IllustrationCAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ,LOST POWER CANT TURN THE WHEEL. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all MAZDA3 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
2025–50K
2250–75K
2275–100K
26100–150K
11150K+
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
What owners actually said
166 reportsI WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 3RD WITHOUT LOSING SPEED (EXCEPT FROM ME TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS WHEN HEARING THE NOISE) ALL AT THE SAME TIME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE POINTED TO THE "TURBINE SPEED SENSOR", SO THIS WAS REPLACED WIT…
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I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND SUDDENLY A LOUD NOISE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR SHIFTED FROM 4TH TO 3RD WITHOUT LOSING SPEED (EXCEPT FROM ME TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS WHEN HEARING THE NOISE) ALL AT THE SAME TIME. MY MECHANIC SAID THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE POINTED TO THE "TURBINE SPEED SENSOR", SO THIS WAS REPLACED WITHIN 2 DAYS. THE SAME DAY I GOT THE CAR BACK, I DROVE IT ABOUT 30 MILES AND IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. NOW MY MECHANIC IS CHECKING INTO THE TRANSMISSION, POSSIBLY CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *TR
ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, PARALLEL TO THE RIM, CONSISTENT WITH PENDING TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE. TIRES WERE KEPT PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. THEY WERE WELL CARED FOR AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER YEAR OR SO. THE DAMAGE DID NOT LEAD TO A CRASH DUE TO CAREFUL INSPECTION, BUT COULD HAVE EASILY…
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ALL FOUR TIRES HAVE CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALL, PARALLEL TO THE RIM, CONSISTENT WITH PENDING TREAD SEPARATION FAILURE. TIRES WERE KEPT PROPERLY INFLATED AND ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. THEY WERE WELL CARED FOR AND SHOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER YEAR OR SO. THE DAMAGE DID NOT LEAD TO A CRASH DUE TO CAREFUL INSPECTION, BUT COULD HAVE EASILY GONE UNDETECTED. ALL TIRES WILL BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE.…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA MAZDA3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT A UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL. THERE IS ALREADY AN EXISTING COMPLAINT. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THREE OF THE FOUR MOTOR MOUNTS AT VARIOUS TIMES STARTING FROM 1,000 MILES TO 76,000 MILES. *TR
CAR WAS IN PARK AND WOULD NOT START. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME TOO. THAT TIME I REPOSITIONED THE CAR TO PARK(TOOK IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN PARK) AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. UPON TALKING TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" THAT IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED…
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CAR WAS IN PARK AND WOULD NOT START. PLACED IN NEUTRAL AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. HAPPENED ONE OTHER TIME TOO. THAT TIME I REPOSITIONED THE CAR TO PARK(TOOK IT OUT OF PARK AND PUT IT BACK IN PARK) AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. UPON TALKING TO A MECHANIC I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE "NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH" THAT IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED AS THIS PROBLEM WILL ONLY GET WORSE WITH TIME. I PURCHASED THIS CAR USED 2 YRS AGO FROM A DEALER. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 MAZDA 3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEFLATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEPLOYING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND CHEMICAL BURNS TO THE CHEST, ARMS, FACE, AND EYES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES AT ALL WHEELS. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF BRAKE ISSUES BEFORE TOTAL LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL USING MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET MASTER CYLINDER - EXTREMELY POOR BRAKE FUNCTION AT PRESENT, BUT VEHICLE STILL IN U…
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TOTAL FAILURE OF BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKES AT ALL WHEELS. NO PRIOR INDICATION OF BRAKE ISSUES BEFORE TOTAL LOSS OF FUNCTIONALITY. VEHICLE BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL USING MECHANICAL EMERGENCY BRAKE. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET MASTER CYLINDER - EXTREMELY POOR BRAKE FUNCTION AT PRESENT, BUT VEHICLE STILL IN USE WITH DIFFICULTY. *TR
AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT REMAINS ON , THE DASHBOARD, MAKING ONE BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SYSTEM. THERE WAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THIS IN FLORIDA CARS...IT NOW SEEMS TO BE A MORE WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM IN ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY. *TR
ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
121V494000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.