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2006 Mazda MAZDA3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2006 Mazda MAZDA3 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 108.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

124 reports with mileage · 42 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.

  • Steering. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

21 crash reports3 fire reports12 injury reports

Steering complaints

28 reports
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162,000 miles · Oct 9, 2018
Electrical SystemSteering

MY CAR HAS BEEN LIKE LOOSING POWER WHEN IN STUCK IN TRAFFIC TO THE POINT IT GAS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. NOW WHEN I PUT GAS ON IT AND TURN IT ON IT TURNS OFF SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MUST BE POWER STEERING PUMP GWTTING DEFECTIVE. WELL NOW IT HAS NO POWER S…

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MY CAR HAS BEEN LIKE LOOSING POWER WHEN IN STUCK IN TRAFFIC TO THE POINT IT GAS SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNS THE POWER STEERING LIGHT. NOW WHEN I PUT GAS ON IT AND TURN IT ON IT TURNS OFF SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME IT MUST BE POWER STEERING PUMP GWTTING DEFECTIVE. WELL NOW IT HAS NO POWER STEERING BUT IT DOSENT SHOW THE LIGHT ON THE PANEL EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #11139236

133,500 miles · Apr 28, 2017
Steering

STARTED VEHICLE AND POWER STEERING LIGHT CAME ON, NO POWER STEERING AVAILABLE. WENT OUT LESS THAN 2 MINUTES LATER. DROVE TO WORK AND AFTER WORK STARTED VEHICLE. LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, NO POWER STEERING, AND REMAINED THAT WAY INTERMITTENTLY FOR 45 MINUTE DRIVE HOME, MOSTLY ON. VEHICLE PARKED SINCE.

NHTSA ODI #10981205

170,000 miles · Mar 16, 2017
Steering

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND NO POWER STEERING THE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS SINCE CUT ON AND OFF AGAIN WORKING. WE REPLACED THE PUMP WITH ANOTHER PUMP JUST THE OTHER DAY AND IT DOES THE SAME THING.. THIS IS NOT VERY SAFE WHEN TURNING IT WOULD KICK ON AND WORK AFTER NOT WORKING RIGHT WHEN YOU WERE TRYING HARD T…

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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND WENT TO MAKE A TURN AND NO POWER STEERING THE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS SINCE CUT ON AND OFF AGAIN WORKING. WE REPLACED THE PUMP WITH ANOTHER PUMP JUST THE OTHER DAY AND IT DOES THE SAME THING.. THIS IS NOT VERY SAFE WHEN TURNING IT WOULD KICK ON AND WORK AFTER NOT WORKING RIGHT WHEN YOU WERE TRYING HARD TO TURN AND MAKING YOU LOSE CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #10966230

115,000 miles · Mar 3, 2016
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10839647

35,180 miles · Feb 24, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

PART 2 -(CONT.) RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). LETTERS FROM MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER PROVIDING NECESSARY REPAIR INFORMATION ETC. I AM ADDING THESE COMPLAINTS TO MY EXISTING COMPLAINT, AS DURING MY INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, DATED 8/24/15, I FAXED AND MAILED TO YOU, I…

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PART 2 -(CONT.) RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). LETTERS FROM MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER PROVIDING NECESSARY REPAIR INFORMATION ETC. I AM ADDING THESE COMPLAINTS TO MY EXISTING COMPLAINT, AS DURING MY INITIAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, DATED 8/24/15, I FAXED AND MAILED TO YOU, IT STATES HOW MY VEHICLE'S AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR IS NOT WORKING AND IS IN THE WRONG POSITION, WHICH I HAD TO DECLINE TO HAVE FIXED, AS I AM FINANCIALLY UNAVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR COST. I FEEL THIS ISSUE SHOULD ALSO BE ADDRESSED AND COVERED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE ALARMING ABOVE-MENTIONED E-MAILS I HAD RECEIVED AND BELIEVE THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE CLEARLY RELATED. AND 3. (PART 1) RE: UNKNOWN/OR OTHER: AS A RESULT OF HAVING MY POWER STEERING ISSUE REPAIRED (INITIAL COMPLAINT), I WAS TOLD AFTER THE REPAIR BY A MR. CARLETON AT LIBERTY MAZDA, WAKEFIELD, MA, THAT WHEN MY RIGHT DIRECTIONAL SIGNAL IS TURNED ON, IT NOW CONTINUOUSLY CLICKS EXTREMELY FAST (CODE B2899 RT DIRECTIONAL - EST FOR DIRECTIONAL WIRING TO JUST START TO LOCATE THE ISSUE IS LISTED ON THE SUBMITTED DIAGNOSTIC REPORT IS $220.00) BUT THAT IT SHOULDN'T EFFECT ME GETTING A NEW CAR INSPECTION STICKER OR ANYTHING, SO I HAD TO DECLINE FIXING DUE TO COST. (THIS ISSUE IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE ORIGINAL DIAGNOSTIC REPORT AS WELL, THAT I HAVE FAXED AND MAILED TO YOU.) I AM ALSO UNABLE TO AFFORD TO HAVE THIS ISSUE FIXED AS WELL, AND FOR THE FACT THAT THIS PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST AT ALL BEFORE I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING FIXED AND THIS ISSUE APPEARED AFTER THAT, THIS SHOULD BE COVERED IN FULL AND FIXED BY MANUFACTURER; 3. (PART 2.) CONTINUOUS ISSUE BEGINNING ROUGHLY 3-4 WEEKS OF PURCHASE (BOUGHT BRAND NEW, NOT USED): CLOCK IN VEHICLE IS SET TO THE PROPER TIME, BUT WILL ONLY LAST A MONTH MAYBE AT VERY MOST BEFORE IT CHANGES AUTO AND DISPLAYS A RANDOM TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10838057

35,180 miles · Feb 24, 2016
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other

PART 1 - 1. RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). AS PER INSTRUCTION, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN OFFICIAL, AUTHORIZED REPAIR MAZDA DEALER ON 8/24/15 (LIBERTY MAZDA, WAKEFIELD, MA) FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT TO BE DONE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS COMPLETE…

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PART 1 - 1. RE: COMPLAINT FILED ON 8/21/15 (ARFC/NHTSA ID NO: 10750380) (DENISE FROM ARFC REF NO: 902722). AS PER INSTRUCTION, I BROUGHT MY CAR TO AN OFFICIAL, AUTHORIZED REPAIR MAZDA DEALER ON 8/24/15 (LIBERTY MAZDA, WAKEFIELD, MA) FOR A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT TO BE DONE, WHICH WAS COMPLETED. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT WAS COMPLETED, I KEPT MY VEHICLE THERE FOR REPAIR OF THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY NOT WORKING. I FAXED AND MAILED TO THE NHTSA, THE DIAGNOSTIC REPORT, THE TOTAL INVOICE OF REPAIR, PROOF OF PAYMENT IN FULL, AS WELL AS 3-4 MORE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED BY LIBERTY MAZDA, AND I HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED ANY UPDATE AS OF YET. I WAS TOLD THAT DUE TO MY LOW MILEAGE, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS BY 2006 MAZDA 3 OWNERS FOR THE SAME ISSUE HAVE BEEN FILED, AS WELL AS THE FACT THAT THIS CLEARLY IS A "SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE OR EQUIPMENT" (DIRECT QUOTE FROM ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV UNDER "WHEN IS A RECALL NECESSARY?, PAGE 6 OUT OF 20) WAS TOLD THAT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR WOULD BE ISSUED BY RECALL OR BY WARRANTY DUE TO MY LOW MILEAGE. ALSO QUOTING FROM ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV UNDER "EXAMPLES OF DEFECTS CONSIDERED SAFETY-RELATED", (PAGE 7 OUT OF 20), WHICH STATES "STEERING COMPONENTS THAT BREAK SUDDENLY CAUSING PARTIAL OR COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.", I ABSOLUTELY FEEL THAT THIS REIMBURSEMENT ISSUE BE ADDRESSED TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 2. RE: AIR BAGS: I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM U.S. DOT NHTSA, DATED FRIDAY, 1/08/16 STATING MY CAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR MAY BE INVOLVED IN A SAFETY RECALL BASED ON NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NO: 15V869; SUBJECT: PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATORS MAY RUPTURE. I THEN RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL ON 2/6/16 STATING MY CAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANOTHER SAFETY RECALL: MANUFACTURER: MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS; MAKE / MODEL YEARS : MAZDA / 2004-2006, SUBJECT: DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FRONTAL INFLATOR MAY RUPTURE.. AND I HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANY SEPARATE

NHTSA ODI #10838055

35,162 miles · Aug 21, 2015
Steering

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS P…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED LIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE LAST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,162. UPDATED 1/19/16 LN *CN

NHTSA ODI #10750380

71,000 miles · Dec 18, 2014
Electrical SystemPower TrainSteering

CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ,LOST POWER CANT TURN THE WHEEL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10667143

66,000 miles · Apr 2, 2014
Steering

POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT - POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SINCE WE WERE ON A FREEWAY, IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD. STEERING WAS AVAILABLE, BUT VERY STIFF. WE TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND GOT POWER STEERING BACK/WARNING LIGHT OFF. SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL "FAIL" (GET STIFF) AS WE ARE DRIVIN…

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POWER STEERING SEEMS TO QUIT - POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. SINCE WE WERE ON A FREEWAY, IT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD. STEERING WAS AVAILABLE, BUT VERY STIFF. WE TURNED OF THE ENGINE AND GOT POWER STEERING BACK/WARNING LIGHT OFF. SINCE THEN THE POWER STEERING WILL "FAIL" (GET STIFF) AS WE ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN, IF WE WERE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD ON A STEEP CURVE? WE DO NOT FIND MAZDA'S LITTLE FILM ON WHAT TO DO IF THIS PROBLEM TO "FIX" THE PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL CARS WITH THIS PROBLEM!! I AM TOLD THE REPAIR WOULD LIKELY RUN $1,400 TO FIX, WOW! NOT SURE I WILL BUY ANOTHER MAZDA, IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576700

114,500 miles · Apr 1, 2014
Steering

OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING LASTS FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES, AND TYPICALLY RESOLVES WHEN BRAKING AND/OR TURNING AND SPEED IS REDUCED TO BELOW 20 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED A…

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OVER THE PAST 2 WEEKS, MY POWER STEERING GOES OUT INTERMITTENTLY AND THE POWER STEERING INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH TURNS ON. THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING LASTS FOR ANYWHERE FROM 5 SECONDS TO 5 MINUTES, AND TYPICALLY RESOLVES WHEN BRAKING AND/OR TURNING AND SPEED IS REDUCED TO BELOW 20 MPH. THE POWER STEERING LOSS HAS OCCURRED AT A VARIETY OF SPEEDS, RANGING FROM 25 TO 70 MPH, AND HAS LED TO A JERKING OF THE WHEEL AND A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY. ON AVERAGE IT OCCURS ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE PER DAY, SO ROUGHLY EVERY 20-30 MILES ON AVERAGE. I HAVE SEEN OTHER SIMILAR REPORTS OF THIS PROBLEM FOR 2006 MAZDA3'S, AND A RECALL FOR THE 2007-2009 MODELS. THEREFORE I AM HOPEFUL THAT 2006 MAZDA3S WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS WELL TO AVOID POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS CAR, AND PURCHASED IT WITH ABOUT 42,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10576455

Official recalls

1

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.

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.