NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
97 reports65,000 miles · Jul 12, 2016
Air BagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingCrashInjury
WE WERE IN A FEW ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN PARK WE MUST USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR BECAUSE WHEN WE TURN IT OFF THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE AND AS WE DRIVE THE CAR THE CAR WILL TURN OFF RIGHT T…
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WE WERE IN A FEW ACCIDENTS AND THE AIRBAG NEVER DEPLOYED AND THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AFTER AN OIL CHANGE THE CAR DOES NOT STAY IN PARK WE MUST USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR BECAUSE WHEN WE TURN IT OFF THE GEAR WILL NOT SHIFT TO DRIVE AND AS WE DRIVE THE CAR THE CAR WILL TURN OFF RIGHT THERE. SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING ON DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA ODI #10884187
150,000 miles · May 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other
THE CAR SHIFTS COMPLETELY WRONG WHEN IT IS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. SOMETIMES ITS SHIFTS REALLY HARD GOING BETWEEN THE TWO GEARS ALSO. IT KIND OF SOUNDS LIKE THE GEARS ARE GOING TO SLIP. ITS EVEN WORSE WHEN IT IS REALLY COLD OUT. IT JUMPS TO 3RD GEAR AT 15-20 MPH SOMETIMES ALSO. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE WHEN I DRIVE MY CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10865709
129,000 miles · Apr 13, 2016
Suspension
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND GOING OVER A BUMP, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKING AND RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH AND GOING OVER A BUMP, THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL STARTED SHAKING AND MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. THE CONTACT HAD TO SLOW DOWN IN ORDER TO STOP THE SHAKING AND RATTLING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKING TO THE DEALER AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIE ROD ON THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL HAD TO BE PLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10855360
130,000 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System
THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AS THE SAME ISSUE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON, HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED IN CERTAIN VIN#S AND APPARENTLY NEEDS EXPANDING. PLEASE REFERENCE MAZDA RECALL #2504K OR NHTSA RECALL # 04V559. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STAYS ON WHEN PARKED OR DRIVING, I…
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THIS IS AN UPDATE TO THE PREVIOUS COMPLAINT AS THE SAME ISSUE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BEING ON, HAS ALREADY BEEN RECALLED IN CERTAIN VIN#S AND APPARENTLY NEEDS EXPANDING. PLEASE REFERENCE MAZDA RECALL #2504K OR NHTSA RECALL # 04V559. MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND STAYS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT STAYS ON WHEN PARKED OR DRIVING, IT IS ON AT ALL TIMES THE VEHICLE IS ON AND IS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH ANY EVENT.
NHTSA ODI #10851807
130,000 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Air BagsElectrical System
THE RED AIRBAG SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD, AT FIRST WOULD COME ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, BUT NOW IT'S ON EVERYTIME I OPERATE THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL EITHER NOT DEPLOY OR DEPLOY INCORRECTLY. I'VE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH MANY OTHER MAZDA 3 OWNERS AND IT IS A WELL KNOWN AND PREVALENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT RELATED TO AN…
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THE RED AIRBAG SIGN ON THE DASHBOARD, AT FIRST WOULD COME ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY, BUT NOW IT'S ON EVERYTIME I OPERATE THE VEHICLE, INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL EITHER NOT DEPLOY OR DEPLOY INCORRECTLY. I'VE DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH MANY OTHER MAZDA 3 OWNERS AND IT IS A WELL KNOWN AND PREVALENT ISSUE. IT IS NOT RELATED TO ANY EVENT, OTHER THAN NORMAL DRIVING AND OPERATION.
NHTSA ODI #10851805
140,000 miles · Sep 5, 2015
Air BagsCrashInjury
ON FEBRUARY 15, 2015. I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. MY LEFT REAR DOOR WAS HIT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. I THOUGH NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE I THOUGH THE IMPACT NEEDED TO BE HARDER. THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR ACCIDENT. TODAY ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 AROUND 2:20PM, I WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER CAR ACCIDENT WIT…
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ON FEBRUARY 15, 2015. I WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. MY LEFT REAR DOOR WAS HIT BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOYED. I THOUGH NOTHING OF IT BECAUSE I THOUGH THE IMPACT NEEDED TO BE HARDER. THIS WAS MY FIRST CAR ACCIDENT. TODAY ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2015 AROUND 2:20PM, I WAS INVOLVED IN ANOTHER CAR ACCIDENT WITH MY GIRLFRIEND. I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WAITING FOR SOME VEHICLES TO TURN. 5 SECONDS LATER, I WAS HIT FROM THE BACK. THE IMPACT WAS VERY HARD SENDING MY GIRLFRIEND AND I TO THE HOSPITAL. I HAD THE SAME RESORT WITH THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. LUCKY FOR ME, I ALWAYS WEAR MY SEATBELT BECAUSE IF I HAVE NOT. I WOULD OF BEEN MORE SERIOUSLY HURT OR DEAD.
NHTSA ODI #10761815
100,000 miles · Aug 24, 2015
Steering
DRIVING AND STEERING LIGHT COMES ON,THEN HARD TO STEER LEFT OR RIGHT.TURN SWITCH OFF AND RIGHT BACK ON LIGHT GOES OFF AND STEERING RETURNS....VERY DANGEROUS
NHTSA ODI #10758788
10,000 miles · May 28, 2015
Air Bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V559000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
NHTSA ODI #10721897
125,000 miles · May 7, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ONCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 125,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10715152
Mileage unknown · Mar 29, 2015
Engine
I HAD DONE MY OIL CHANGE ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT MY CAR RUNNING DIFFERENT, WHEN I BRAKE AND TOOK A RIGHT TURN, AND THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE CAME ON, I CHECKED AND THE AMOUNT OF OIL IN MY CAR WAS MINIMUM, THE CAR HAS NO LEAKS AND I HAD CHECKED THAT WITH A MECHANIC, SO THE CAR IS BURNING OIL.. I HAD …
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I HAD DONE MY OIL CHANGE ABOUT 3 WEEKS BEFORE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND I FELT MY CAR RUNNING DIFFERENT, WHEN I BRAKE AND TOOK A RIGHT TURN, AND THE ENGINE OIL PRESSURE CAME ON, I CHECKED AND THE AMOUNT OF OIL IN MY CAR WAS MINIMUM, THE CAR HAS NO LEAKS AND I HAD CHECKED THAT WITH A MECHANIC, SO THE CAR IS BURNING OIL.. I HAD BEEN TALKING TO MANY MECHANICS AND PEOPLE FROM AUTO PART STORES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MY ENGINE, AND THEY SAY THAT MANY, IF NOT ALL OF THEM MAZDA3 CARS FROM THIS YEAR HAVE THAT PROBLEM, AND THE PROBLEM IS FROM THE WAY IT IS MANUFACTURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702403