NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
166 reports55,937 miles · Jun 4, 2015
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. EVERY TIME IT RAINED, WATER ENTERED INTO THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT, WHICH PREVENTED THE AMOUNT OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. EVERY TIME IT RAINED, WATER ENTERED INTO THE HEADLIGHT COMPARTMENT, WHICH PREVENTED THE AMOUNT OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,937.
NHTSA ODI #10723472
146,000 miles · May 4, 2015
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DRIVER, THE FRONT PASSENGER, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD. TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE AT A STOP, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE DRIVER, FRONT PASSENGER, AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT RESTRAINTS FAILED TO RETRACT. THE DRIVER, THE FRONT PASSENGER, AND THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER AND REAR PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 146,000.
NHTSA ODI #10714465
101,231 miles · May 1, 2015
EnginePower Train
THE ENGINE WAS COLD. I ENTERED THE CAR, STARTED THE ENGINE, SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY, SCREAMING. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH FULL BRAKING AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. I RESTARTED AND IT WORKED NORMALLY. THIS ALSO HAPPEN ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HELP!!!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10713976
80,000 miles · Apr 22, 2015
Power Train
DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION, THE VEHICLE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER PLUNGER CONNECTING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND DISCONNECTED THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER THEREBY RENDERING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM INOPERABL…
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DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, WITHOUT WARNING OR INDICATION, THE VEHICLE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER PLUNGER CONNECTING FROM THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO THE MASTER CYLINDER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND DISCONNECTED THE LINKAGE BETWEEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER THEREBY RENDERING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM INOPERABLE. THIS CAUSED THE INABILITY TO DISENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE DRIVE GEARS AND INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH THEREFORE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL ONCE I SAFELY BRAKED TO A STOP. IN MY SITUATION I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THIS ISSUE MAY CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE IF I WERE AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10712305
155,000 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT INDEPENDENTLY INTO THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
NHTSA ODI #10711971
150,000 miles · Apr 9, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FILTER FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL HOUSING FILTER FRACTURED. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
NHTSA ODI #10704652
89,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Air BagsSeats
THE AIRBAG SENSOR AROUND THE SEAT AREA ISN'T PROTECTED VERY WELL FROM DIRT AND DEBRIS! NEEDS TO BE SECURED BETTER! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681382
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
91,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Engine
THE TOP ENGINE MOUNT IS POORLY BUILT! THE RUBBER INSERT DOESN'T LAST LONG ENOUGH. METAL PART IS NOT VERY STURDY! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681379
61,000 miles · Feb 4, 2015
Suspension
I HIT A BUMP GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND AFTER I HIT THE BUMP I KEPT HEARING A CLUNK NOISE WHEN I WOULD RUN OVER A UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD! I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT OR MY SEAT BELT IN THE BACK! COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS MY REAR STRUT MOUNT THAT HA…
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I HIT A BUMP GOING ABOUT 30 MPH AND AFTER I HIT THE BUMP I KEPT HEARING A CLUNK NOISE WHEN I WOULD RUN OVER A UNEVEN PART OF THE ROAD! I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. I FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING IN MY SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT OR MY SEAT BELT IN THE BACK! COME TO FIND OUT IT WAS MY REAR STRUT MOUNT THAT HAD BROKEN! ALL THAT DIRT AND SALT COLLECTS UP THERE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10681378
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