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2005 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2005 Mazda MAZDA3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 108.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

77 reports with mileage · 20 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 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports3 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

17 reports
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42,679 miles · Sep 7, 2011
Electrical SystemFire

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHEN THICK SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF MY AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK DRIVING IT TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER IS 6.5 MILES AWAY, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE…

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I WAS DRIVING HOME ON RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHEN THICK SMOKE STARTED BILLOWING OUT OF MY AIR CONDITIONING VENTS AND THE FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL WELL. SINCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK DRIVING IT TO THE NEAREST MAZDA DEALER IS 6.5 MILES AWAY, I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WITHIN WALKING DISTANCE. HE DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR COMPRESSOR SEIZED AND BEGAN MELTING TWO DRIVE BELTS. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE COMPRESSOR, 2 BELTS, REFRIGERANT, FUSE AND DRYER S (?) FOR A TOTAL ABOUT $850. NOW I AM READING OTHERS' COMPLAINTS AND SEE THAT SOMEONE WAS REIMBURSED BY MAZDA FOR THIS, AND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER MAZDA 3 OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF I'D BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO, THE SMOKE SMELLED QUITE ACRID; WAS LIKELY BREATHING IN TOXIC SUBSTANCES. IT SEEMS LIKE MAZDA SHOULD BE RECALLING THIS. I AM CONTACTING THEM TO REQUEST THAT THEY REIMBURSE MY COSTS, EVEN THOUGH I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT A DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10424160

65,915 miles · Nov 3, 2010
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

HI, I HAVE TWO ISSUES DUE TO: ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT MAY COME ON DUE TO DAMAGED PRETENSIONER SENSOR WIRING BREAKAGE FROM ADJUSTING THE SEAT. (2005) . THIS WAS ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010 THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE,…

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HI, I HAVE TWO ISSUES DUE TO: ELECTRICAL PROBLEM: AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT MAY COME ON DUE TO DAMAGED PRETENSIONER SENSOR WIRING BREAKAGE FROM ADJUSTING THE SEAT. (2005) . THIS WAS ON SATURDAY OCTOBER 30, 2010 THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT: THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATE, ISSUES DUE TO A VALVE IN THE INTAKE SYSTEM JAMMING. THE DEALER MAZDA IN PONCE, PUERTO RICO, CHECK THIS ISSUES, THIS IS THE PART # LF82-18-740 VALVE,SOLE & LF70-15-170 THEY SAID TO REPAIR THOSE PARTS. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THANK YOU.

NHTSA ODI #10364708

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2009
Electrical System

AS I WAS READING IN YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT, MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER. …

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AS I WAS READING IN YOUR MOST RECENT REPORT, MY SON HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRICAL UNIT WITH THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. HE TOOK THE CAR TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SENSOR. A FEW WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED. BROUGHT BACK THE CAR TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE DASH CLUSTER. PRIOR TO TAKING THE CAR IN THIS HAPPENED ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS. IS THIS REIMBURSABLE BY THE MANUFACTURER? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277410

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2009
Electrical System

I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3 . THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ALL LIT UP (CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE, OIL, ETC, ETC. BROUGHT CAR TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR. PAID 225.00 FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP, KEPT CAR FOR A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE. CLAIM TO HAVE COME UP WITH A NEW C…

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I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3 . THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS ALL LIT UP (CRUISE CONTROL, ENGINE, OIL, ETC, ETC. BROUGHT CAR TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SENSOR. PAID 225.00 FOR REPAIR. TWO WEEKS LATER SAME ISSUE. BROUGHT CAR BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP, KEPT CAR FOR A FEW DAYS TO DIAGNOSE. CLAIM TO HAVE COME UP WITH A NEW CODE FOR FIX WHICH WAS FOR AN ADJUSTMENT COST. COST TO BE REPAIRED WAS 970.00. SHOULD THIS BE THE CASE WITH SUCH A NEW MODEL ONLY BEING 4 YEARS OLD? STILL NOT SURE THIS WILL TAKE CARE OF ISSUE, SINCE THE FIRST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN THE SENSOR WAS TOLD TO BE THE PROBLEM. CAN THIS BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER? PLEASE LET ME KNOW ASAP. THANK YOU! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10266287

36,000 miles · Dec 4, 2007
Electrical System

RECALL WAS FILED TO THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN AS OF NOV. 30TH 2007 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON. THE TUBE MATERIAL USED IN ELECTRICAL WIRING OF MOTOR IS INAPPROPRIATE. THE TUBE LOSES IT'S INTENSITY OVER THE TIME AND IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BADLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE MOTOR. THUS, THE MOTOR WILL NOT RES…

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RECALL WAS FILED TO THE DEPT. OF TRANSPORTATION IN JAPAN AS OF NOV. 30TH 2007 FOR THE FOLLOWING REASON. THE TUBE MATERIAL USED IN ELECTRICAL WIRING OF MOTOR IS INAPPROPRIATE. THE TUBE LOSES IT'S INTENSITY OVER THE TIME AND IT COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRING BADLY ENOUGH TO STOP THE MOTOR. THUS, THE MOTOR WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE INVESTIGATE WHY IT HAS NOT YET FILED IN THE U.S. I HAVE HAD VERY PROBLEM BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT TAKE ME SERIOUSLY SINCE IT IS NOT SHOWN IN THEIR SYSTEM IN THE U.S. YET. I FOUND THIS RECALL NOTICE ON MAZDA JAPAN(JAPANESE ONLY) WEBSITE AND ALSO IN MANY NEWSPAPER WEBS. HOWEVER, NOBODY SEEMS TO BE NOTIFIED IN THE U.S. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10210774

23,000 miles · Sep 13, 2006
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT MY MAZDA 3 IN 2005 I HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES & THE ROTORS. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS AT MAZDA FOR SOMETHING. THEN IN JULY, 2006 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT ON THE CAR,I LOST ALL BRAKES & STEERING & RAN INTO A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOM…

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SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT MY MAZDA 3 IN 2005 I HAVE HAD PROBLEM AFTER PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES & THE ROTORS. THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS AT MAZDA FOR SOMETHING. THEN IN JULY, 2006 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 10 MPH WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT ON THE CAR,I LOST ALL BRAKES & STEERING & RAN INTO A MEDIAN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME THAT NIGHT & ONCE AGAIN THE CAR STALLED ON ME. THE NEXT DAY WE TOOK THE CAR TO MAZDA & LET THEM KNOW THE PROBLEM & AFTER 4 DAYS & DRIVING THE CAR A TOTAL OF 9 MILES THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR & THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING WHEN THEY DROVE IT. I JUST HAD A DAMAGED RIM AND NEEDED THE CAR RE-ALIGNED. WHEN I WENT TO GET THE CAR I WAS VERY UPSET AT THE COST I HAD TO PAY WHEN THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT MY FAULT. THE CASHIER CALLED THE MANAGER & I EXPLAINED EVERYTHING TO HIM. HE HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THIS & SAID THAT IF I WAS HIS WIFE HE WOULD NOT PUT ME BACK INTO THIS VEHICLE & PUT ME IN A RENTAL FOR THE WEEKEND. ON MON. HE CALLED & SAID HE DROVE IT PERSONALLY & HE TOO COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG SO HE SAID TO COME PICK UP THE VEHICLE. THEN ON TUES,AUG. 22, 2006 WHILE DRIVING TO WORK I TURNED MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON (KEEP IN MIND WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE I HAD THEM CHANGE THE WIPER BLADES) & THE RT WINDSHIELD WIPER FLEW OFF MY CAR. I GOT OUT & PUT IT BACK ON AND IT CAME OFF AGAIN. AFTER WORK MY BOSS SAID THE WIPER WAS BROKEN & THREW IT IN THE BACK OF MY CAR. WE THEN LEFT WORK. ABOUT 3 MINS LATER I WAS GOING ABOUT 35 MPH & ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER WENT OUT. I HAD NO BRAKES, NO STEERING, NOTHING...ONCE AGAIN AND IN FRONT OF ME WAS AN ABOVE GROUND CEMENT MANHOLE WE HAVE ON THE BASE & I KNEW I WAS GOING TO HIT IT SO I JUST HELD ON TIGHT.THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER IS PEOPLE SCREAMING ARE YOU OK & WHEN I OPENED MY EYES I WAS UPSIDE DOWN. I FLEW IN THE AIR & LANDED ON THE CAR BEHIND ME & CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF GOING INTO HIS WINDSHIELD BUT THAT ALSO SAVED MY LIFE THE FIREFIGHTERS SAID. SO NOW MY CAR IS TOTALED.*NM

NHTSA ODI #10168173

25,908 miles · Jul 19, 2006
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

2005 MAZDA 3S WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE MAIN RELAY AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP & GAUGE TWICE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *KB THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBL…

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2005 MAZDA 3S WOULD NOT START. MECHANIC REPROGRAMMED THE MAIN RELAY AND REPLACED FUEL PUMP & GAUGE TWICE BUT PROBLEM PERSISTS. *KB THE FUEL PUMP AND GAUGE WERE REPLACED A SECOND TIME BUT THE VEHICLE STILL FAILED TO START OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. MAZDA TECH SUPPORT WAS CALLED AND THE THEY SUGGESTED CHANGING THE FUEL CANISTER. IT WAS REPLACED ON JUNE 22, 2006. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163696

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.

04V559000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 22, 2004

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH AND IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES.

Remedy: DEALERS REPAIRED THESE VEHICLES. THE TWO VEHICLE OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE ON NOVEMBER 22, 2004, AND THESE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

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.