUILDING CONDENSATION INSIDE DURING THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE AGAIN QUESTIONED THIS ISSUE. AGAIN WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A KNOWN DEFECT AND NOT A PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER OF 2013 BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON OUR 2010 FAILED. ONLY THEN WE GIVEN THE TRUE INFORMATION THAT THE MOISTURE THEY ALLOWED TO STAY INSIDE THE HEADLAMP AREA IS WHAT WAS SHORTING OUT THE BULBS. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND EVEN MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THIS EXACT ISSUE TELLING DEALER TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMP CASING. YET NO RECALL AND BECAUSE OF THAT AT LEAST 3SERVICE CENTERS WHERE WE HAVE TAKEN OUR VEHICLES FOR THE PAST 11 YEARS HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM UNTIL NOW. NOW CONVENIENTLY THEY HAVE OFFERED TO REPAIR OUR VEHICLES. OF COURSE THAT'S TO E TUNE OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THE 2010 ALONE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS THAT SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO CONTINUE FOR SO MANY YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10558975

100,000 miles · Nov 23, 2013
Fuel System, Gasoline

I WAS FILLING MY GAS TANK UP AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND.DROPED CAR OFF FOR REPAIR. GARAGE DID SMOKE TEST OF FUEL TANK AND IDENTIFIED THAT THE PLASTIC RING ON FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED, THE GARAGE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE THE PLASTIC RING AND SEAL. MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS REPAIR AND IT COST ME OUT …

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I WAS FILLING MY GAS TANK UP AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND.DROPED CAR OFF FOR REPAIR. GARAGE DID SMOKE TEST OF FUEL TANK AND IDENTIFIED THAT THE PLASTIC RING ON FUEL PUMP WAS CRACKED, THE GARAGE HAD TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK AND REPLACE THE PLASTIC RING AND SEAL. MY WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THIS REPAIR AND IT COST ME OUT OF POCKET $399.96 MY REQUEST IS THIS COVERED UNDER ANY REGULATIONS OR RECALLS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF VEHICLE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10553508

55,650 miles · Oct 29, 2013
Engine

THE ENGINE MOUNTS HAVE FAILED AND THE CAR'S ENGINE LURCHES APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES IN EACH DIRECTION AND VIBRATES WHILE IDLING. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INDICATES THEY HAVE SEEN A NUMBER OF THESE ENGINE MOUNTS FAIL ON THIS MODEL DUE TO POOR/FLIMSY DESIGN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10549986

Official recalls

2

21V494000 · Air Bags:frontal

Jul 1, 2021

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.

04V468000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 24, 2004

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.