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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.

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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

Structure complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2023
Service BrakesStructureSuspension

Im having issues with rust the car it’s getting pretty much the car it’s falling apart the under body it’s nothing but rust I’m scared of changing a tire because there’s actually not a good grip where I can lift the car without feeling it’s going to fall apart, the rear or the disks it’s falling by chunks and just yesterday the …

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Im having issues with rust the car it’s getting pretty much the car it’s falling apart the under body it’s nothing but rust I’m scared of changing a tire because there’s actually not a good grip where I can lift the car without feeling it’s going to fall apart, the rear or the disks it’s falling by chunks and just yesterday the rear shock plate broke out of place because it’s way too rust same thing with my muffler I don’t feel safe I’m My car which I love, I truly do but I feel like at any minute its just going to break apart right now it’s the shock rear driver side but I feel like next a tire or my brake disks are going to break like I said I don’t even feel safe to change a tire

NHTSA ODI #11508457

72,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
StructureWheels

THE BACK REAR WHEEL WELLS COLLECT SO MUCH DIRT AND SALT IT ENDS UP RUSTING IT OUT! THERE NEEDS TO BE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE WHEEL WELLS OR BETTER DRAIN HOLES! I WASH MY CAR EVERY WEEK IN THE WINTER AND IT IS STILL HARD TO PREVENT IT! THE REAR STRUT MOUNT TAKES A TOLL ON THE ABUSE FROM ALL THE SALT AND DIRT THAT COLLECTS NEAR THE …

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THE BACK REAR WHEEL WELLS COLLECT SO MUCH DIRT AND SALT IT ENDS UP RUSTING IT OUT! THERE NEEDS TO BE PLASTIC COVER FOR THE WHEEL WELLS OR BETTER DRAIN HOLES! I WASH MY CAR EVERY WEEK IN THE WINTER AND IT IS STILL HARD TO PREVENT IT! THE REAR STRUT MOUNT TAKES A TOLL ON THE ABUSE FROM ALL THE SALT AND DIRT THAT COLLECTS NEAR THE TOP WHERE IT IS SCREWED IN! HAD MY STRUT BREAK TWICE IN ONE MONTH! THERE NEEDS TO BE BETTER DRAIN HOLES FOR THE DOORS TOO! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10681381

Mileage unknown · Jul 13, 2014
Air BagsStructureSuspensionCrash

ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10610133

100,000 miles · May 7, 2014
Structure

THE DASH IS STARTING TO CRACK NEAR THE DRIVER SIDE. ITS JUST GETTING LARGER OVER TIME. I'M AFRAID IT COULD POSE A PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE. MAZDA DEALER TOLD ME ITS A COMMON ISSUE ON MY YEAR, EVEN THE YEAR AFTER TOO. SEEMS PEOPLE ONLINE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME TOO. WHY WONT MAZDA RECALL? NOT THE FIRST ISSUE I'VE HAD. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587082

70,000 miles · Feb 10, 2014
Structure

A MAJOR CRACK IN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I WOULD ASSUME IS DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER AND THE QUICK TEMPERATURE CHANGES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO. DUE TO THE CRACK, A SLIGHT SINKING OF THE ACTUAL DASH HAS STARTED TO OCCUR, MEANING , YOU COULD TELL THAT SOME…

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A MAJOR CRACK IN RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD, IT GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR. I WOULD ASSUME IS DUE TO THE HOT WEATHER AND THE QUICK TEMPERATURE CHANGES WE HAVE EXPERIENCED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO. DUE TO THE CRACK, A SLIGHT SINKING OF THE ACTUAL DASH HAS STARTED TO OCCUR, MEANING , YOU COULD TELL THAT SOMETHING HAS CRACKED AND THE SIDES ARE SLIDING DOWN. I HAVE GONE ON MANY THREADS ON FORUMS THAT ARE ALL ABOUT THAT ISSUE. 5 OUT OF 10 PEOPLE SEEM TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IT ALSO HAPPENS ON THE 2ND GENERATION AS WELL. LAST THING THAT MIGHT BE CAUSED BY THAT "CRACKAGE" ARE THE RETAINING CLIPS LOCATED RIGHT BEHIND THE WHOLE DASHBOARD MORE TOWARDS THE LEFT SIDE BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. IT MAKES A VIBRATING, MORE LIKE A DANGLING NOISE AS OF SOMETHING IS LOOSE OR IN THE WORST CASE BROKEN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10563800

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2011
Structure

I HAD GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED NEW TIRES SHORTLY ANYWAYS SO I HAD THEM PUT ON A USED TIRE TO GET ME THROUGH TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DURING THE TWO WEEKS I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE- …

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I HAD GOTTEN A FLAT TIRE AFTER HITTING A POT HOLE AND KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO NEED NEW TIRES SHORTLY ANYWAYS SO I HAD THEM PUT ON A USED TIRE TO GET ME THROUGH TWO WEEKS AND WHILE DURING THE TWO WEEKS I WAS GONE FOR A FEW DAYS AND HAD NEW BRAKES PUT ON AND ASKED THEM TO JUST DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE- THERE WAS- A BUSTED STRUT ON MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE (SIDE THAT I GOT A FLAT). I WAITED UNTIL I GOT HOME FROM A VACATION (CAR WASN'T DRIVEN) AND GOT THAT FIXED BUT EVERYONE WAS SURPRISED WITH THE STRUT BEING OUT. ALL 4 TIRES WERE REPLACED AS WERE BOTH FRONT STRUTS. CAR WAS GREAT FOR ~2 WKS. THEN IT WAS LOUD AND TERRIBLE VIBRATIONS. AFTER ARGUING AND COMPLAINING A MONTH LATER THEY REPLACED TIRES FOR ME BECAUSE TWO WEREN'T EVEN KEEPING TIRE PRESSURE AND THEN I REMEMBERED THAT A FEW MONTHS PRIOR I WAS AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP (WHERE I REALLY CAN'T STAND THE JERKS!-THEY'RE AWFUL!) AND THEY SAID I HAD A BUSTED MOTOR MOUNT BUT REFUSED TO SHOW ME. I HAD MY MAIN DEALER CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY FOUND NOTHING THEN A FAMILY FRIEND, BUT AGAIN NOTHING. FF TO DECEMBER AND I GIVE IN AND GO BACK TO MAZDA- MOTOR MOUNT WOULD BE IN MULTIPLE PIECES IF IT WASN'T IN A CAPSULE LIKE DEVICE. IN JANUARY THEY GOT MY PART IN AND REPLACED IT- ALSO KNOCKING OUT A STOPPER- AND VIBRATIONS STOPPED. MOUNT SHOULDN'T HAVE GONE OUT SO FAST- AT INITIAL DX I THINK CAR WAS AT 45K-50K MILES (LATE SUMMER OF '10) I THINK THERE'S A DEFECT WITH MOUNTS (MINE WAS PASSENGER SIDE OVER TIRE AREA) AND ALSO WITH STRUTS. EVERYONE HAS TOLD ME- MAZDA, MY DEALER (ZIMBRICK-WHO IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!), AND A FEW OTHER SERVICE CENTERS THAT THE STRUTS SHOULD'VE LASTED A LOT LONGER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395864

29,000 miles · Jan 22, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringStructureCrashInjury

FOLLOWING A REAR END COLLISION, MY 2006 MAZDA3 MILEAGE DROPPED FROM ~24MPG TO ~8MPG, WITH NO TORQUE AT ALL FROM ~20MPH. SIGNIFICANT STEERING TROUBLE, AWFUL TIRE NOISE, AND LOUD KNOCKING WHEN TURNING WERE DISMISSED BY THE LOCAL DEALER AS "WELL WITHIN SPECS". REQUESTED BRAKE CALIPER AND ALIGNMENT CHECK, REFUSED BY THE SAME DEALE…

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FOLLOWING A REAR END COLLISION, MY 2006 MAZDA3 MILEAGE DROPPED FROM ~24MPG TO ~8MPG, WITH NO TORQUE AT ALL FROM ~20MPH. SIGNIFICANT STEERING TROUBLE, AWFUL TIRE NOISE, AND LOUD KNOCKING WHEN TURNING WERE DISMISSED BY THE LOCAL DEALER AS "WELL WITHIN SPECS". REQUESTED BRAKE CALIPER AND ALIGNMENT CHECK, REFUSED BY THE SAME DEALER; TECH PERFORMED A ROAD TEST, DECLARED THE PROBLEM DUE TO TIRE FEATHERING AND DEMONSTRATED 120MPH TIGHT CURVE AS REMEDY. THREE SETS OF TIRES, ONE SET OF WHEELS [3 OF OEM WERE WARPED], ENTIRE COMPLEMENT OF MOTOR MOUNTS, TWO SETS OF ROTORS LATER, I'M ABOUT TO REPLACE CALIPER MOUNTS AND AXLES. CAR IS UNSAFE, AND DEALERSHIP DISREGARD OF WARRANTY AND TSBS, AND OF BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS WAS OUTRAGEOUS, ESPECIALLY GIVEN (ONGOING) [SPINE INJURY FROM COLLISION WAS NEARLY FATAL] CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10378301

85,000 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure

TOOK THE CAR INTO DEALER FOR NORMAL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE (OIL CHANGE/TIRE ROTATION). TOLD THAT THE #3 ENGINE MOUNT IS CRACKED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SERVICE ADVISOR TELLS ME THAT IT IS A GENERAL OCCURRENCE AND THAT HE SEES 1-2 A WEEK WITH CRACKED/BROKEN #3 ENGINE MOUNTS. MAZDA HEADQUARTERS SAYS THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR/TEAR ON…

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

NHTSA ODI #10348209

71,000 miles · Nov 5, 2009
Structure

I AM FILLING THIS FORM OUT IN RESPONSE TO NEGLIGENCE AND FALSE ADVERTISING ON THE PART OF CLAY COOLEY OF DALLAS TEXAS. WHEN ME AND MY FIANCE WENT TO TRADE IN OUR CAR THE FORD DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD) RAN A AUTO CHECK AND FOUND THAT IT HAS FRAME DAMAGE AND WOULD NOT TAKE IT FOR LESS THAN 2000$ BUT WE OWED 14000$ SO WE COULD NEVER…

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I AM FILLING THIS FORM OUT IN RESPONSE TO NEGLIGENCE AND FALSE ADVERTISING ON THE PART OF CLAY COOLEY OF DALLAS TEXAS. WHEN ME AND MY FIANCE WENT TO TRADE IN OUR CAR THE FORD DEALER (FIVE STAR FORD) RAN A AUTO CHECK AND FOUND THAT IT HAS FRAME DAMAGE AND WOULD NOT TAKE IT FOR LESS THAN 2000$ BUT WE OWED 14000$ SO WE COULD NEVER GET A LOAN ON ANOTHER CAR WITH THAT CARS REPORT. WHEN WE TALKED TO CLAY COOLEY WE TALKED TO ALEX SERANGA HE SAID WE COULD BRING THE CAR IN AND INSINUATED THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THE LOAN IF WE GOT ANOTHER CAR, BUT OF COURSE WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY WANTED TO US TO TRADE IN THE VEHICLE FOR ANOTHER CAR. ALSO THEY WOULD NOT TELL US WHAT THE AUCTION PAPER WORK SAID FOR THE CAR THEY TRIED TO SELL US AND REFUSED TO SHOW IT TO US. WHEN WE SHOWED THEM THE AUTO CHECK REPORT THAT SAYS THE FRAME WAS DAMAGED ON OUR CAR AND THEY BOUGHT AND SOLD IT KNOWINGLY FROM AUCTION WITH UNIBODY DAMAGE THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF AUTO CHECK. BUT AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE AUTO CHECK WEBSITE I HAVE FOUND THAT THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES PROMOTED BY THE NADA SO THERE CAN BE LITTLE WAY THEY NEVER HEARD OF THEM. PLEASE HELP ME I AND MY FAMILY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. THE CAR IS A 2006 MAZDA 3 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10291046

40,000 miles · Jan 8, 2009
StructureSuspension

2006 MAZDA 3 ALIGNMENT ISSUE RUINING NEW TIRES. NOW MAZDA CLAIMS I NEED A $900 FRONT ALIGNMENT REPAIR, BUT CAN'T EXPLAIN WHY????? I'VE GONE THROUGH 2 SETS OF TIRES IN 50,000 MILES??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10254331

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.