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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports
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Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM SOMEWHERE WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT MY CAR WILL SHAKE (VIBRATE) ALOT AND SOMETIMES ALMOST DIE SO I HAVE TO PUSH ON THE GAS A LITTLE OR PUT THE CAR IN PARK. ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS MY CAR WONT ALWAYS TURN OVER. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PIECXES AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO MAZDA DEALER SHIPS AND …

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WHEN DRIVING TO AND FROM SOMEWHERE WHEN I COME TO A STOP SIGN OR A STOP LIGHT MY CAR WILL SHAKE (VIBRATE) ALOT AND SOMETIMES ALMOST DIE SO I HAVE TO PUSH ON THE GAS A LITTLE OR PUT THE CAR IN PARK. ALSO ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE IS MY CAR WONT ALWAYS TURN OVER. I HAVE REPLACED MANY PIECXES AND HAVE TAKEN IT TO MAZDA DEALER SHIPS AND NOONE CAN SEEM TO FIND THE EXACT PROBLEM. THEY SAY IT IS AN INTERMITEN PROBLEM. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY SENSE I HAVE TWO KIDS THAT ARE ALWAYS IN THE CAR WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10430351

44,000 miles · Aug 4, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

PLAGUE WITH FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. 1ST TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON, WHEN CAR REACHED 44,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR. WARRANTY COVERED. 2ND TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AT 51,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED 2 OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. WHEN CAR REACH 85,000 MILES, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING W…

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PLAGUE WITH FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM. 1ST TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON, WHEN CAR REACHED 44,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO DEALER, THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC, AND REPLACED THE O2 SENSOR. WARRANTY COVERED. 2ND TIME CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AT 51,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED 2 OF THE FUEL INJECTORS. WHEN CAR REACH 85,000 MILES, ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING WHEN I PRESSED GAS PEDAL, ENGINE JUST DIES ON THE STREET. THIS TIME DEALER SAID FUEL PUMP MIGHT BE BAD. SO WE GOT IT REPLACED FOR $800. WHEN CAR REACH 100,000 MILES I HAD FUEL LINE CLEANED FROM FUEL TANK TO THE FUEL INJECTORS, AND REPLACED SPARK PLUGS. AT 105,000 MILES CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I TOOK CAR TO AUTOZONE PARTS AND HAD IT READ. THE CODE SAYS, P2004 (VARIABLE TUMBLE SHUTTER VALVE STUCK OPEN). THE NEXT DAY I WAS GOING TAKE IT TO A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT ON MY WAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WASN'T LIT ANYMORE, SO I DROVE STRAIGHT TO WORK. 3 DAYS AFTER, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, SO I JUST IGNORED IT. AND 2 DAYS LATER, IT DISAPPEARED. ALL THESE TIME, SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR I NEVER MISSED A REGULAR MAINTENANCE, I.E., OIL CHANGE, AIR FILTER CHANGE, FLUSHED FLUIDS. THE CAR HAS GONE THROUGH TIRE REPLACEMENT, NEW BRAKES PADS, NEW BATTERY. RIGHT NOW, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS NOT LIT.

NHTSA ODI #10417610

73,000 miles · Nov 27, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I DEVELOPED A TICK IN THE ENGINE, TOOK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED " THE SHUTTER VALVE INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COMING APART". TOOK IT TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MAZDA REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD "THE VALVE IS ACTUALLY JUST STUCK OPEN". BOTH SHOPS QUOTED A $1500 REPAIR BILL. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS…

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I DEVELOPED A TICK IN THE ENGINE, TOOK TO DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED " THE SHUTTER VALVE INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS COMING APART". TOOK IT TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MAZDA REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD "THE VALVE IS ACTUALLY JUST STUCK OPEN". BOTH SHOPS QUOTED A $1500 REPAIR BILL. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 1/2 YEARS OLD. YOU CAN'T JUST REPLACE THE PLASTIC SHUTTER VALVE, YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INTAKE MANIFOLD (THAT PART COSTS $1000). SINCE I ONLY PAID $14,000 TOTAL FOR THE WHOLE CAR, I AM VERY UPSET WITH (MY 1ST AND LAST) MAZDA. I WILL REPAIR AND SELL ASAP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367937

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 · Jan 16, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). HELLO, I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3. 2.3 MOTOR. I AM HAVING A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES WITH TWO MOTOR MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TWO ARE ALREADY BROKEN. AFTER READING SEVERAL REVIEWS AND AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL AUTO MECHANI…

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INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). HELLO, I OWN A 2005 MAZDA 3. 2.3 MOTOR. I AM HAVING A LOT OF DIFFICULTIES WITH TWO MOTOR MOUNTS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT AND THE TWO ARE ALREADY BROKEN. AFTER READING SEVERAL REVIEWS AND AFTER GOING TO SEVERAL AUTO MECHANICS IT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT MANY CONSUMERS ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THESE MOTOR MOUNTS. THE MOTOR MOUNTS CAUSE INTENSE VIBRATION WHILE SLOWING AND SPEEDING. IT IS PRETTY SCARY. I WHICH THEY WOULD NOT ONLY CALL THE PART A DEFECT BUT RECALL IT. I FEEL IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND ALL THE AUTO MECHANICS TELL ME THE SAME. MAZDA OF COURSE STATES IT IS NOT A HAZARD. WHEN SOMEONE'S ENGINES DROPS OUT OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILING BECAUSE THEY ARE DEFECTIVE I ENSURE THEY WILL READVISE THEIR JUDGMENT. [XXX]*TR

NHTSA ODI #10299995

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 MAZDA 3 HATCHBACK WITH 55K MILES HAD ENGINE MOUNT CRACK. QUICK SEARCH ONLINE APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10289458

40,000 miles · Oct 3, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

WITHIN 3 MONTHS, 2005 MAZDA 3S HAS HAD A SEIZED AC COMPRESSOR (NEAR FIRE) AND BLOWN PASSENGER SIDE ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BOX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10286189

50,000 miles · Sep 24, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 MAZDA3 SEDAN, PASSENGER SIDE ENGINE MOUNT(#3), MOUNT CRACKED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT, CAUSING ENGINE VIBRATION, POTENTIAL ENGINE DAMAGE. PART REPLACED BY DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10285135

39,000 miles · Aug 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 MAZDA 3S WITH ONLY 39K MILES BROKE DOWN WITH HEAVY SMOKE, NEAR FIRE, FORTUNATELY AT DIA AIRPORT. TOWED TO LOCAL DENVER MAZDA DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A SEIZED A/C COMPRESSOR. CONTACTED MAZDA NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE, WHO COVERED THE $1K COST OF THE NEW COMPRESSOR, WITH ME PICKING UP THE LABOR. OUT OF WARRANTY, BARELY; THIS KI…

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2005 MAZDA 3S WITH ONLY 39K MILES BROKE DOWN WITH HEAVY SMOKE, NEAR FIRE, FORTUNATELY AT DIA AIRPORT. TOWED TO LOCAL DENVER MAZDA DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED A SEIZED A/C COMPRESSOR. CONTACTED MAZDA NATIONAL CUSTOMER CARE, WHO COVERED THE $1K COST OF THE NEW COMPRESSOR, WITH ME PICKING UP THE LABOR. OUT OF WARRANTY, BARELY; THIS KIND OF THING SHOULD NOT HAPPEN FOR A YOUNG VEHICLE, ORIGINAL OWNER, WITH PAMPERED PREVENTATIVE MNX PER SCHEDULE. I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT MAZDA STEPPED UP TO COMPENSATE A MAJORITY OF THE REPAIR COST. I CONTINUE TO BE VERY ANNOYED AT THE POOR BRAKE DESIGN, THAT SQUEALS MOST OF THE TIME, USING OEM PARTS, ESPECIALLY IN REVERSE IN COLDER TEMPS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10280760

52,000 miles · Jun 29, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2005 MAZDA 3 AIR COMPRESSOR GOES OUT, LINES FRY UNDER HOOD AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE UNDER 60,000 MILES AND THE A/C NEVER WORKS TO MAXIMUM OUTPUT. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WHILE THEY SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAS BEEN PROPOS…

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2005 MAZDA 3 AIR COMPRESSOR GOES OUT, LINES FRY UNDER HOOD AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT MANY INDIVIDUALS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE UNDER 60,000 MILES AND THE A/C NEVER WORKS TO MAXIMUM OUTPUT. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WHILE THEY SAY THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, NO RECALL HAS BEEN PROPOSED, THEREFORE I WAS REDIRECTED TO THIS SITE. CONTACTED MAZDA OVER A YEAR AGO UNDER THE ADVICE OF 2 MECHANICS WHO INSISTED THIS INCIDENT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN TO SUCH A YOUNG CAR. THEY SAID I'M LUCKY THERE WAS NO FIRE SINCE ALL MY LINES NEARLY FRIED AND MAZDA NEEDS TO BE MADE AWARE, ESPECIALLY AFTER MY MECHANIC DID HIS OWN RESEARCH ON MY BEHALF AND SEEM TO AGREE THIS IS TOO COMMON. I HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING UP WITH MAZDA'S CUSTOMER CARE AND WHILE THEY ARE EMPATHETIC, THERE'S NO SOLUTION FOR ANYONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. LAST SPOKE TO JENNIFER AT MAZDA X1170 ON 6-29-29 WHO SUGGESTED I FILL OUT THIS FORM! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275253

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.