NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
166 reports32,225 miles · Dec 10, 2007
Tires
I PURCHASED A MAZDA 3 NEW IN APRIL OF 2006. BETWEEN 20,000 - 30,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AT 32,225 MILES, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE RUBBER WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIM, AND THE OUTER TREAD WAS STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL JUST EXPLODED. THESE TIRES ARE EXTREM…
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I PURCHASED A MAZDA 3 NEW IN APRIL OF 2006. BETWEEN 20,000 - 30,000 MILES I NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. AT 32,225 MILES, MY LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW. THE RUBBER WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIM, AND THE OUTER TREAD WAS STILL IN ONE PIECE. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL JUST EXPLODED. THESE TIRES ARE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES IN FEAR THAT THERE WOULD BE A NEW INCIDENT AND NOT BE AS FORTUNATE (INJURIES OR DAMAGE WITH THIS BLOW OUT). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10211404
38,000 miles · Oct 29, 2007
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MY 2006 MAZDA 3 IS EXPERIENCING GREATLY ACCELERATED REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR, BOTH REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BY 38K MILES. THIS IS AT LEAST 3X FASTER WEAR THAN NORMAL. FRONT BRAKES SHOW LITTLE WEAR AND LOOK TO LAST UP TO 100K MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE THE RESULT OF IMPROPER FRONT/REAR BRAKE BIAS OR DEFECTIVE PARTS/MATERIALS?…
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MY 2006 MAZDA 3 IS EXPERIENCING GREATLY ACCELERATED REAR BRAKE PAD AND ROTOR WEAR, BOTH REQUIRING REPLACEMENT BY 38K MILES. THIS IS AT LEAST 3X FASTER WEAR THAN NORMAL. FRONT BRAKES SHOW LITTLE WEAR AND LOOK TO LAST UP TO 100K MILES. COULD THIS PROBLEM BE THE RESULT OF IMPROPER FRONT/REAR BRAKE BIAS OR DEFECTIVE PARTS/MATERIALS? COULD THIS SITUATION LEAD TO IMPROPER/UNSAFE BRAKING PERFORMANCE UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10207311
24,000 miles · Sep 22, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingCrashFire
2006 MAZDA 3 DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP SHORT-CIRCUITED RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL FIRE IMMEDIATELY AFTER MINOR COLLISION. FIRE QUICKLY STARTED TO SPREAD DAMAGING RADIATOR SUPPORT AND FUSE BOX. PARTS REPLACED IN BODY SHOP. BODY SHOP SAID THESE CARS TEND TO CATCH FIRE WHEN COLLIDING IN THAT SPECIFIC AREA. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10203693
20,000 miles · Jul 25, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE IDLING, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CRASH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK, HEAD, AND SHOULDER BRUISING AND CONTUSIONS. THE CONTACT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE IDLING, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE CRASH CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUFFERED NECK, HEAD, AND SHOULDER BRUISING AND CONTUSIONS. THE CONTACT WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, HOWEVER, HER FACE STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
NHTSA ODI #10197500
20,000 miles · Jun 29, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS I WAS USING THE CURSIE CONTROL WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST TOOK OFF AND THE SPEED JUST KEPT CLIMING UNTIL I TURNED THE CURISE CONTROL OFF. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS IN MAY 2007. THE SECOND TIME WAS ON JUNE,2007. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10195012
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2007
Tires
THE OEM TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE TERRIBLE IN SNOWY WEATHER. THE FIRST SNOWSTORM WE HAD I CALLED MY DEALER BECAUSE I WAS SLIDING ALL OVER LIKE A SNOWBOARD. I WAS TOLD I SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL-WEATHER TIRES, BUT SUGGESTED I PURCHASE SNOW TIRES, WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER VE…
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THE OEM TIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE ARE TERRIBLE IN SNOWY WEATHER. THE FIRST SNOWSTORM WE HAD I CALLED MY DEALER BECAUSE I WAS SLIDING ALL OVER LIKE A SNOWBOARD. I WAS TOLD I SHOULDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ALL-WEATHER TIRES, BUT SUGGESTED I PURCHASE SNOW TIRES, WHICH I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. IF I HAD KNOWN THE MAZDA 3 WAS SO TERRIBLE IN THE SNOW I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED IT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10188662
22,000 miles · Apr 20, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. ON MARCH 14, 2007 WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A 2005 KIA OPTIMA TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE LEFT, SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTAC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. ON MARCH 14, 2007 WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A 2005 KIA OPTIMA TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS PUSHED TO THE LEFT, SPUN 180 DEGREES AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO A 1997 TOYOTA CAMRY DRIVING 45 MPH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SEVERE SPRAIN TO HIS RIGHT WRIST, ANKLE AND KNEE, AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AN AMBULANCE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED DUE TO THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 22000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10188472
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2007
Electrical System
TL *- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 6. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL POORLY ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE A FLASHLIGHT TO SEE THE PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOWEVER, THEY WER UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10186927
6,200 miles · Feb 14, 2007
TiresCrash
I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA 3 IN MAY OF 2006. I LIVE NEAR CLEVELAND OHIO WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME BAD WINTER WEATHER. IN DECEMBER, WE HAD ONE OF THE FIRST SNOW STORMS. MY CAR HAD 6,200 MILES. THE ROADS WERE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO HAVE A LIGHT SNOW COVERING. THE TIRES THAT ARE SOLD OEM ON THIS CAR ARE RATED AS ALL SEASON, SO I SHOULD…
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I PURCHASED A NEW MAZDA 3 IN MAY OF 2006. I LIVE NEAR CLEVELAND OHIO WHERE WE CAN HAVE SOME BAD WINTER WEATHER. IN DECEMBER, WE HAD ONE OF THE FIRST SNOW STORMS. MY CAR HAD 6,200 MILES. THE ROADS WERE WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER TO HAVE A LIGHT SNOW COVERING. THE TIRES THAT ARE SOLD OEM ON THIS CAR ARE RATED AS ALL SEASON, SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 20 MPH, AND SLIDE SIDEWAYS FOR ABOUT 50' THEN HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE COMING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, THEN WENT OFF THE ROAD INTO A 5' DEEP DITCH. MY CAR HAD ABOUT $1,400 IN DAMAGE, WHICH THE INSURANCE PAID FOR (STATE FARM). I AM A MATURE DRIVER LIVING IN THIS TYPE OF WEATHER FOR MANY YEARS. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN A VEHICLE THAT HANDLED SO BADLY IN THE SNOW. THIS VEHICLE WITH THE TIRE COMBINATION AS SOLD IS UNSAFE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I HAVE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND NUMEROUS REVIEWS CLAIMING HOW POOR THE TIRES ARE IN WINTER WEATHER. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH MAZDA, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING. THE CASE NUMBER IS 110849660. THERE IS NO WAY THAT THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE SOLD THIS THESE OEM TIRES IN THE AREA THAT I LIVE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT I CHANGE THE TIRES. I FEEL THAT MAZDA SHOULD REPLACE THEM FOR ME BECAUSE I BOUGHT A CAR THAT HAS ALL SEASON TIRES THAT CANNOT BE DRIVEN IN THE SNOW. AS NOTED, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE WITH THE OEM TIRES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10182548
15,900 miles · Feb 13, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING OVER 30 MPH IN A PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS CAUGHT ON A TRIM PIECE AT THE TOP OF THE B-PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT REACH THEIR DESIGN INTENT LOCATIONS. I HAV…
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I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A VEHICLE TRAVELING OVER 30 MPH IN A PERPENDICULAR DIRECTION. THE SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, HOWEVER BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR AIR BAGS CAUGHT ON A TRIM PIECE AT THE TOP OF THE B-PILLAR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT REACH THEIR DESIGN INTENT LOCATIONS. I HAVE A PICTURE AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW THROUGH ME. NO ADDITIONAL INJURIES OCCURRED DUE TO THE LACK OF PROPER AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10182465